Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/142

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Broom Closet Utilizing Waste Space

IX a Chicago house book cases are built in around one corner of a living room. At the joining of the two cases there is a small waste space, not to be utilized for shelves and covered at the top by a broad shelf which iinishes oft

���The corner inside two bookcases can be utilized as a broom closet by- cutting a door. Thus a waste cubby-hole is converted into a useful space at a very slight cost

��BROOM CLOSET

��the cases five feet above the floor. As the kitchen is immediately behind the room this little waste "cubby hole" has been "tapped" by a narrow door open- ing into the rear room. It is just large enough to hold the broom and dust cloths.

A Cheap Septic Tank

A PERFECT septic tank can be built at a small cost by following the plan here illustrated. A tank six feet long by three feet square (inside measurement), will answer the re- quirements of a family of six people. After digging the hole, and before placing the form, fill the bottom of the hole with 8'' of concrete, mixed five to one. Then place the form upon the concrete making sure that there is a space of no less than 8'^ between the form and the sides of the hole. Set the

��Popular Science Monthly

form so that the top is level ; then fill all around with concrete. Tamp the concrete in well, being sure not to use any large stones, as the tank must be water tight.

Next comes the top. Cover the form over with boards, leaving a hole in the center sixteen inches square for the manhole. Build a box around this eight inches high. Then cover the top of the tank with concrete, being sure to have it smooth around the hole.

The concrete work should all be done at one time, so there will be no seams in the work.

For the cover of the manhole make a frame twenty-four inches square and four inches deep ; fill this with concrete and let it stand until dry and hard. The cover must be set in cement to insure an air tight joint, for unless the tank is air tight it will not work. After the concrete has set, remove all the forms from the inside. It is best to use a good rich mixture of cement around the inlet and outlet pipes to insure a good tight joint.

For A, the inlet, use common four- inch tile, and from B, the outlet, use three-inch tile. The tile may be run to a cesspool or may be branched out in two or three directions and used to irrigate a small garden spot. The tank can be set underground just far enough to have sufficient dirt over it to make

��^^ — 1 ManMe

14,

���This form of home-made septic

tank can be used with success by

a family of six people

a lawn, as it will not freeze in cold w^eather. If it is air tight it will not have to be opened after putting in operation. It is a good plan to fill the tank full of water and let it stand a day or two, to be sure that it does not leak, before cementing the cover on.

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