"You don't mean you're going to charge for ice!" exclaimed Alex almost incredulously.
"Well, why not?" said Bob. "It's worth something, isn't it? The pond cost us money and occupies ground that could be used for other purposes."
"That's so," said Alex. "I hadn't thought of that."
"The pond has to pay rent for the ground, and ice is one of the things it produces."
"What does ice bring this winter?" asked Alex.
"Fifty cents per ton on the water," said Bob, "and you cut it yourself."
"How can you tell how much it takes to make a ton?" asked Alex.
"Oh, that's easy," said Bob. "You measure the size of the cakes, and, when you know the thickness, you can refer to a schedule in one of the bulletins and that will tell you exactly how much it weighs."
"Well, I don't think my father will be willing to pay for ice," said
Alex.
"Why not?" said Bob. "It's worth something."