Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-01
A conersts cistsrn.

A Concrete Cistern.
From the viewpoint Of the Intelligent
housekeeper. there are few things more
important than an abundant supply ..
soft water. Iii the kitchen, Laundry anu
bath room it means tightening OF lapoF
and economy. The ideal soft water Is
rain water, and the old-time RAIN par
rel, so long an institution in this couh-
try. is still extant in some rural as
tricts. 1t is the purpose here TO ais
cuss the ideal rain Darrell" reservoir
unlimited in capacity, tnat MAY
be made iadestructihle and tmpervlous
for all time, something cheap as to nrst
cost and never needing repairs. me
perfect reservoir is the Underground
cistern of concrete.
The first underground cisterns were
always prone to leak. In wet weather
the ground water seeped in and trans
formed the soft wtaer into water as
hard as that from the WELL In dry
weather such cisterns were empty. by
means of concrete property owners are
now able to build their own clsterhs
that are jointless, watertight and large
enough to store an abundance OF so1'
wtaer even in the dryest season.
Concrete cisterns usually cohsis.
of two general types-underground ana
surface clsterns. The choice IS de-
nendent upon the amount or space
available in the yard.
Underground cisterps may be oullt
in any shape desired. For the same
amount Of concrete. round c,sterhs
(with a depth equal TO the diameter)
will hold the most water. However
frame. most cisterns are mace
square, To illustrate the usual meth
I'D of building. consider the construc-
ton Of a cistern sxS feet IN the ciea,'
with walls eight inches thick ana WIN
!, canacity of 121 barrels. Before be-
ginning the work. have all the materials
on hand, slightly more than reauireu.
Locate the cistern in the most
convenient place. Since the waits
are eight inches thick, lay out the
hole nine feet four inches square !ne
concrete bottom is six inches tnlck.
Therefore dig the pit to the deplh u
EIGHT feet six inches. Since the con
crete cover or platform Will ne NV w,
inches thick, the top Of the clstern VIII
be five inches above the GROUND "iiieiA
is desirable feature. IA
If the earth walls stand nrm' ofiiS
an inside form will be needed; other-
wise make a similar form for inc oul,
side Of the walls. This form shouio
be built (each side, separately pre-
vious to digging the pit, 50 tnat
may be quickly erected ana the CHS
tern finished before possible shower
makes the hole muddy. For siding
use one-inch boards on 2x4-1nch up
rights spaced two feet. AS soon as the
hole is dag, set up the former on SIX
inch cubes or bricks OF concrete WIN
one-inch removable wedges between
the forms and the bricks. the size "ail
forms viii later support the platIotlh
on which the concrete cover VIII De
built: and unless these wedges are
used. the forms Will bind and be dr.
ficult to remove. Join the forms at the
corners go that they can be easily
taken down after the cistern is nm
ished. Against the earthen walls
and braced to the inside forms, SET
one-inch boards, twelve inches VIDE,
so as to prevent dirt from crumbnng
and falling into sthe cistern.
Mix the concrete one part Portland
cement to two parts~sand to four parts
crushed rock. In measuring the
quantities. consider one bag Oh &C.
mept equal to one cubic foot. II
gravel is to be used, proportion the
concrete one part cement to four parts
clean gravel For the floor have the
concrete just wet enough to flush
little cement mortar to the surface
when tamped into place. See that
there is an abundance OF mortar
around the concrete blocks support
ing the forms Immediately begin NIL
ing the sidewall forms with concrete
mixed mushy wet and placed IN eight
to ten-irch layers around the entire
cistern. Be careful not to shovel the
concrete against the earthern SIDES as
dirt in concrete is liable to make
leaky wall. Do not stop until the forms
are filed. At the proper points, insert
an overflow opening df desiredo and
sewer pipe connection around the out
side of the cistern so as to hold the
concrete for the nve-!nch platform TO
run water off the finished cistern cover,
slope this frame one inch In the dlrec-
ton desired. Five inches below the fin
ished top Of the cistern cover con-
strrct a strong wooden platform OF
one-inch boards for flooring. Build
this on 2x4-inch 1oists nailed to the
uprights Of the eide form. This wooden
platform will support the concrete