Reader, St. Louis, Mo., writes:

"Please give me your valuable opinion on the following arrangement of hot-water pipes. Is it safe and advisable in a small house in the country to have a tank in the attic, of a capacity of 200 gallons, and supplied through pump worked by hand, if in the kitchen there is a 40-gallon boiler connected with water-back in the usual way? There is a ¾-inch pipe from tank supplying boiler, and an expansion pipe is carried up from highest point on hot-water pipe over top of tank. Would any bad results follow temporary failure of supply, as such stoppages are very likely to occur ? "

[If the work is done in the usual manner about the boiler, and the small hole for preventing syphonage is open in the cold-water pipe within the boiler near the top, all that can follow short interruptions to the supply of water will be the heating of the water which remains in the boiler to a point at which it may give off steam. This steam will find vent through the supply from tank if there is no check valve in it, or it will escape through the nearest hot-water faucet that is opened. If this state of affairs long continues the water in the boiler and water-back will evaporate and the back become burned or cracked.

There is a possible danger from explosion by overpressure, but this is pretty remote. However, it is best not to take any risks, and therefore we advise an unlimited supply of water to the boiler at all times, and only give the above explanation that the question may be intelligently understood.]