Fig. 12. Showing how ten different tents can be made with but one piece of canvas
Suppose the material at hand is the widest unbleached cotton cloth, 90 inches wide, 5 yards long, or 7-1/2 feet by 15 feet. The accompanying table will give the dimensions for the various shapes from Fig. 1 to Fig. 11.
If in doubt about the location of rings on your canvas, suspend the tent by the centre ring and fasten the loops temporarily by means of safety pins, draw the tent into shape and shift the fastenings as required. The guy lines should have hooks or snaps at one end for ready attachment and removal; the other end should be provided with the usual slides for "take up." The edge of the cloth where the large ring for suspension is fastened should be bound with tape or have a double hem, for it is the edge of the door in most of the tents shown.
TABLE OF DIMENSIONS, 90 IN. MATERIAL
| Size | Area,
Sq. Ft. | Height, Ft. | Remarks | |
| 1 | 7-1/2 ft. triangle | 25 | 6-1/4 | One side open |
| 2 | 6-1/2 X 15 ft. | 65 | 6-1/4 | One side open |
| 3 | 6 x 7-1/2 ft. | 45 | 4-1/2 | One side open |
| 4 | 7-1/2 x 8 ft. | 60 | 5-1/2 | One side open |
| 5 | 7-1/2 ft. triangle | 25 | 7-1/2 | One side open |
| 6 | 6-1/4 x 6-1/4 ft. | 39 | 7 | Enclosed |
| 7 | 7-1/2 ft. diam. | 44 | 6-1/2 | Enclosed |
| 8 | 5 x 7-1/2 ft. | 37-1/2 | 6-1/2 | 2-1/2 ft. wall |
| 9 | 7-1/2 x 8 ft. | 60 | 6-1/2 | No.8, with fly |
| 10 | 15 ft. triangle | 97 | 6-1/4 | Enclosed |
| 11 | 11-1/4 ft. circle | 108 | 5 | Canopy, no sides |
{170}
Waterproofing a Tent
Dissolve half a pound of alum in two quarts of boiling water; then add two gallons of pure cold water. In this solution place the material and let it remain for a day. Dissolve a quarter of a pound of sugar of lead in two quarts boiling water, then add two gallons of cold water. Take the material from the alum solution, wring it lightly, place in the second solution and leave for five or six hours; then wring out again lightly and allow it to dry.
[Transcriber's note: Sugar of Lead (Lead Acetate) is toxic.]