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Figure 3 shows the operations of sawing and "barring off"
large masses, which have already been marked by the plow.
These are floated towards the ice-house by the aid of
horses, as represented in figure 4. The houses, which
are shown in several of the engravings, are enormous structures,
but quite destitute of any attractiveness architecturally,
windows and doors being for the most part dispensed with.
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| Fig. 3 – Sawing and barring off. | |
Fig. 4 – Canaling to the house. |
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Of late years the ice is hoisted into the houses by means
of elevators moved by steam power. The elevators (figure
5, on page 3) consist of an endless chain carrying shelves
or ledges upon which the cakes of ice are placed and conveyed
to the interior of the building. When the cakes arrive
within the ice-house, they are stowed away. It is necessary
to have the mass as compact as possible, and care is taken
to secure square edges to the cakes in order that they
may stow closely together without any air spaces between
them. The interior is lighted only by the openings through
which the ice enters, and the strong light striking upon
the translucent masses, among which the workmen are actively
moving, produces a picturesque and novel effect.
In January, 1867, we gave an article upon gathering ice
upon a small scale, with illustrations of the various
implements that are in use; the same are most of them
employed in large operations.
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