Washington telegraph., 1854-04-12
How to Have Plenty OF Water.

Pure, clear water, forming as it does, at the
same moment, both the emblem and the ernbodi-
ment of relreshment and comfort is looked upon
as vital element of satisfactory existence by all
who hate dirt, parched lips dusty lungs stratiied
deposits on the skin, and parti-colored linen. 1t
also forms most agreeable class of pictures for
the eye, in the form of placid sheets, bubbling
brooks, sprnkllns Jets and flashing fountains; and
through the ear, it gives US the music of cascades
the thunder of cataracts, and the grave roar of
ocean surges.
1t is no wonder that all are ready to labor for
and welcome so agreeable companion The
large cities have brought it many miles in hewn
masonry at cost of millions that they may svr-
inge their streets, feed their baths, and keep
ready antidote for the ncipient confagration-
The country resident longs for the Termination OF
the parching drouth, when drenching rains shall
fill his cIsterns, replensh his failing WELL and set
the brooks in motion. Many are looking with
envy at some rare and "lucky neghbor who hap
pens to have an unfaling spring; and Others as
we have often witnessed, placing the hogshead
on the oxsled proceeded to drag their needed sup
ply from a distance of one to three miles as the
case may be, and as they can get it from the pond
creek, or some better supplied reservoir. We
have positively seen wealthy farmer drawing
rain water mile, after having allowed five times
the amount he ever would have needed to run to
waste Immediately before his eyes; and we ven
ture to assert that not farmer in hundred
who has suffered from want of water during the
past years drouth has not committed similar
waste, though perhaps sometimes less in degree
The great mass of country residents seem TO
have no more conception of the enormous floods
OF clear, pure wafer. that annually pour fl of
the roofs of their dwellings wood -houses. barns
sheds, and other ut-buildings, than if they had
never heard of such huge waterIno-Dot as tbe
clouds in the sky. If all the rain which falls in
the Northern States within wear shopId rnp,.;p
upon the surface of the earth without sinking into
it or running off, it would form an average dentb
of water OF about three feet In the Southern
States, 1T would be more: within the American
tropics, 1t would amount to about ten feet: and
near Bombay, in Asia, to twenty-five feet.
Every inch of rain that falls on a roof Yields .
barrels for each space of 10 feet square: and %
barrels yielded by the annual rain of this eli
mate on a similar surface. A barn. 30 by 40 feet
yields annually S64 barrels-that is enough for
more than 2 barrels day, for every dav in the
year. Many of our medium landholders have.
hs+-.,ss-sast least five times that amount of roof
ing on their farmeries and dwelling yielding an
nuallv more than 600 barrels of rain water or
about II barrels or $50 ordinary pailfuls daily
y very small portion of this great quantity is
caught in the puny and contemplate cistern and
tubs placed to catch it. but full-sized capacious
reservoirs, fit to hold this downward deluxe we
know not where to fnd even in single instance
1t Is true, that where constant draught is
made cistern, it need not hold the full wears
supply; even one-sxth part will in general answer;
the variations in the wet and dry seasons do
not often amount to more than the rain of two
months. But allowing all this, where shall we
find cistern for 80 by 40 feet barn that holds
this sixth or 10 barress Or one proportionately
large for broader roofa
Now what would the large supply OF water
from sufficient cisterns enable the farmer to do7
Or rather what might he not do with tt
l.. In the first place. all the cattle on farm well
furnished with buildings, might obtain all the
water needed for their daily use.
?. Or, Ii instead, the usual proportion were sup
piled them BY streams and wells large upper
cistern would furnish all the convenences of
showering; washing, and sweeping off leculent
matter, which derived in cities from pipes and
hydrants.
3. Or, if large cisterns were placed in the upper
part of the farm buildings, (svhere the space thew
would occupy, would be of little comparative val
ue,J they would supply fountain one-fourth OF
an inch in diameter spouting fifteen feet high. for
two hours every summer afternoon-the cistern
being unoccupied in winter.
a. In addition to supplying the fountain they
could keep up the water in pond at the foot of
the fountain, thirty feet diameter Tor with equal
surface9 and allow eight barrels to ilow off daily
for watering cattle or for other purposes, during
the hottest evaporating days,of summer
Country Gentleman.