238 



The Country House 





f. 



its water to an effective height. It is not desirable to use water from any small 

 storage vessel for drinking purposes, as it becomes stale and often tastes of the 

 vessel; such water is only fit for general household use. 



The reservoir, as we understand it in the ordinary use of the term, is a 

 receptacle of some size, usually made with masonry walls reinforced by earth 



embankments. On account of size and 

 expense of construction it would hardly 

 come within the consideration of this 

 work, but is rather a part of the public 

 system. But, as it sometimes happens 

 that the natural conditions of land and 

 supply make its consideration of some 

 moment, we will speak of it briefly. 



The ideal form is that of the oval, 

 with vertical retaining walls, having a 

 slight batter along the shore to 10 feet 

 deep or more. From the base of this 

 wall the bottom slopes gradually to a 

 depth of about 20 feet, at which depth 

 it should be uniformly level. These 

 dimensions might apply to a width of 

 50 feet; in a smaller affair they could be 

 reduced proportionally. The masonry 

 should be of considerable strength and 

 laid in cement, the bottom being of 



cement also. It is always better that the reservoir should be built in two com- 

 partments, making it possible to draw off the water and cleanse one compart- 

 ment without interfering with the other. As we have already stated, natural 

 conditions have much to do with their desirability; thus they may be dug into an 

 elevation or level stretch, or enlarged from a natural depression of the land. 



The more common form of private storage is the tank system. This may 

 be made in several different ways. The ordinary iron standpipe, the largest and 

 most expensive type, makes an excellent storage. Its natural ugliness may be 

 hidden by enclosing it in a wooden or masonry shell, and with excellent results. 

 This shell should not touch the standpipe; it should be free and independent of 

 it. This, first, to relieve it of wind pressure, and second, that it may be gotten at 

 readily for painting and repairs. This tank, however, is seldom user 1 , as the wooden 

 tank is now made in large sizes, and is both better and cheaper than the iron. 



The wooden railroad tank, an immense cask with iron hoops, is used con- 

 siderably, and is excellent. Built to perform just this sort of work, it is 

 admirably adapted to the country house. Properly roofed in, and its elevating 

 construction enclosed, it is far from being unsightly. These tanks are built to 

 hold from l,oooto 120,000 gallons, and are preferably of pine or red cypress. For 

 Northern climates, however, it is claimed that cypress, owing to its coarse'grain, is 

 very apt to become water soaked. What the frost and cold may do to this under 

 such conditions is readily surmised. 



Supply tank and lookout at Rowley, Mass. Egyptian motive 



