Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1915 — Page 3

Simple Sanitary System For the Farm Home

SIMPLE sanitary system '/Cwlrffm' tor the farm h&8 tour distinct features. It provides for: (1) A flf V pure water supply ✓ (2) Pumping, storage and distribution of water supply. (S) A dur- \ J able and simple plumb* T ing system. (4) A safe disposal for farm sewage. ▲ pure water supply is one of the most important factors in farm life today, as {yphoid fever, dysentery and other disorders may be carried by impure waters. Farm water supplies are very subject to pollution. 0( 79 typical water supplies in Minnesota, Investigations showed that 20 were good and 59 polluted. Twenty-five of those polluted were bad only because of poor surface protection, and could easily have been made safe. Practically all the surface supplies were polluted. During these investigations 28 of the farms examined showed a record of typhoid fever. Surface water supplies should not be used for household purposes, or for washing prilk cans. They should not even be used for laundry purposes unless no other water supply is available. Rain water from the roof is often polluted by dust, leaves and the droppings from birds. Any person who drinks water from surface supplies endangers his health if such supplies are not adequately protected and then purified. Where underground waters are ,hard to obtain, cisterns may be used where the store of rain water and surface supplies will be filtered and partially purified. 1 The cistern should be of watertight construction, to prevent leakage and to prevent pollution from the neighboring soiL It should have an overflow drain and a tight cover. There should also be suitable provision for straining or filtering the water previous to its entrance to the cistern. Farm wells are often polluted from local sources. They are often located for convenience near the barn or stable, or close to the back door, out

of* which household slops are thrown. The soil surrounding tly well becomes saturated with organic filth and. allows the surface water percolating through it to carry its load of contamination into the .well. The curbing or covering is often loosely constructed of boards, permitting small animals and vermin to fall Into the well; and surface water carrying filth and manure, especially after rains, runs. Into the well from the top. Both deep and shallow wells are subject to contamination. Of 177 deep and 411 shallow farm wells examined in Indiana, 116 of the deep well waters Grere of good quality, 46 were bad, and 16 were doubtful; 159 of the shallow well waters were good, 209 were very bad, and 43 were doubtful. The safety of water supplies near sources of possible surface pollution often depends largely on the character and quality of the material In which the .well Is sunk. The farm well, especially a shallow dug well, should be located somewat above the barnyards, and stock pens, at least in such a position that the surface drainage from all possible sources of contamination is away from the well. If local conditions and prices will permit, it is a good idea to provide Impervious floors with water-tight

WAR’S EFFECT ON ALL ARTS

1 ' Inevltauly Bad in the Extreme, is the Opinion Expressed by William Dean Howells. “War stops literature,” says William Dean Howells, “ft is an upheaval of •civilization, a return to barbarism; it means death to all arts. Even the preparation for war stops literature.” Mr. Howell’s opinion is probably shared by a good many observers, and by a good many more—Brander Mat-

By R. W. TRULLINGER.

drains for farm buildings and stock pens, Under the same conditions concrete manure pits might well be provided not only to prevent the liquid manure from polluting the neighboring soil but to save the manure. No garbage, manure or rubbish should be dumped into sinks or basins in the immediate neighborhood, and these should .be, fenced off and kept free from polluting matter. The house should be provided with some safe method of sewage disposal, while slbps and garbage from the kitchen should be deposited in tightly covered garbage cans and disposed of by burying in the fields, burning, or feeding to pigs. The use of privy vaultß and leaching or overflowing cesspools should be absolutely avoided, since they are likely to be sources

Principle of Operation of an AutoPneumatic Pump.

of the worst contamination. The farmer should become acquainted with the various types of wells and the best methods of protection, and the well should be so protected as to exclude filth from those sources of contamination which it has been impossible J;o remove or which have been overlooked. In /the selection, location and sinking of a well it is always a good idea to consider permanence in addition to safety. The well should penetrate to

Application of Autopneumatle System to a Farm Home.

levels below that of the ground-water surface in the driest seasons. Unpolluted springs are as a rule good sources of water supply, since the water usually comes from great depths within the rock or is filtered through many layers of sand and gravel. However,’ springy are subject to pollution from the same sources as wells and should be closely watched in this respect. Farm spring supplies are often polluted by the drainage from buildings and Btock pens. Spring- water supplies from limestone are also subject to pollution from , distant garbage and sewage dumps in sinkholes. The same 'precautions should be taken for safeguarding spring supplies as in the case of wells, and in addition tne spring should always be fenced to keep out the stock. Spring supplies should be frequently examined for pollution of any kind, and the water should be. bailed before drinking, if possible, although this is not absolutely necessan r in all cases. After a pure water supply has been made available for the farm home, the quantity of water heeded must be considered. A suitable pumping eqtiipr ment must be chosen and then a satisfactory means for distributing and storing the water must be provided. Hand-operated systems are applicable where small quantities are re-

thews among them—it is entirely* rejected. The fact t remains, however, that we have had five months of the most appalling war that the world has ever known, and in that length of time , l>o literary product that will survive beyond its little hour. This may prove Mr. Howells right, or it may prove merely that we have uot yet had enough war to produce the stimulating effect that others ascribe to it If the latter is the case, literature must be In the doldrums, indeed, and it would prove interesting to know how much

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND. »vJ iit *• vs, s* ■■ ’■ £ 1 *.• f-.V " ~ j. - ,. -Sag- .. . ■ '

quired for house service only, but !a case water Is wanted for stock aIBO the use of a windmill, engine, electric motor, or hydraulic ram is necessary. It a windmill is used the storage should be large enough for at least three days* supply, to provide water in case of calm weather. Where the other sources of power are used the storage capacity need not exceed one day’s supply. The plumbing system for the average farm home should bo simple and its material and construction should be durable. Water pipes should "be arranged so as to carry the water in as nearly a straight line as possible to the point of discharge. The use of lead pipe or lead-lined receptacles for drinking water Bhould be avoided in small private systems. The sewer plumbing serves as a drain for the water plumbing. The drainage system should be so constructed as to carry away completely everything emptied into it, and. it should be constantly vented, frequently and thoroughly flushed, and have each of its openings into the house securely guarded. All drains, poll pipe, and waste, pipe should be water-tight and air-tight. All plumbing should be tested by’ filling with water or smoke to detect leaks. An excellent process of sewage disposal is partly mechanical and partly bacterial, consisting of a preliminary septic tank treatment and of final treatment by application to a natural soil by surface or subsurface distribution, or to a specially prepared filter. The septic tank, although air-tight and supposedly water-tight, should be located as far from the house and the well or spring as convenience and local surroundings will permit, thus reducing the danger of pollution or nuisance in case of leakage or improper operation of the system. Contrary to the usual opinion, small sewage systems require some watching and care. It is well to study the system and watch the action in the entire plant for any signs of clogging or waterlogging. If the sewage is applied contiguously to the final disposal system and in such quantities that the system is. kept saturated, the filter or disposal area becomes waterlogged and "sewage sick" and ceases to be effective. A grease trap is described which acts as a separator of grease and sewage from the kitchen sink or dairy room. If gr.ease.ls allowed to enter the sewer it accumulates and eventually clogs the systemThe above features are desOTibed la Bulletin No. 57 of United States agri-

cultural department, which consists of 46 pages and contains 38 figures and diagrams with a number of tables.

Miss the Absent Ones.

It bas been noticed that since the war broke out the number of charges of defamation and violence lodged by tenants against? their concierges and vice versa, has enormously increased. The Cri de Paris suggests a pleasant and plausible explanation. It is that numbers of wives who had been accustomed to have daily “words” with their long-suffering husbands now find this occupation gone. So, jnst to keep an edge to their tongues, they sharpen them on their concierges. But concierges are by no means of so meek a race as husbands, and the fair ones receive as good as they give, and very often a legal summons aa well. —Paris Letter to the London Telegraph. " ,

New York's Monster Cheese.

To make the monster cheese that New York state will exhibit at the Panama-Pacific exposition took a whole day’s supply of mHk for 26 cheese factories—lo6*ooo pounds in ail. The cheese is more than six feet in diametef, nearly five feet high and weighs between five and six tons. The mound in which It was made was built up of galvanized iron hoops.

war thoße who believe in war’s revivifying tonic think ,1s required to produce a masterpiece in letters, or painting or drama or music. Someone, surely/ought to be able to figure it out—to tell us, in round numbers, how much blood must be spilled, how many battles must be fought, how many, lands made desolate, how many thousands of men maimed and killed and how many hearts bowed low with grief before art is purged clean and genius is stimulated to. respond to war’s inspiration.—lndianapolis Nsw|

Home Town Helps

FOR PROPER CITY PLANNING Authority Make* Assertion * That Beauty and Commercial Prosperity Go Hand in Hand. “There la no reason why our cities should not be sensibly planned. There Is no reason why they should be allowed to run wild and grow without care and scientific regulation. There is no reason why commercial considerations should ruin the beauty of a city, and there Is no reason why considerations of beauty should Interfere with Its commercial prosperity.” So said Arnold W. Brunner of New York city at the annual convention of the American Civic association in Washington when he responded to the subject, "Our Surroundings and Their Influence.” Continuing, Mr. Brunner said: “There is every reason why these two considerations should go hand in hand and supplement each other. They do so when we destroy a slum, and let In light and decency, when we open up a congested district and replace a mass of disgraceful tenements by a playground, when modern harbor improvements supersede old wharves and neglected water fronts, iWe must make it clear that city planning properly understood, is Intended to prevent blighted districts; to prevent the ruin of our streets; to prevent the spoliation of our parks and squares. We must make it clear that it is not only a good financial investment but that It brings a direct return in the improvement of the welfare, comfort and happiness of the citizen. I believe that our newer ideas of social Justice will produce better cities. Citieß will be cleaner, healthier, more beautiful, for even the untrained already feel that their rights are not recognized and realize vaguely that their sensibilities are hurt by unsightly surroundings. The outside of the other fellow’s house is of more Importance to us than that of our own, and he must consider us as we must him. “The future American cities will be beautiful and inspiring, and Washington will lead them all. When the L’Enfant plan is pushed further, as it surely will be, the Lincoln memorial finished, and the glorious mall, lined with dignified buildings, sweeps triumphantly up to the capitol as a climax, we shall have a scene, a background worthy of a great nation.”

HOLD CHILDREN’S INTEREST

Garden Cultivation Has Proved a Great Success in the City of Albany, N. Y.

At the annual convention Of the American Civic association Mrs. John T. D. Blackburn of Albany, N. Y„ told a most interesting story of "Children at Work in Gardens” in her home city, where, during the past two or three years, children have been interested to develop flower and vegetable gardens about their homes. At the close of each summer session a garden exhibit is held where are displayed the best selections of flowers and vegetables, plants grown in pots from seeds and plant! grown in’ window boxes. Awards are made to the children for the best efforts. Concerning this kind of activity for children) Mrs. Blackburn said: “Gardening gave increased health and knowledge of nature, and furnished a continuous interest through the summer, giving a purpose to life. It kept the children at home and off the streets, promoted a common interest in the family and reduced the cost of living.”

Avoid Straight Lines.

The third, and last, of the great fundamental rales of landscape design, “Avoid straight lines,” is, in the opinion of the writer, of almost as great importance as the first and chief rale which the greatest authorities have laid down for governing our garden planning. As the average young lady says of everything that meets heir approval: “It is Just too cute for anything.” It permits the entry of more art in detail than all other rales combined, and provides for intricacy of design ; ease of approach, access without apparent restraint, and availability of all parts without departure from the “shortest line between two given points.” Compliance with this rale is accomplished with more pleasure than in dealing with any other, yet it is a dangerous dictate for the novice or amateur to deal with.

Paint Adds to Appearance.

All buildings and appliances on the farm will be improved greatly, both in appearance and in serviceability, by the addition of paint. One may buy ready-mixed paints, or may purchase paste pigments and o£l and mix them. All surfaces should be clean and dry before they are painted. Use a priming coat made of equal parts of paint and linseed oil and cover with one or more coats of paint, which should be thoroughly rubbed into the surface.

Model of Yosemite Valley.

According to the bulletin of the American Geographical society, a large relief model of the Tosemite valley is being constructed at the office of public roads in Washington, for the government exhibit at the PanamaPacific exposition. *

PRESERVATION OF TIES

MATTER HAS BECOME IMPORTANT TO RAILROADS. Chemicals Called to Aid in Lengthening the Ljfe of Indispensable Unit of Operation—How the Work Is Done. The tree question is of seriouß import to the railroads of the country. Our forests have for many years been stripped of their trees at an alarming rate, and as a consequence the price of logs in the rough and lumber, dressed and undressed, has advanced by leaps and bounds. Some of the railroads have endeavored to meet the situation by planting trees along the right of way, but with indifferent success. Many of them have to buy ties from along the lines of other roads, but up to the present time.the Baltimore ft Ohio has been able to secure a sufficiency along its own route, not, however, at anything like the favorable prices which obtained ten or fifteen years ago. Hence the motive in conserving the timber belts by practicing greater economy In the uses thereof, and to preserve by the injection of chemicals that which they are forced to buy. The annfial requirements of the Baltimore ft Ohio for renewals alone are 2,500,000 ties, which involve for this one item of track maintenance an expenditure of approximately $1,500,000 a year for material delivered at the nearest siding to the woods from wtych it is cut. The tie par excellence is of white oak, but the red oak family is largely used and the preservation system tmed at Green Spring, Md., enables the company to employ large quantities of pine, beech, gum, maple, elm and ash. These latter woods haye hitherto been considered too fragile and the period of their longevity too brief to warrant employment, especially under’heavy traffic, For in grounding ties, matter of frequent removals and replacements, due to early decay, involved an enormous outlay for labor account Now, however, all of the woods named can be, and are being, successfully and economically used by the Baltimore ft Ohio.

.The treatment given ties at Green Spring is what is known as the Card process, named after the inventor. The Ingredients of the composition in which the wood is saturated are sine chloride and coal tar creosote. The average quantity absorbed is half a pound of zinc chloride and three pounds of creosote per cubic foot of timber. The cost of treatment Is about twenty-five cents a tie, inclusive of labor, composition, depreciation of plant and interest on the investment. The average life of a red oak tie is about eight years, and its Initial cost is in the neighborhood of sixty cents. The treated tie costing 85 cents’ complete will last from fifteen to twenty years. The Green Spring plant has a capacity of 100,000 treated ties per month, working 24 hours a day. Its principal feature consists of two huge cylindrical retorts, each 132 feet long and seven feet in diameter. They are equipped with heating coils and perforated pipes, and are built of steel plates three-quarters of an inch thick with a working pressure of 175 pounds to the square inch In these retorts is accomplished the actual work of tie preservation. The ties are loaded on steel tram cars, which are run into the retorts,-in the bottom of which are laid permanent tracks of SO-inch gauge. Each retort will contain eight trams bearing 325 ties. When placed and the retorts sealed, the zinc-creosote solution at a temperature of 190 degrees is passed into the cylinders by gravity from two steel tanks with a holding capacity of 68,000 gallons each, through a teninch supply pipe. Centrifugal pumps are then set in motion to keep the solution in a constant state of agitation in order to effect a uniform absorption by proportion of each chemical by the timber. A gauge on the solution tank indicates when the desired amount of absorption has been attained, which is accomplished in about six hours. The solution remaining in the retorts ~ '.s *-’* -• r #~--w.'vi:'

Watching the Ties and Ralls.

is then forced back into the supply tank by compressed air and the tramcars drawn, their places immediately being taken by another train. When the ties have sufficiently cooled (which takes place very quickly), they are transferred from the trams to railroad cars and forwarded to sections on the line where needed.

BUILDING LINES IN ALASKA

Calls for Engineering 8kil! That Rival* That Displayed by Engineer* of Panama Canal} “When the historian of the ages writes the story of the‘’Panama canal, he will doubtless Include that great work among the wonders of the modern world, but I doubt if the building of the canal is greater than the construction of the Alaskan railroads will be>” said' Col. W. P. Richardson, the "road builder” of Alaska, while on a visit to Washington. "The construction of the Panama canal has been a wonderful work, and the engineers, the sanitary officers, and operators deserve all the credit that can be given them; but after all, the building of thq canal was merely a big engineering construction sanitary undertaking. The men who built the canal knew they had to cut through tons of earth and clean up the country and solve engineering problems as they went along. ' 'A "Up in Alaska it is an entirely different undertaking. The mere building of railroads would not be a difficult task, but the construction of the Alaskan railroads involves not only the surveying of lines, the laying of ties, and the building of roadbeds, but it means the development of an unknown country. Alaska is unknown, except superficially. The building of railroads is a big job, but the construction work is only the beginning, and, in my opinion, when the railroads of Alaska have been completed, under .government supervision, ownership, or otherwise, the historian will write that the job was a big, if not bigger, than the building of the. Panama, canal.”

Andros island, among the Bahamas, is 90 miles in length and 20 to 40 miles in breadth, and most of it* extensive area has never , been explored. It is an unbroken wilderness, inhabited solely by about 3,500 negroes. It has great forests, seldom penetrated by white men, of mahogany, mastic, ebony, logwood and cedar; swamps, creeks and bayous teeming with wild fowl, including the flamingo, which is < found here in vast numbers. No real effort has been made to exploit its resources. It is said to be the only one of the Bahamas which has running* streams of water, and is surrounded by a series of barrier reefs, which provide sheltered waters ideal for yachting. It is a splendid field for the sportsman.

A five-year-old girl had a narrow escape from death on the track of the Houston & Texas Central railroad at Corsicana, Tex. The child was walking along the track of the road directly in front of the switch engine. When discovered by the train men they were within a few feet of the little girl, and the whistle Mew and the child ceemed not to hear it. The fireman Stepped to • the foot board* reached around the drawhead, caught the child and threw her from the track and the engineer caught her and lifted her out of danger. When the fireifian took hold of the child the engine was within six inches of her.

A remarkable instance of railroad building where no traffic was to bo obtained is found in Scotland, In the Paisley and Barrhead line. It was authorized by parliament in 1897 and was finally completed. From the day of ila completion to the present not * Single train has ever ran over the line * *

With an eyejjp tim C®j trap in the form of a vase for artificial flowers, flies being attracted to a liquid poison in Its base.

Rich Land Unexplored.

Brave Deed of Fireman.

No Business for Railroad Line.

Ornamented Fly Trap.