296 



Missouri Agricultural Beport. 



rents are prevented in the surface of the sewage by partitions through 

 the tank, the sewage passing from one chamber to another through 

 submerged openings. The solid matter is thus decomposed into liquids 

 and gases, the gases passing off into the air, and the liquid which is 

 now free from dangerous germs being discharged either through a sand 

 filter out on to the soil or carried away by ordinary underdrains to 

 an outlet ditch. This waste material is thi>6 deprived of its dangerous 

 and unsanitary qualities by a method that is simple and requires but 

 little attention after it has once been installed. Such systems, vary- 

 ing in their detail to meet local conditions are now in use in many 

 places throughout the country and their operation' is no longer an 

 experiment. 



Fig. 1. A general view of a septic tank. 



SEPTIC TANK FOR ORDINARY HOUSE. 



A plant of this nature is known as a septic tank. One suitable for 

 a private house of four to six people would be a tank constructed of 

 some material, preferably concrete, which would prevent the seepage 

 of the sewage into the earth until it has passed through the tank. 

 This tank can be placed at any convenient point with reference to the 

 house. Some methods of construction permit of its being placed with- 

 in three or four feet of the walls, the sewage being discharged direct 

 from the iron soil pipe into the tank. The tank should lie not less 



