Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-06-21
Clean Your Cellars.

BY beneficial arrangement Of Providence
the gases and odors most prejudicial to human
life are lighter than the air which surrounds
us, and as soon as dsengaged, rise Immediate
ly to the upper atmosphere, to be purified, and
then returned to be used again.
The warmer the weather, the more rapidly
are these gases generated, and the more rap
idly do they rise hence it is, that in the most
miasmatc regions of the tropics, the traveller
can with safety pursue his journey at midday,
but to do so in the cool of the evening, or
morning, or midnight would be certain death
Hence, also, the popular but too sweeping
dread of might air" To apply this scientific
t. nth to practical life in reference to the eel
lars under our dwellings, is the object of this
article.
The ceilings of cellars should be well plas-
tered, in order most effectually to prevent the
ascent of dampness and noisome odorS through
the joints of the flooring.
The bottom of the cellar should be we'll pay
ed with stone, cobble stones are perhaps best :;
over this should be poured, to the extent of
several inches in thickness water lime cement,
or such other material as is known to acquire
in time almost the hardness of stone this
keeps out the dampness of the earth below.
If additional dryness is desired for special
purposes, in parts of the cellar, let common
scantlng be laid down, at convenient distan-
ces, and loose boards be laid across them for
convenience of removal and sweeping under,
when cleaning time of the year comes
The walls should be plastcred, in order to
prevent the dust from settling on the innume-
rable projections of a common stone wall
Shelves should be arranged in the centre of
the cellar, not in the corners, or against the
walls these shelves should be hing from the
ceiling by wooden arms, attached firmly be-
fore plastering thus you make all safe from
rats
To those who are so fortunate as to own the
house in which they live, We recommend the
month of June, but to renters, the great mev-
ing month of May, in New York, at least, as
the most appropriate time for the following
recommendations
Let everything not absolutely nailed fast
be removed into the yard, and exposed to the
sun, and if You please, remain for week or
two, so as to afford opportunity for thorough
drying.
Let the walls and floors be swept thorough
ly, on four or five different days, and let coat
of good whitewashing be laid on
IUcSC lnllSS Siculu Dc uOIc OlCc IL year,
and one day in the week at least except in
midwinter, every opening in the cellar, for Sc
veral hours, about noon, should be thrown
wide, so as to allow as complete ventilation
rs possible. Scientific men have forced on the
common mind by slow degrees, the Importance
of daily ventilation of our sleeping apart
ments, so now none but the careless or most
obtuse neglect it but few think Of ventilat-
ing their cellars, it is apparent that the moi
some dampneSs is constantly rising upwards
and pervadng the whole dwelling.
Emanatians from cellars do not kill in o
night if they did, universal attention would
be forced to their proper management, but it
is certain, from the very nature of things, that
unclean, damp and mouldy cellars, with their
scpuchral fumes, do undermine the health of
multidudes of families, and send many of their
members to an Hntimey grave.