Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-07-11
CYCLONE HOUSES.
Every Town and Farm House Should Have
One O Them.


Contrary to the belief of a few years
ago, cyclones are not confined to the
prairies of a few western states. They
are liable to strike in any part of the
country, and it is the part of wisdom to
construct underground houses to which
the terror-stricken family may repair
when danger is imminent. A trip over
the track of the ST. Louis tornado con-
WINGED anyone, not already convinced,
that basement, or cellar under a
house, is a dangerous place in time of a
storm.
The safest place during a cyclone is
in an underground house, con-
structed that nothing can crush it by
falling on it, and well ventilated so
there can be no danger of smothering
should heavy objects fall on it, and shut
the occupants in.
Where money is no object. the bes.
cyclone house is one built in the ground.
of heavy stone masonry, and arched, 50
heavy weights falling on it could not
crush it. 1t could be cemented inside
and on top, covered with soil and sod
ded.
A cheaper one-which can be built
with home ta1ent-can be built as foi-
lows: Make an excavation, say six by
eight feet, and four or five feet deep, On
west side of house. Line inside of house
with oak lumber two inches thick. With
railroad ties build wall a foot or more
above ground so as to make ceiling
high enough. Cover top with heavy
ties or logs laid solidly so nothing fall
ing on cellar roof could crush it. 1t
might be well to slightly incline timbers
ano cover wiSk metal roofing. Put the
dirt that came from cellar around and
on in q
blue grass, o. sod. Make steps on out
side down &c an upright door on east OF
north side of cellar, and have slantinS Z
door to cover the stairway.
The cellar must either be tile drained,
or have a pipe in bottom, running to ii
small well, say six or eight feet deep,
made near its side. II any water ac-
cumulates IN cellar in wet spells the
tube will carry it to the well where it
can be easily pumped out.
Put a four by four ventilator in the
top, and for fear it might be closed BY
something falling on it, it would be safe
to put in gas pipe on each side to give
ventilation in case of emergency.
Where one does not wish to go to the
trouble of making an underground eel.
lar, cheaper one, and one which will
stand very severe tornado, may be
made by procuring elght OK posts ten
feet long and foot in diameter. PlaEt
six feet in the ground; spike on two
inch lumber, and cover with heavy TIM
bers that will withstand hard blows or
heavy weight from above. If preferred,
dirt can be thrown up around so wind
cannot get hold of siding; and by cover
ing top with tin, it also could be covered
with dirt. Ventilate on different sides
with gas tubes. Have entrance door
that can be barred on going inside
from storm. This would be good kind
of house for city people, but should be
built several feet from any brick or
stone building.
Such retreats as are here described
are cheap, and can be made with I'M
! skilled labor. If, as some believe, the
most destructive agent in the violent
cyclone is electricity, the earth-covere'1
house would disarm the storm of this
potent agent; but if it is only wind,
such structure would, 90 times out of
100, furnish safe retreat in time OF
storm.-Journal of Agriculturs