Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-03
Cisterns for Rain-wat-r.

About one year ago Mr.. John Wilkinson.
whose name with many OF our readers l. very
familiar replied to an article in the German
town Telegraph on the subject Of constructing
rain water cisterns. Within a month or two
several inquiries have been made of us a. 10 The
best manner OF making barn cIsterns. aud
know of no better answer than TO republish
Mr.. Wilkinsons valuable directions from
which any good workman ought TO succeea
Mr.. EDIToR;-In your issue of 10Th March,
IN an article ''Clsterns, and how TO make them"
~ Is recommended 10 use a tub hooped. to he set
In the ground and line the same with cement
mortar The tub is entirely unnecessary and
viii cost more than thrice az much will the
labor and material 20 cement II IN the best man.
ner, plastering on the ground which a. not on ly
the best, but the cheapest mode Of making chs
terms water-tight One coat ~ sufficient n the
cement IS good and the mortar is properly
nipulated.
perceive that almost every writer on the
OF cement mortar points ont definitely the pro-
portions OF cement and sand To be used, thus
making themselves s.blind guides of the blind"
i have used cement every year more or less for
the past twenty five years and for a great va
rlety OF purposes and under widely differing
circumstances and have been compelled TO
sand OF all textures. and cement of different
qualities. strength and fneness. So much de-
ponds on both the sand and the cemeLt that
would not venture TO direct that any c-rtain
proportion of either should be used. unless L
could nrst give identical material 10 oe used
practical test. L have used cement and sand of
a quality that about one-fourth cement and
three-fourths sand would make a better mortar
and quicker setting than other qualities Of Co.
ment and sand would in proportions of one -
one L am governed more by the working Of
the material. when well manipulated. that A.,
by the tenscity of the mortar, and al the SANE.
time the readiness with which IL will slip on
from the trowel, than by the meas urement OF
the two substances. without the working test
Ii the sand and cement for a Job appears 10 b.
OF unifGm texture ana quality 1 measure each
and testn until arrive al the proper proper
tons of the particular material TO b. used
II 10 M hos
hnd that Goa: Of good cement mortar on
the earth one-q uarter of an inch in thickness -
generally better than greater thickness. II
TOO thick IL rs liable to crack in setting Il
sometimes occurs that il is necessary TO apply
two or more coats on portions of the wall where
stone has been removed or a portion OF a. mas
cayed. and 1 find that that portion will almost
invariably crack. To remedy this and close
the cracks. mix into thick wash some sand
ana cement and apply IL with a brush 10 the
crack and always with success.
Now TO the glitter" In rural districts
where the roofs are not liable to collect dust
from roads, no filter necessary. as the water
from clstern IN such situations Will o.
pure as % can BE-; but where filters are nee
essary the best filter is q wall of soft brick,
across the cistern of four inches or the WIDTH Of
BRICK laying up the hlter-wall in cement
morter but without Piastering on either side
such filter Will operate efiectually for ten or
fifteen years, and should Il ever require 10 be
cleansed. all that is neces sary h. 10 change the
suction pipe TO the receiving side OF the els
Will cause the water TO flow back from the NJ
tered side into the unhliered side. aud AZ Will
carry with II ali sediment in the pores of the
bricks, and effectually cleanse the hitter, ma
king n a. good as new.
To make good cement mortar the cement aud
sand should be well incorporated before any
water rs applied. and as soon practicable
after il lie wetted apply IL. Cement work
should not be exposed to frost tor ninety days
after IL IL used, IL will entirely destroy Il To
freeze IL before NJ has become thoroughly
set.
i have not sunk a treU on any OF the numer-
Gus places which L have improved IN the pa st
twelve years. and have never found cisterus
winch have constructed by plasJering over
the earth 10 leak from any other cause than
from the roots Of trees growing SO asNo press
on The cement, thus occasioning a leak. and 1
have always succeeded IN repairing them by
cutting trench 50 remove ali the roots
thus enoan gering the work
One great advantage In cisterns over deeper
wells Il that the labor OF pumping the water
HON them Is less. another that the water L.
generally better for all domes &c purposes than
ordinary well-v-at.r.
When the kitchen H. an the basement OF
house. or stables In the basement OF a barn, \
generally place the cisteTn on the upper side of
the building, 50 that can draw tue water by
natural TOW when IL IL required, instead Of
pumping II.
hear OF no complaint OF an in adequate sup
ply OF water from clsterRs W here the cfstern
OF proper size and the water used with proper
economy.
generally construct the cistern OF sufficient
size to give an orolnary-sized family OF say
twelve persons one tc one and a half barrels
per day for ninety days. the longest period that
we are without rain in my expeueuce.-Ga-
rsdxfo,ef TegsOeaph.