In our century

In May 1915, The American City featured a summary of the growing trend of cities producing ice for residents and businesses. Jeanie Wells Wentworth, of the New York Department of Public Works, wrote about New York’s as-of-then unsuccessful efforts to gain mayoral approval to operate ice plants in each of its boroughs. Other cities, however, including Weatherford, Okla., which reportedly opened the first municipal ice plant in the country, were operating the plants at more than 50 percent profit. Typically, the facilities were connected to water and light plants to share power supplies and staff.

Fernandina, Fla., installed a 15-ton Vogt exhaust steam ice-making machine at its water and light plant in 1914. Before the plant opened, the price of ice was six pounds for 5 cents, a 200-pound block for 80 cents, and other prices from $6 to $8 per ton. After the plant opened, the price went to 15 pounds for 5 cents, 100 pounds for 25 cents, one 300-pound block delivered for 60 cents, and merchants paid $3.50 per ton. “After starting the first machine and reducing the price of ice, the handling of shrimp over the wharves became so great that it was necessary to install an additional machine of the same capacity,” Wentworth wrote.

At the end of the article, Wentworth describes that Cleveland had recently started to rent cold storage space at its new municipal market. Market merchants, as well as households, could rent space in the “refrigeration plant.” “Any Cleveland housewife may buy provisions at the plentiful season and store them there at a nominal cost for subsequent use when prices are high,” Wentworth wrote. Clevelanders could store a crate of eggs (30 dozen) from April to January for 40 cents, 100 pounds of butter from June to February for 15 cents, and a barrel of apples from October to April for 40 cents. Wentworth proposed cold storage as a revenue-generating opportunity for New York that would “at the same time afford the housewives of New York an opportunity to effect practical savings in their household budgets.”

Previous “In our century” Stories

• In our century — May 1914
  Officials invest in maps to guide public projects, improve city administration and communicate plans to the public
• In our century — September 1915
  Technology develops to ensure the safe movement of trains, cars and emergency vehicles through city streets
• In our century — July 1914
  Among the early efforts to improve public health, cities invent and seek weapons of mass fly destruction
• In our century — August 1913
  When bond issues fail, cities seek alternative funding for infrastructure improvements and other public projects
• In our century — August 1914
  Cities improve cleanliness and public health by strategically placing public restrooms and encouraging their use
• In our century — December 1914
  Cities begin the tradition of decorating enormous public Christmas trees to celebrate the holidays
• In our century — June 1910
  Government accounting methods and reports mature from vague and incomplete records to standard formats.
• In our century — October 1909
  Investigations into corruption and mismanagement lead to (some) reforms in government policies and operations.
• In our century — January 1913
  Cities experiment with road surfaces and set out methods for funding road construction and maintenance.
• In our century — September 1909
  Limits on outdoor advertising are set through cities’ hard-fought battles over billboard sizes, messages and locations.
• In our century — August 1911
  Fire departments gain authority, modern equipment to prevent and improve response times to structure fires.
• In our century — June 1910
  Street lights become symbols of communities’ economic success, and lighting technology efficiency evolves.
• In our century — September 1909
  With urban growth comes city leaders’ desire to control and direct it for the community’s greatest benefit.
• In our century — September 1909
  Cities embrace playgrounds as valuable public assets for children’s safety, health and social development.
• In our century — September 1909
  Women embrace public causes, work to improve their communities and expand their societal roles.
• In our century — March 1910
  Cities develop methods, mechanisms and regulations for residential solid waste collection and disposal.
• In our century — November 1909
  Occupancy laws and social workers emerge in the early 1900s to clean up inner-city neighborhoods.
• The way we were
  Publisher’s son remembers American City & County‘s roots.