1905 The Hoffman House Bartender's Guide by Charles S. Mahoney

or staple, to which it can be fastened, when beer is being placed inside, so that the door wilt not con stantly swing to, half closed. It is also wise to put to the bottom of the box, on the outside, good solid metal plates about five or six inches high (the height of the base), for the reason that it helps to preserve the box and keeps out the rats and mice who might otherwise gnaw into the box. It is to be understood, naturally, that the box should be kept clean, and the bottom perfectly dry. and above all things, a thermometer should be kept inside the box that the temperature may be noted and as near as possible, kept about even. Naturally the next thing to be considered is the handling of ice, and after it has been delivered, and you are satisfied that the weight is correct, see that it is washed clean before it goes into the box. Arti ficial ice is preferable when it can be obtained, for many reasons, the cakes are of a regular size, mak ing it more convenient to handle, it is more whole some, and it does not produce the same amount of slime and dirt as the natural product. But to get the best results from artificial ice the cakes should not be placed close together, but a few inches apart, so as to allow of a circulation of air. Keep plenty of ice in the box, and do not allow the temperature to change to any great extent.

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