Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-01-04
accumulation Of organic matter vim


accumulation of organic matter win
cause return of offensive odors.
Having tried this experiment of clean
ing, watching and smell NC till the nov
city had worn of. | discovered that the
surface water remained free from bad
odor even when the bottom water was
intolerable. L then tried the expert
ment of raising the end of the lead pipe
from the bottom of the cistern nearly
to the top of the water. The offense
ceased at once and did not return for
three years. Complaint was again
made that the cistern water had smell,
when examination showed that the rope
supporting the lead pipe had broken
and the pipe had fallen to the bottom.
Il then gathered specimens of water
from the top and bottom of the cistern
for examination and analysis.
The surface water was clear, odorless
and fit for use; the water from the bot
tom of the cistern contained fragments
OF leaves and considerable quantity OF
brown organic matter too much decom-
posed to admit of ready Identification:
this water had n disagreeable odor, es-
pecially noticeable when warmed. and
was swarming with microscopic ami
malcules. Analysis of the surface
water showed the presence of two parts
of free ammonia in a million, and five
parts of albuminoid ammonia. The bot
tom water had five parts of free am
monia and fifteen of albuminoid am.
monia in million. The bottom water
had three times as much heterogeneous
impurity as the surface water
Since the purest water is Mt the tor
and the fOulest at the bottom of the
cistern, by keeping the receiving end OF
the pump-pipe near the surface of The
water we avoid most of the impurities
The pipe may be suspended by wire
or by attaching it to float. A service
able float may be made with a sounc
two-gallon jug. Close the jug with 9
sound cork and wax over the cork sc
that no air can escape or water enter.
Wire the end of the lead Pipe to the jug
handle so that the jug will float witt
the mouth down and keep the pips
within foot or two of the top of thy
water. Many persons will regard with
suspicion this layer of decomposina
organic matter at the bottom of the cis.
tern and will ask how it can be avoide,
without emptying the cistern.
There are two ways to secure this re
suit, and their combination will keeI
cisterns reasonably pure. l, keep the
eaves-troughs and water-pipe clean; 2.
make the cistern self-cleaning. A els
tern may be made self-cleaning by tax.
ing all the surplus water or overflow
from the bottom of the cistern, so as te
sweep out all this accumulated dir
whenever the cistern overfiows Make ar
overflow-pipe of tin or galvanized iron in
the shape of the letter f three inches il
diameter, the bottom of the + reaching
within two inches of the bottom of the
cistern, and the upper part of the tube
passing water-tight through the wall o,
the ciStern at the height where we wish
to limit the filling of the cistern.
When our cistern fills to the top oi
this tube the excess of water will flow
away through this pipe, but all water
that flows from the cistern must come
from the bottom, thus removing foui
water and accumulated filth and leaving
the pure surface water for family use.
If the cistern is constructed so as to ex.
clude all vermin, is made frost-tioht.
has the overiiOw-pipe to carry off i'm.
purities from the bottom, and the pump
PipS "ilCu W d JuO-uOll 81 as 10 heeE
the receiving end of the pump pipe
near the surface of the water, such els.
tern will keep itself in good condition
for any number of years.
The common suppOsition that cisterns
and wells can preserve their water in q
sweet condition only by airing them OF
leaving them exposed TO the open air is
erroneous. Such open exposure is q
common condition OF fouling by afford
ing an entrance for vermin of every
kind to die and putrefy in the well OF
cistern. Serious sickness is often
caused in this way. Pure water needs
no airing or purifying of any kind.
Water from artesian wells. shut of
entirely from the air, is yet very free
from organic matter and foul odors.
If cistern water has acquired foul
odor it may be dcodor;zed by some OK
idizing agent. The best for this pur.
pose is chloride of soda. 1t can be
found at any good druggists, is put ur
in quart bottles ready for use, and
should not cost more than twenty-five
cents bottle. To get the best results
the material should be poured into the
bottom of the cistern. This can be
done by pouring it through a gas pipe
reaching to the bottom of the cistern.
Two bottles will clean an ordinary els
tern. The chloride of lime or bleaching
powder can not be used for this purpose
because it will make the water so lizard
that it can not be used for Washing
DR.. r. c. Kedzie, Michigan Aaricuitura;
COLLEGE,