302 Of securing houses and their inhabitants from fire, 
Water may thus, always be found, at hand for the extinction of 
fire in the upper part of a building, however elevated it may be. 
—Whatever passes off by the spout may be conveyed to anew set of 
teceiving vessels below, so as to increase at pleasure the stock of 
water below. If these lower receiving vessels be of wood, covered 
at top, and placed on the ground in a warm aspect, I have found 
by some experience, that frost in general is not likely to injure 
them ; provided (as was hinted above) that the general form of these 
vessels be that of a truncated cone, with the base placed uppermost. 
—Should the cellar however be held as the more eligible place for re- 
ceiving the surplus water, it may be preserved there in tanks of stone 
of any form, or of brick lined with a suitable mortar: but unless there 
be a drain from the cellar, more water should not be cana: there 
than is necessary for family uses. 
Here we might quit the subject of the artificial collection of water; ; 
but perhaps a few additional words may be indulged: to me on this sub- 
ject,by way of extending the use of the hints here given, though what 
Tam now about to offer is not specifically connected with the subject 
of conflagration.—I begin then, by remarking, that persons who live in 
portions of the United States, where the springs issue from a soil sup- 
posed to be unhealthy, or who reside in prairies or other places where 
there are so often no springs whatever ; may collect rain-water, on a 
very extensive scale, not only by the means of the roofs of dwelling 
houses, but of those of out-houses, and even by the help of paved 
surfaces of the ground; the water in the latter case being made to 
enter into a cess-pool to deposit its impurities before it enters the re- 
servoirs where it is to remain for use.—Rain-water is originally, the 
purest of all waters, and may serve for family use in various ways; 
but what is intended for drinking should be obtained from a partof 
the roof always kept clean with that very view; and if necessary, it 
may be preserved afterwards in vessels properly ‘sched .—Water may 
also be collected thus for the use of cattle, as in Antigua; and this 
example may be imitated, inthe case of farms which are remote 
from proper watering places.—If rain-water be required for the water- 
ing of gardens, especially on account of its softness, sheds in gardens 
will furnish roofs for collecting it; and asa last resource, paved sur- 
faces of ground will supply unlimited amounts, at little cost or trou- 
ble.-—Where water descends from a roof, it willin many instances be 
useless to confine it within a pipe in its descent; for it will rush down 
in floods on the outside of solid, wooden, upright poles, properly 
