Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-04-24

HcaIthiness.O of Houses
Under the head of (" Recommend
dations for securing the Healthi-
ness OF Houses the Sdnitdrian re-
produces several tables of select
maxims on the subject indicated.
Most of them ale well worth con-
sidering and preserving. Here are
some, for example, for securing
proper ventilation:
. Rows of houses should bearrang-
ed in parallel lines, the spaces be-
tween the ranks being left open at
the ends. Confined squares snd
courts are very unheal by
"The height of the house, from
the caves to the ground, oughi new
er to exceed the distance to the
nearest building n front. Behind
or at the side of every dwelling
house, there should be an open
space, exclusively belonging TO it,
at least fifteen feet across, measur-
ed in a direction at right angles to
the house wall.
Back to back houses are un-
healthy and inconvenient, ard
ought never TO be built.
'There should be windows to
open on sides of a house; where all
the windows are ON the same side,
perfect ventilation is impossible.
Every room should have one
or more windows opening into the
outer air; the window area should
not be less than one-tenth of the
area of the floor; thus a room ~
feet by 10 feet should have a win
dow at least 4 feet by feet.
AT least half the window should
open and the opening should
always reach the top of the
window, which ought not to be
more than foot below the high
est part of the ceiling.
1.-THE form of window frame
which opens by swinging or ho-
rizontal pivot is recommended in
preference to the ordinary sliding
frame, especially for cottages and
other places where the window is
of small size.
"Rooms in newly-built houses
should not be less than eight feet
high attics should be of this
height over at least halftheir area.
Air-bricks should be inserted
In the wall just below the level of
each floor. to ventilate the space
under the joists.
Bedrooms that have no fire.
place should have an air-brick near
the ceiling; it IS good plan to
make this to open by hollow ar
chitrave above the window, so
that the draught may strike up
wards and not dow nwards.
"Where gas is used ventilator
and flue should be placed above
the ventilator, to carry OFF the
burnt air.
"In building a house it is recon-
mended to leave air fiues in the
wall near the chimney, which may
easily be done by building around
quarter pieces, which are drawn up
as the work proceed"
Further on are some rules on the
subject of the water supply of
dwellings:
''The well should be sunk at as
great a distance as possible from
privies, pig stys, fold yards, and
other collections Of filth; this es-
pecially necessary where the water
from surface spring has to be
used.
"The top and slides of the well
should be carefully puddled with
well-tempered clay, eighteen
inches thick as far down. if practi-
cable, as the first bed of clay.
''If.the top of the well be left
open, it should be walled round 10
keep the surface water out and
prevent accidents.
1.-THE soft water cistern, If un-
derground, should be built in ce-
ment, and puddled eighteen inches
thick; it should be ventilated, and
the overflow should not go into
any sewer or drain.
"The lid should be surrounded
by a raised rim to prevent any sur
face water getting into the cistern.
'Leaden pipes and cisterns
should not be used for soft water.
1.-The same cistern should not be
used for drinking and for supply
ing a water-closet."
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