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neath it. If it is made too low down, the space under
neath is wasted, as no keg or barrel can be placed
there, and in an ice box you want every inch of room
to be utilized. This chamber should also be made of
the best material, the beams placed in it not crossed
vertically but horizontally.. The best material is hard
pitch pine, the reason being that it does not absorb
water, will neither rot nor decay, nor become filled
with tlie bad odor as is frequent with soft woods. The
drip-pan, to be placed under the ice chamber, must be
of the propersize, not too small, or else water will drip
outside of it. It should be made of galvanized iron
or copper, for if cheaper material is used it will soon
corrode and even break from the coldness of the water.
As this furnishing of a place is only made once in a
series of years, no expense
should.bespared in having
the ice box constructed thoroughly and properly. The
connections, such as the waste pipe, connected with the
sewer should be made in such a manner that when it
becomes closed up by the slime, as it will do in sum
mer every ten days or fortnight, it can be easily taken
apart, cleaned and then put together with but little
trouble.
A .small platform made of strong material, about two
or three inches from the floor of the box, should run
lengthwise in the rear and at the two ends, but should
not obstruct the passage through the door or doors.
The platform should be boarded up tight in front or
else left perfectly open underneath, so that it will be
easy to clean the vacant space. The top of the plat
form should be covered with smooth, solid galvanized
iron to protect it, and also to allow a barrel to be
slipped or pushed along on it with convenience.
Every first-class ice box should have one or two
ventilators, placed conveniently, so that they can be
regulated handily, in necessary changing of temper
ature as desired. On the floor inside of the box, close