The Tupelo journal., 1912-01-05

Since the walls, bottom and Of
q concrete cistern are all one piece,
like a jug, there are no joints and
-crevices for animal or plant growths.
which impart a bad taste and odor to
soft water. Concrete cisterns may be
built either on top or under ground.
The underground cistern, which needs
no steel reinforcing in the side walls,
is the more common. and such q els
tern is described below.
The shape OF the underground els
tern of concrete is generally square.
as the forms for 1t are easier to con-
struct and place than for a round els
tern. To show the usual way Of build
ing, take for example the construction
of a cistern 8 by s by 8 feet inside
measurements, with walls s inches,
bottom 6 inches and top OF v 5
inches thick. Before beginning the
work have all the materials ready at
hand so that the work once started
will not be delayed for want of any
thing. For this reason 1t is well to
have slightly more of everything than
actually required.
Select the most convenient place for
the cistern. AS the walls are 8 inches
thick, lay out the hole 9 feet 4 inches
quare The concrete bottom is 6
inches thick. Therefore dig the pit
10 a depth of s feet 6 inches. Since
the concrete cover or platform will
be 5 inches thick, the top of the els
tern will be 5 inches above the ground,
which is a good feature.
If the earth walls do not crumble
only an inside form will be needed;
otherwise make a similar form for the
outside of the walls of each side.
This form should be built separately,
previous to digging the hole so that
entire form may be quickly set up and
the cistern completed before a chance
shower may make the hole muddy.
For the sides use one-inch boards on
2-by4-inch studding set 2 feet apart.
AS soon as the hole is dug erect the
forms on 6-inch cubes or bricks of
concrete, with 1-inch removable
wedges between the forms and the
bricks. The side wall forms will
later support the platform on which
the concrete cover will be built; and
unless these wedges are used the
forms will bind and be hard to re-
move. Fasten the forms together at
the corners so that they can be easily
taken down after the cistern is fin
ished. Against the earthen walls and
braced to the inside forms, set Inch
boards, IL inches wide, SO as to pre-
vent dirt from crumbling and falling
into the cistern.
The concrete should be mixed rich,
say, / part Portland cement to 2 parts
sand to 4 parts rock. In measuring
the quantities do not count shovelfuls,
but consider one bag of cement equal
to one cubic foot. Clean gravel may
be used, in the proportion Of 1 part
cement to 4 parts gravel. The con
crete for the floor should be just wet
enough to flush a little cement mortar
to the surface when tamped into
place. Place an abundance of mortar
around the concrete blocks support
ing the forms. Without delay begin
filing the side wall forms with con-
crete mixed mushy wet and placed in
s to 10 inch layers around the entire
cistern. Take care not to shovel the
concrete against the earthen sides as
dirt in concrete is liable to make a
leaky wall. Do not stop until the
forms are filed. At the proper points
insert an overflow opening 0f desired)
and a pipe connection for the pump
In tho ho,,se This nine should be car.
ried 8 to 4 feet underground. out OF
danger of freezing.
Every cistern should be covered
with q concrete platform. It is the
only kind which will keep out filth.