George Edwin Waring

The Sanitary Drainage of Houses and Towns George Edwin Waring

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1876 Excerpt: ... "An earth-closet will no more work without dry earth than a water-closet will work without water;" but the dryness here referred to is not absolute dryness, for the earth of the closet will always contain what moisture may be absorbed from the atmosphere. This, and even a little more than this, I have found to be not at all objectionable. What is required is, according to Professor Joy, that so much of the moisture of the fasces shall be immediately withdrawn from them that there shall be too little left to cause an offensive putrefaction. The best manner for drying the earth depends very much upon the quantity required, and the means at command. Two or three cart-loads, which will be sufficient for a year's use of an ordinary family, may be taken from a ploughed field or a road-side gutter during the dry weather of summer. Dumped in an out-of-the-way corner under a wood-shed, or in any other dry place, being underlaid with boards to prevent it from absorbing the moisture of the earth, it will soon become sufficiently dry for use, and will remain so throughout the dampest and foggiest weather of the winter or spring. It might be equally well kept in a dry and well-ventilated cellar. It may be sifted, little by little, as wanted, and it will answer tolerably well if it is merely put through the ordinary coal-sifter, though something finer would be preferable. My sieve has six meshes to the inch; perhaps four would do as well. When the earth is sifted, it may be stowed away in boxes or barrels in some easily accessible place, and there remain until wanted for use. This is sufficient for the requirements of a private house. In preparing for the supply of a large town, it would be necessary to procure a land-right, in order that deep excavations can be made. Th...