Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-27

Of hope True. it's a sort of compromise
ray of minor effulgence. but even at that
haven't told Jane, for fear 1t may
flicker out. A combination plumber and
the city told me on the car the other
evening that he recently installed in a
farmhouse a kitchen sink and bathtub
and a drainage system that was sani-
tary and would not freeze. furnishing all
materials, at cost # $45. He is coming
tomorrow to look over my place and il he
can make a like installation for me at
anything near that figure I'll give him
the order.
There would be no running water and
stove, but the sink would save Jane a
lot of work. and the bathtub. even II 1t
did have to be filled with a pail. would be
a thing of joy. One difficulty that pre-
sents itself is the absence of a bathroom
on the first floor where the tub would
installation and because Of the job Of car
rying water to It. The only solution 1
can think of is that James kitchen is
larger than any kitchen need be and it
might be possible to partition or curtain
off a corner of it for a bathroom. Jane
takes a lot of satisfaction in her big and
airy kitchen and she might object to the
plan. but down deep have a feeling that
she would welcome a bathtub on any
terms. even If 1t had to be- placed in the
parlor. 1 don't like the notion of spend
ing even $45 to improve another man S
with privilege of renewal and option of
purchase I figure on getting my moneys
worth.
Problem of Waste Water.
One objection to a bathtub and kitchen
sink Is that the water would go to waste
and wasting water is a high crime and
misdemeanor at Sunny Knoll. Since
came so near pumping my well dry
through hauling water to the garden,
have At If Jane or one of the children
empties so much as a dipper full on the
ground l bought three water-tight bar
rels and made covers to fit them. They
stand just outside the kitchen door, and
every bit of water that has been used
for household purposes. except greasy
dishwater, goes into them. The chickens
get fresh water three times a day this
hot weather. but before their fountains
are filled the boys go around with pail.
collect the stale water and dump 1t into
barrel. The rains Of the past few days
have made the question Of water for the
garden less acute. but there are no as
surances that July and August will not
see dry spells. whom a few barrels of
water would be the salvation Of my gar
den. When that hard shower came up
pan and pail 1 could lay hands on under
the caves Of the house and barn, but even
at that / almost wept at the sight Of
tons of water going to waste.
II l should buy Sunny Knoll. or any
other farm. about my first Improvement
would be some method of catching and
storing water. for use in the garden dur
ing periods when rain refuses to fall. l
had been figuring on some scheme of
pumping water from the creek but when
Tht,rc dow yony rO nd nho1
great gobs Of water running Off down
the hill 1t occurred to me that all need
ed was storage capacity.
With the many uses now made of con-
crete 1t ought to be possible to catch
enough water in the winter and spring to
irrigate fgarden all summer. l know
long time it becomes stale and sour
Whether such water would be injurious
instead of beneficial to crops is a ques-
ton upon which I'd have to get expert
advice. I'll get the advice before / build
my tank, but I am thoroughly convinced
that even with the abundant annual rain
fall of this part Of the country any irri-
cation system not too costly for con-
struction and maintenance would pay big
dividends on the investment.
Lack of Fire Protection.
Another disadvantage of country life
which has to do with water. or the lack
of water. was brought home forcibly to
me Tuesday evening-the almost utter alb
sence Of fire protection. With a dozen
other men 1 stood helplessly by and
watched a neighbor's house burn to the
ground. 1t wasn't much of a house. it
is true, but it had sheltered q hard
working woman and her three fatherless
children and represented about all they
had in the world. There was no insur-
ance and the fve acres Of poor land
would not justify loan sufficient for
the building of another home
The woman, Mrs. Jarvis, and her chill
dren we're half q mile away, picking