Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1893 — Artificial Ice. [ARTICLE]

Artificial Ice.

The Massachusetts State Board of Health having been directed by the Legislature to examine the system by which artificial ice is made in that State, reports as follows: “1. Artificial processes of freezing concentrate the impurities of the water in the inner core, or the portion last frozen. 2. The impurities are reduced to their lowest terms by distilled water (condensed steam) for the manufacture of ice. 3. The number of bacteria in artificial ice is insignificant under the prevailing methods of manufacture. 4. The amount of zinc found in the samples of melted artificial ice under the observation is insufficient to injure the health of persons using Three companies in the State make artificial ice by the ammonia system of freezing. Galvanized iron tanks, holding from 200 to 250 pounds of distilled water, are immersed in lime, which is eooled below the freezing point of water by pipes which convey the gaseous ammonia. The freezing goes on slowly from the sides of the tanks, and it generally requires about two days to form a solid cake of ice. The distilled water is generally condensed steam from the engine, which is filtered through various media, such as sand, coke, and charcoal, to free it from oil, grease, and other suspended matters, and is subsequently boiled to expel ttir. The water in all three plants is obtained from wells sunk on the premises, and all contain considerable mineral matter in solution; but when the water is converted into steam and only the condensed water is used for ice-making, the original composition of the water is of comparatively little consequence.