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Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 21, no. 529: May 4, 1878

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Real Estate Record AND BUILDERS' GUIDE. Vol. XXI. NEW YOEK, SATUEDAY, MAY 4, 1878. No. 529. Pidilished 'Weekly by TERMS. ONE YEAR, in advance....SIO.OO. Communications should be addressed to C. -wr. SWEET, Nos. 345 AND 347 Broadway. THE HYGIENICS OF BUILDING. "VI.—ConrfwsiCP. Gas Lighting.—The three sources of danger in a modem d-cvelling which science is called upon to deal -with are the invasion of sewer gas through the house soil pipe, the invasion of coal gas through the furnace flues, and the invasion of illuminating gas through leakages in the gas fittings. We have already discussed two of these topics and suggested means of prevention. We now come to discuss the third and last one. The fastidiousness of American taste calls for the burying of gas .service pipes out of sight In France the law compels the builder to place these service pipes on the outside of walls and ceilings without reference to appearances. Jf the Health Board was aware to what extent the modem dwelling house is subject to the invasion of this poisonous illuminating gas from cracked pipes and broken joints of gas fitting, probably a similar law would be enacted in this State. These fractures and dislocations of joints arise as much from the manner in which they are introduced into buildings as from any chance inferiority' of pipe metal used for this purpose. Ordinarily these pipes are suspended from ceilings by hooks attached to the floor beams. These horizontal pipes ai-e connected with vex-tical supply pipes leading directly from the house meter. Probably no more insecure method of introducmg these pipes can be devised than the one now commonly employed. The weights sustained by house beams are unequal and unevenly distributed, and these alone tend to produce the dislocation and crack¬ ing of such pipes. To these causes is superadded the certain and unavoidable shrinkage of beams which are often introduced into buildings in a damp if not a green condition. In time they com¬ pletely give up their moisture tbrough the action of artificial heat and the natural dryness of the atmosphere which suiTounds them. Besides leakage from pipes which are carried over ceUings, under floors and within partitions, there is apt to be considerable leakage about the fixture joints, especially about the faucets which turn on or shut off the illuminating gas. There is no excuse for these leakages of fixtures, provided the householder takes pains to purchase the goods from the best manufacturers and there is certain¬ ly no remedy for them except the (watchfulness of the housekeeper. It is important that all ex¬ posed fixtures should be periodically examined, as even the best made joints are apt to become loose, and the thread of the screw which holds the fixtures to the pipe may corrode and rust The plug or core of the faucet is also liable to wear away like the core of a croton faucet and should be peri¬ odically renewed. All the devices of good work¬ manship may fail to protect us from ixissiblo leak¬ age in the supply pipes themselves. In a very carefully executed job, it might be wise to intro¬ duce the gas by means of lead pipe which is more tractable than the ordinary ii-on pipe, and the joints can be securely and tightly soldered. Another safe method would be to encase the ordinary iron gas pipe in an outside pipe, say of galvanized iron or cheap lead pipe. The enclosing pipe would act as a container or receiver for any gas which might escape from the service pipe. It would be necessary to provide an outlet for this enclosing or containing pipe into a ventilating flue, or at some one acce.ssible point where the fact of a leakage might be easily discovered. Tbe proper distribution and protection of the.se gas sei'vice pipes is a subject that deserves the atten¬ tion of sanitarians equally with that of sewer pipes. Escape of gas cften arises from the corrosion or faultiness of the burner tips or nipples, and from the imperfect combustion of the flame. The central dark blue spot that is perceptible/ in most jets represents uncombusted gas that finds its way into the atmosphere of the dwelling. The lava tip burner with automatic check valve is the latest mechanical improvement in this de¬ partment. This fixture, coupled with the opal glass globe, Avith broad flaring bottom, which has been lately introduced, seems to afford the per¬ fection of result in gas lighting, to wit: a bright steady flame of completely combusted gas, the glare being softened by the color aud shape of the new globes. Automatic gas lighters are now attracting attention and exhibit meritorious re¬ sults. Ulsinfectants.—Probably the commonest am¬ bition iu this country-, and the subject about which the American intellect is most actively exercised, is to devise some useful and valuable invention by the patent of which the inventor may expect to de¬ rive a comfortable fortune. It may be safely said that not more than five or ten out of every five hundred curreut inventions are of permanent utility. The rest have either an ephemeral value, or fail entirely to satisfj' any actual want. We regard as a benefactor of the race any one who exercises his inventive faculty to devise methods and appliances calculated to promote household convenience or healthfuluess. There is no field more in-viting for such exploits than the human habitation, and certainly none where the efforts of genius might rely upon ampler rewards. We have no terror of inventions and no morbid sensitiveness about alluding to them. Next to the credit of perfecting meritorious inventions, honor belongs to whoever will take pains to find out the honest and useful ones, and give the public the benefit of his experience and research. We in¬ tend, as far as our limited opportunities -will per¬ mit, to inform ourselves upon the efficacy of current inventions in the sjihere of building im¬ provements, and from time to time we -will give our readers the benefit of cm- information. We will expressly stipulate that no inventions shall be mentioned in our editorial columns except such as have been thoroughly examined and tried, and then we shall aim to confine our criticisms to those which we'consider practical and praise¬ worthy. We have no fear of taxing the credulity of our readers, but shall rely upon their intelli¬ gent discrimination to rightly estimate the weight aud value of such criticisms as wo may olTer. Unwillingne.ss to test improvements, to be the first to take the new departure will account for much of the stereotj^ped character of our New York buildings. A more liberal aud enlightened spirit is beginning to prevail. Any pi-udent and painstaking buflder or house holder can well af¬ ford to mn the risk of encountering a few fail¬ ures in alleged improvements, for the sake of se¬ curing one that is of permanent practical benefit. Such notices as we shall offer, it may be proper to saj-, will be un.solicited, .gratuitous and independ¬ ent. The special device to which we invite attention at this time, is called a disinfector, but its tittle hardly conveys any adequate idea of its method or mechanism. It is designed principally, if not solely, for application to water-closets; and consists of an earthen tank or jar, which holds a disinfecting fluid intended to lie automaticly injected into the bowl of the closet. It is simply, then, an appliance for introducing disinfecting fluid into water-closets. The advantage of this device is, that it is sure and regular in its opera¬ tion, delivering into the water-closet pan a fixed quantity of fluid every time the handle of tho closet is raised. Such a service is avast improve¬ ment upon the irregular and spasmodic efforts of servants or house-keepers to attend to the disin¬ fection of sinks, by mechanically depositing proper fluids from a hand bowl or pitcher. To be of any lasting and useful service, the operation of disinfecting must be performed with certainty and regularity. We will endeavor to describe the ingenious contrivance of Mr. Jennings' for accomplishing this important object. The principle of the'apparatus is the well known one in hydraulics of the siphon, and it is thus applied:—A large earthen jar, capable of holdmg two or three gallons of fluid, is placed upon a shelf about four feet above the closet seat. Through a hole in the bottom of tliis jar, a glass bulb or vial, about an inch in diameter and hold¬ ing three ounces of fluid is suspended. The ouly connection between tlie vial and tho bowl is a small feeder about the size of a quill, thi-ough which the fluid passes into the vial. A quarter inch pipe leatling from tho bowl of the closet pierces the bottom of the jar and cranes over near the top, passing into the glass vial underaeath, thus forming a conduit pipe between the vial and the water-closet bowl. Half way between the seat and the jar containing the disinfectant, this conduit pipe is pierced by another pipe connected with the Croton service that supplies the water- closet bowl. The joint is .so formed that water passing up this pipe from the service impinges against a plate at this joint and is so forced down into the water-closet bowl through the first- mentioned conduit pipe. After the handle of the water-closet is dropped and the Crotou sei-vice shut off, the last gush of water that passes through this pipe produces a vacuum of sufficient suction power to draw the charge of disinfecting fluid that is in the glass tube through the con¬ duit pipe, discharging it into the pari'of the water- closet bowL As fast as the vial is emptied, it is promptly supplied from the jar of fluid. The