Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/577

 1869.] Water Supphj for Country Residences. 467 placed them from their position, thus causing crevices in the mortar, around the joints, through which the fibrous roots grew into the water, where branch- ing out into infinite tendrils, the passage through the pipe became plugged and closed, and the water, instead of running out at the buildings below, burst forth above, at numerous points, so that I was soon forced to replace the earthen pipes with those of lead. Soon, however, another difficulty pre- sented itself. The water was nearly pure, containing little, if any impurity, other than atmospheric air. The car- bonic acid and oxygen of the air, thus held in solution, in a short time, acting upon the lead, the latter was carried along, partly in solution, and partly in suspension, in the water. As a conse- quence, not only was the pipe destro^yed, but members of the family were poisoned by drinking the lead. Thus showing, that there are other difficulties to con- tend with, besides getting the water to the house. Of what, then, should the conducting pipe be formed? Leaden pipes, lined with tin, have been proposed, (tin, it being supposed, not containing poisonous or deleterious properties.) My opinion, however, is, that these two metals being in contact, a galvanic ac- es ' o tion is induced, causing the solution and removal of the tin lining, and thus the exposure of the lead to the further action of the water, with its evil consequences. We have an example of this daily before our eyes, in the tin utensils about our kitchen, as well as on the tin roofs of our houses. These last, if not protected by paint, are soon destroyed. What, then, should be the material, out of which our water pipes should be constructed ? I answer, iron. Iron, it is said, will soon rust. This I admit. But is it not better to sacrifice our dol- lars, than our health, or even our lives ? Iron pipes, however, are manufactured by Messrs. Morris, Tasker & Co., of this city, which are coated with zinc, b}' a galvanic process, that for a long time protects them from rust. Neither zinc nor iron have poisonous or deleterious properties. But, on the contrary, are rather promotive of health. These pipes are not costly, and are joined by screws, which any unskilled person may put to- gether, thus saving the enormous plumb- er's bills attendant upon the use of lead. Let me, then, recommend these galvan- ized iron pipes, as being far preferable to those of any other material. When the house is situated above the source of water supply, the question will arise, how is it to be best driven to the house ? There are two methods now in use. One by means of the pump, the other by means of the hydraulic ram. The pump may be worked by several methods. When the supply is to be de- rived from a deep well, an hydraulic ram cannot be used, and a pump coming into requisition, may be worked by hand, by horse, by steam-power, or by a wind- mill. Where a large supply is required, perhaps the Ericson caloric engine will be the most economical for pumping from a well. With this kind of house supply, and a large reservoir, placed in the loft of a barn, or other outhouse, or an adjacent elevation, there will be great certainty, Where the supply of water is to be de- rived from a living spring, on the sur- face, with a fall below the source, and where the supply of water is sufficient, a water wheel will be found efficient, though expensive for a family of ordi- nary size. Where economy is an object, avoid machinery ; it is expensive at the outset, and expensive afterwards, requiring constant repairs and renewal. All pumps involve the necessity of ma- chinery, whether moved by hand, by horse, hy the wind, or by steam. The most economical machine of all others, according to my experience, is the hydraulic ram. I admit, that when improperly placed, as is most generally the case, and not protected from extra-