March, 1928] Electric Dairy Cold Storage 33 



COMPARISON OF NATURAL ICE AND ELECTRIC 

 REFRIGERATION COSTS 



To compare these two methods on a cost basis the expenses are con- 

 sidered in four groups: — fixed charges, oi)erating costs, cash or money- 

 out-of-pocket costs and total annual costs. 



To obtain a comparison all operations are given a value in Table 13, 

 including interest, depreciation and upkeep. As many farmers are more 

 concerned and interested in the cash or money-out-of-ix)cket expenses 

 of operation, these are given separately. An original investment, in this 

 case, is considered as if paid on an installment basis. 



The percent of fixed charges of the electric method over the ice does 

 not clearly indicate the situation, since the amount of money involved 

 is relatively small. The range of difference in cost of the two practices 

 is from $1.47 to $57.39, with $75.19 the greatest amount that is in- 

 volved. In other words the percentage differences are great — as high 

 as 422% — but the actual money represented is not of outstanding im- 

 portance. 



This is not the situation with regard to operating costs which are 

 consistently and markedly higher for the ice method. Here a more 

 appreciable amount of money is involved, the maximum being $256.64. 

 The saving that the electric method may 'effect varies from $93.05 to 

 as much as $185.78. 



Considering these two groups together, it might be said that with 

 comparatively little fluctuation in the fixed and operating costs for 

 the electric method, the operating costs for the ice method may be in- 

 creased from three to eleven times the fixed charges for ice refrigeration. 



The annual cash or money-out-oj-pocket expense for the electric type 

 varies from 87% to 230% of the ice method with an average of 137%. 

 However, as it is relatively easy to arrive at quite accurate values for 

 the electric method, the possibility of error in values on the ice method 

 is much greater and might vary the estimate here given. It would, 

 therefore, appear safe to state that w^hile these expenses are approxi- 

 mately the same for either method, judging from Farms 2 and 4, on 

 the other hand, under favorable operating conditions, such as on Farm 

 No. 1, the cash expense could be made distinctly in favor of ice. 



The total annual costs, which summarize all costs including those al- 

 ready considered, show that the electric method ranged from 42% to 

 60% of ice refrigeration, the average being 50%. 



The above indicates that, from a general standpoint, operation by 

 electricity, neglecting the superior cjualities of mechanical refrigeration, 

 was more practical and economical on these farms than with ice, and 

 by a considerable margin. 



One owner's view is, briefly, 'T wouldn't be witliout it." 



Another states that the worst part of handling ice is the trouble of 

 getting it in the winter which he feels, on his fami, is more of a bother 

 than the summer work of keeping the ice boxes full, although he con- 

 siders this troublesome also. This indicates the labor problem which 

 is becoming more acute on active farnis and how this method helps to 

 eliminate it. His view of the whole situation is, "If we had the ice 



