ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
83 
placed by the air from the lower part of the room, which has just previously passed 
I'ough the ice-box. The cold air which is constantly delivered at the bottom crowds 
Id forces the air which precedes it, to every part of the room and to every package 
its contents. The intelligent reader hardly needs to be toid that the air of the 
)m cannot stop circulating through this ice-box while it contains ice. Since the 
d air which comes from the ice-box, expands on mixing with the warmer air of the 
)m it will absorb any moisture which maybe in the room, and when this air again 
ich’es the ice, this moisture will be squeezed out of it. A well filled ice-box coll¬ 
ected on this plan will not only dry the air of the room, but water spilled on the 
or will be absorbed, delivered to the ice-box, and carried out of the room. 
A number of the leading commission merchants of Chicago have basement rooms 
Died as above described, and their uniform testimony is that, with ice in the ice- 
xes, their rooms are dry ; without it, they are damp. 
It is not necessary that I should say much on the transportation of dairy prod- 
ts in its general aspects. This Association, one of the oldest of its class in the 
est, is familiar with the rapid development of the dairy interests in the West. It 
a general law that an increased demand precedes a permanent increase in produc- 
,n. For several years past, during every day of every month in the year, the prod- 
t of the dairy has been carried in its best condition to every part of the civilized 
>rld, thus increasing the demand and stimulating production to the enormous ex¬ 
it indicated by the figures given in the statements of your president. It is not too 
ich to say that refrigeration transportation is the foundation on which this fabric 
prosperity is built and sustained. 
Builders of refrigerator cars are subject to such obvious limitations as to size, 
fio-ht, ice capacity, and the severe conditions accompanying actual service, that it 
always a question whether the advantages of a contemplated mode of construction 
3 less, equal to, or greater than its disadvantages. The builder is thus forced to 
oose by considering both elements. Most of the refrigerator cars now in use are 
eluded in two classes, one carrying its ice overhead, the other in the upper part of 
Ich end of the car. In the latter class the location and compact structure of the ice- 
[xes reduce to the lowest point the liability to accident and to disarrangement of the 
It'rigerator appliances. The Merchants’ Despatch Dairy Line car belongs to the 
liss^of end-icing cars. It has so proved its efficiency by actual service, that its mer¬ 
it need not be urged by an argument and cannot be impeached by a theory. 
Its ice-boxes are the same in construction and action as those already described 
suitable for creameries except that the ice water falls into pits belo w the floor, after 
Lssino 1 over wires and giving its coolness to the air of the car. 
To°illustrate its merits, it may be stated that it has no receptacle above the floor 
Lich will hold a pint of water, consequently it is not liable to wet down its freight 
| the deranged action of an overhead water or ice receptacle which may be caused by 
|e clogging of waste pipes or by leaks resulting from constant and severe service. 
| The Dairy Line car has no hidden secret places. The car inspector sees every 
|rt of its refrigerating parts and can easily determine when, by the wear and tear of 
Irvice, it passes the point of safety for its freight. 
It may be fairly claimed that defective action is less likely to occur in the end¬ 
ing car, and causes less damage when it does happen, than in the other mode of con- 
ruction. These are strong points in favor of the end-icing cars, and it may be added 
at a few thousand of them have been in constant use several years, and the proprie- 
rs of some of them give to shippers a written guaranty that their car will deliver its 
sight in as good condition as it received it. 
But however much may be said on general issues, or in the advocacy of special 
terests, it is probable that the average shipper has but one standard by which he 
isses judgment on the merits of refrigerator cars or transportation companies, and 
at is, the & character of tiie service which he receives. 
The Merchants Despatch Dairy Line accepts this test, pursues the even tenor of 
as way perfecting its service at every possible point, and seeking, as occasion offers, 
i diffuse such information a$ will enable shippers to co-operate with the company in 
curing the best results possible in a difficult business, the varying conditions of 
hich render perfection impossible. 
At the conclusion of Mr. Dexter’s remarks Mr. J. G. Lombard was called upon 
id spoke substaiftially as follows : 
Mr. President .—The scientific discussion of the matter of refrigeration involves 
id requires special knowledge and education, to which I make no pretense, but there 
■e some underlying facts so plain as to be open to the common mind, and so plainly 
ritten ” that he who runs may read.” „ .... 
The universal agent for the accomplishment ot refrigeration is ice. There are, to 
3 sure other chemical and mechanical contrivances for the purpose, but these are 
sually so expensive, complicated and withal so uncertain and unreliable as to render 
tern inaccessible tor the common purposes of refrigeration. 
