Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-11-27
Building Cisterns.
From the American Farm Journal.

from the AE1erlsan Farm journal.
The best time to build cistern is when
the ground is dry, so that there is no wa
ter in tho ground. 1t is much easier to
cement dry wall than wet one and the
wall put up dry is more apt to be water
tight. First dig your cistern the required
size make the sides as smooth as possible
make the bottom about the shape of the
large end of an egg-the sides perpendic-
ular. Make your calculations to have
your arch far enough under the ground to
keep from freezing. A four-irch arch is
sufficient for cistern under ten feet in
diameter. Over that I would prefer nine
inches. Where the ground is solid the
arch is all the brick work that is needed.
After the arch is turned the next step is
to put On the cement. This is the most
particular part Of the operation, as a
wrong move there, will spoil the cistern
Get the best quality of cement-if in the
East. the Rosedale, if in the West the
Louisville, KY. This will cost m,re per
barrel, bat will be cheaper In the end
Employ a good mechanic, and attend to
mixing the cement yourself. Do not trust
to careless hand. Take one bucket Of
cement, and two OF clear, sharp sand
Put in just enough water to mix, and mix
thoroughly with a hoe, and have it put on
without tempering over. Repeat the pro-
cess until ono heavy coat is on. II the
cement is good, by the time the first coat is
on it will be dry enough for the second or
last one, which should Re light one, put
on smooth, and with as little troweling as
possible.
Brush the walls with thin wash made
by mixing cement to water about the con-
sistency of whitewash and the job is COM
pleted; andsthe eistern ready for the water
any time after forty.elght hours. II would
be well where the cement is put on the
ground to layI a fat stone or smooth brick
on the bottom to receive the force cf the
water from Tie receiving pipe, which
should pass through the arch four-inch
drain pipe will answer the purpose, also II
pipe Of the same size for an outlet, about
the bottom of the arch, will be found con
venlent. The end of the outlet should be
secured so rats could not make an en-
trance.
Commence cementing at the tOp-frst
the arch, then the sides, last the bottom.
where the ground is not solid a side wall
and bottom will be necessary. Commence
by laying course of bricks fiat around
the bottom. Then take plasterer's trowel
and spread the height of brick On the
sides, place your bricks on end, fat side to
the wall, and ait it sufficiently hard to
make 1t adhere to the walls Continue
until a course is laid. Repeat until you
are high enough for the arch, then con-
tlnue fiat until you have only space for a
man-hole. In six-foot arch one foot rise
Is sufficient; larger arches should have
more rise. Put in the bottom with cement
Cement the same as in the first cistern,
except that the first coat should not be so
thick. The advantage of putting bricks
On end is, it takes less brick, leaves no
cracks behind for slops, and saves half the
labor inlaying.
Where filter is wanted, and think no
elstern tor house use is furnished without
one, the following is the cheapest plan
and as good as the best Build a circular
wall in the middle Of the cistern large
enough to set your pump in-say three
feet ie diameter. Make it as high as the
bottom of the cistern arch, using soft
bricks; lay IN cement. A four inch wall
Is sufficient. The water will filter through
the brick and be very pure Such a filter
does not need renewing about every even
years.
For cistern feet in diameter and y
feet deep, with capacity of 80 barrels, 2
barrels OF cement and LOO brick are re-
CURED; for the arch alone, 500 brick.
For cistern 6 feet in diameter and s feet
deep, with a capacity of SIS barrels, barrel
efcement and 1000 brick will be required
for arch alone, 300 brick. For a cistern
1eet IN diameter and Il feet deep, with
capacity OF 100 barrels, 3 barrels of
cement and 1000 brick will be required ::
tor arch alone, 700 brick. MECHANIC.