Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-07-04
cYcLoNr HOUSES.
Every Town and Farm House sneuld Have
One % Thorn.


One ~ Them.
Contrary TO the belief OF few years
ago. cyclones are not confined to the
prairies of few western states. They
are liable to strike in any part of the
country, and II il 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-
vinced anyone, not already convinced,
that a basement, or cellar under
house, is a dangerous place In time OF
storm.
The safest place during a cyclone is
IN an underground house. so con-
structcd that nothing can crush II NJ
falling on II. and well ventilated Hu
there can be no danger OF smotherinS
should heavy objects fall GA it. and shut
the occupants in.
Where money is no object, the hes:
cyclone house is one built in the ground,
of heavy stone masonry, and arched. 30
heavy weights falling on 1t could net
crush it. 1t could be cemcnted inside
and on top, covered with soil and sod
ded.
A cheaper one-which can be built
with home talent--Can be built as fO.-
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 foot or more
above ground so as 70 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
and cover with metal roofing. Put the
! dirt that came from cellar around and
on house in neat mound and sow TO
blue grass. or sod. Make steps on out
side down to an upright door on east 0r
north side of cellar, and have slantinS
door to cover the stairway.
The cellar must either be tile drained,
or have pipe i'm bottom. running to Il
small well, say six or eight feet deep,
made near it's side. IL 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 four 10y four ventilator in the
top, and for fear it might be closed by
something falling on II, il would be safe
TO put in a 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 Gel
lar. a cheaper one, and one which will
stand a very severe tornado, may be
made by procuring eight oak posts ten
feet long and foot in diameter. Plant
six feet in the ground; spike on two
inch lumber, and cover with heavy tini-
beers that will withstand hard blows or
heavy weight from above. lfpreferred.
dirt can be thrown up around so wind
cannot get hold of siding; and by cover
ing top with tin. il also could be covered
with dirt. Nentilate 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 he
built several feet from any brick or
stone building.
Such retreats as are here described
are cheap, and can be made with un'
skilled labor. If. as some believe, the
most destructive agent in the violent
cyclone is electricity, the earth-covercd
house would disarm the storm of this
potent. agent; but if 1t is only wind,
: such structure would. 90 times out OF
100, furnish safe retreat in time o!
/, storm.-Journal of Agriculture.