The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-07-10
CYCLONE HOUSES.
Every Town and Farm House should HIVE
Oae at Them.

Contrary 10 the belief OF Il few years
ago. cyclones are not coniilcd TO the
prairies of fcw western states. they \
are liable 20 strike in any part of the
country, and It j. the part OF wisdom 10
construct underground houses 70 (which |
the terror-strclSen family rsay repair
when danger Is imminent. 4 trip over
the track OF the st. Louis tornado con-
WINGED anyone. not already convinced
that basement. or cellar -,Ider
house. is a dangerous pi"se I'm time OF
storm.
The safest place durinh cyclone -
IN an underground house. so coal
structed that nothing can crush IL ~
falling on il, and well ventilated 80
there can he no LANCER Of smothering
should heavy objects fan on IT, ana smut
the occup9",s in.
Where money is no object. the hess
\ cyclone house is one built in the ground,
1 of heavy stone masonry, and arched. 20
heavy weights falling on II could not
crush H. Ii could be cemented INSIDE
and on top. covered with soil and sod
ded
A cheaper one-which can be burt
with home talent-can be built as TO-
lows; Make an excavation. say SIX by
eight feet. and four or five feet deep, en-
west side OF house Line inside OF house
with oak lumber two inches timex. Nl'h
railroad ties build wall foot or more
above ground so as 10 make ceiling
hioh enough. Cover top with heavy
ties or logs laid solidly so nothing fan
ING on cellar roof could crush II. II
might be well 10 slightly incline timber'
and cover with metal roofing. fnt th'
dirt that came from cellar around ah'
, ON house in a neat mound and sow Y
blue grass. or sod. Make steps on our
side down 10 an upright door on east .
north side of cellar. and have siahtihl
door TO cover the stairway.
The cellar must either be tile drained
or have a pipe in bottom. running TO
small well. say six or eight feet dee!
made near its side. II any water a.
cumulates In cellar in wet spells u
tube will carry il 10 the well where
car be easily pumped out.
Put a four by four ventilator IN Y
.on. and for fear ii might be closed l
something falling on II. il would oe sa
TO put in gas pipe on each side TO ga
Ia ventilation in case of emergency.
Where one does not wish 10 go 10 y
!, trouble of making an underground &C
q, lar. cheaper one, and one which w
. stand a very severe tornado. may
be made bv procuring eight oak posts I
:, feet long and foot in diameter. fla
M CIV feet in the ground: spike on Nv
inch lumber. ard cover with heavy u
- hers that will Withstand hard blows
az heavy weight from above. If preferr'
80 dirt can be thrown mp around so WI
cannot get hold of siding; and by GOV
a ing top with tin. it also could be cover
- with dirt. Nentilate on different 81
-, with gas tubes. Have entrance az
that can be barred on gong ms
"a from storm. This would be good x
-. ~ house for city people. but should
~. hui.t several feet from any brick
IN. stone building.
- such retreats as are here descri
are cheap. and can be made win
skilled labor If. as some beiIeVe'
most destructive agent in the vlol
cyclone is electricity. the earth-cove
lily, bouse would dis3rm the storm OF
potent agent; but II II is only WI
Its such structure would. 90 times ou
les. 100. furnish a safe retreat in TINS
be storm.-Journal of Agriculture