240 



The Country House 







The tanks are made of wrought steel tested to a pressure of about 150 pounds 

 to the square inch. It is claimed that about 10 pounds pressure will deliver water 

 to the second story under ordinary circumstances, and that an average pressure 



of 50 pounds can be maintained by 

 pumping a little every day. A pres- 

 sure of 40 pounds will deliver water to 

 points 85 feet above the tank. It is 

 also claimed from actual test that a 

 4 x 24-foot tank will deliver through a 

 2 l-inch hose a free column of water 100 

 feet high. It is important to remem- 

 ber that the tank should be fully large 

 enough to allow for the loss of pressure 

 in the consumption of the water; it is 

 necessary to refill the tank when about 

 one-half the w r ater has been used. 



These storage tanks range in capac- 

 ity from about 1 50 gallons to 13, 500 gal- 

 lons. The sizes which are used for the 

 ordinary house are those of from 300 

 to 500 gallons. These tanks alone cost 

 from $75 up, beside the pump and its 

 connections. Thus it will be seen that 

 the system is not cheap, although it is 

 extremely simple. A plant, consisting of 

 a 5 x 2O-foot tank, a hot-air engine and 

 piping connections to several houses, 



etc., in a small settlement has been installed in one instance for about $1,000. 



Tanks may be doubled up into a battery, forming a storage of considerable size. 



Great things are claimed for it, and it seems to have given satisfaction so far 



as has been heard from. It surely has the advantage of doing away with some 



of the natural disadvantages of the ordinary elevated 

 tank. However, as it is a "growing" system as yet, 

 whatever its weak points may be, if any, they will with- 

 out doubt be eliminated in its later perfection. 



Common rain water, owing to its softness, 

 is frequently used for general purposes. This is 

 stored in cisterns, located either in the cellar or 

 on the attic floor. The cellar cistern is com- 

 monly built of brick and cement, and should 

 be absolutely tight, having openings only for 

 pump, water leaders and vent. It should be 

 well protected from the invasion of mice and 

 other animals, as well as insect life. As 



Water tank of the hacienda of Mrs. Hearst 



Fig. 44. Section showing the working of an 



hydraulic ram 

 a. Inlet b. Outlet c. Weighted valve d. Air chambe; 



this form is apt to cause dampness, the attic type should be used, if possible. 

 To avoid the pump, the attic cistern is used. This should have extensive 



