The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-07-31
Dry Cellars and Nealthful Homes.

Houses have to be built on all kinds Of
ground, especially in cities ana towns; IN
the country there is often choice, and III
this case 1t is we'll to build by preference on
dry sand or gravel, sufficiently elevated 10
have the surface water, rs well as the rain
which falls upon the roof, naturally flow oil.
On such ground we may dig the cellar, lay
the foundation and put up the superStructure
without any fear that there will be any set
Ting or heayng by Frost or any annoyance
from water in the cellar or in the walls. On
springy ground, on tenacious Cl0ycy SuOSoiS,
or even on soils of ordinary tenacity, 1t is al
ways necessary to provide the most thorough
drainage. There are several ways for accom-
plshing this: one is to dig trench wider
Than the wall, Till it with small stones and
place the brick or wall upon it. This does
very well provided there is Il sufficient outlet
1or the water which may collect in the trench.
1t Is tar better, however, to place dram be
meath the foundation wall This may be OF
tile which is best or Of stone if more con
venicnt 1t makes little or no difference in
regard to the desirableness Of having the
ground beneath well drained whether the
foundation walls are stone or brick. But the
ease with which different materials absorb
water is an important consideration, and
makes stone always preferable TO brick if it
can be procured,
In building brick walls for cellars, when
the earth touches the wall on the outside il
will be very apt to show much moisture on
the inside, and different salts will collect,
some resembling inter, ammonia, etc, aCcor-
ding to the nature of the soil; these are form
ed with the Iclp Of the mortar between the
bricks, the ingredients OF which are carried
inward by the percolating water. 1t Is evil
acnt that under such circumstances the NOR
tar will remain soft, while no plaster coat
can hold against the wall. The best remedy
is to dig the earth away outside OF the wall
for about six inches or more, and ill the
space with loose stones; then the water per
colatiug the soil will have chance to de
sccnd without reaching the wall; if, then, be
sides this, a channel or drain Is provided
under the Wal. by means OF some ScWerplpe,
and this channel gives exit to moisture, II Is
impossible for such cellar 10 become damp
by outside influences.
In some instances the ground itself Of Gel
lars is clayish and very damp, hOtwithstand-
ing all precautions of the kind mentioned;
in such cases it is well To dig holes in the
ground three or four feet deep; sometimes
The water VIII collect in these, and II the
soil is not WatCrsOakcd the water Will ap-
pear, because occasionally the upper layer OF
the ground II the cellar consists of water
tl- NJ Rldt " lttl 04lNt bSliN'tt ''4''' q. '''N'
is reached it will give exit to the wafer. But
we have known instances where it was only
possible to get rid Of the water in the cellar
by placing pump in a hole made us dcscrib.
ed, and pumping the water out from time to
time. Such cellars are Of course always
damp, and should possess openings for thor
ough ventilation, SO as TO make the floor i'm
meAiately above inhabtablc.
We take occasion to again urge our warn
ing against sleeping in room on the ground
floor and recommend having the bedrooms
up stairs. If this is impossible, 1t is Of the
almost consequence to have well ventilated
cellars, or at least space under the bedroom
and never have the beams and boards consu
tuJng the floor Of any room Of house laid
on the earth as Is still done in many farm
houscs.--WaHgdctnrc ami Baidrr.