h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Manhole Covers - A7822442
Author: CyberLama - U2730198

I believe this is a finished work. Comments are welcome.

It is not known at this time if this was or currently is a primitive form of manhole security or not. - if so, it isn't a very good one, as at night most roads are deserted.

This design - These designs? you mention wood and stone

It is believed that the English were the first - believed by whom? widely believed?

considered standard application for the past 200 years. - huh? standard application?

placed over top of the manhole - 'placed over the top of' or 'placed over'

that someone discovered himself, the manhole and gravity all located conveniently in the same location - hmmm. 'located together'? I don't like this, the phrasing isn't clear.

Today these hatches are commonly called companion ways or simply hatches - 'today these are known as hatches or companion ways'

Most modern day manhole covers are round so they don't fall in. - a bit of explanation would be nice, in a footnote for example.

The above statement was used as a question when hiring potential employees at IBM. - this is almost certainly footnote territory

Manhole covers are made of iron or concrete for larger systems where weight is concerned. - 'weight is a concern' perhaps

Most iron manhole covers have an artistic or aesthetic print forged on them. - all of the manhole covers i've seen have had an imprint of some form to provide grip, some of them decorative.

The size of a manhole cover varies but averages approximately 1 meter - size is not specific: radius or width would be better.

Unlike movies, if you fall into a manhole unsuspectingly, you will probably die. - unlike movies?

EvilAl, being really evil

The modern sewer emerging in the 1700s is a bit of an inaccuracy. There have been underground brick sewers in the UK since at least the 1500s.

I am not familiar with that date in any of my references. I am looking into it however.

I have made most of the corrections noted above.

Im dubious about that date too. The romans had a very advanced sewage system with manholes to go to their adueducts and propper large drains running under the streets.

I cant find many links to support this but there do a little:

http://www.waterhistory.org/histories/rome/t1.html
http://home.comcast.net/~rthamper/html/body_roman_sanitation.htm

"From as early as 3500BC slabs of stone or pieces of wood were used to cover the ditches that carried sewage waste. These designs were carried on until somewhere between 1700AD and 1800AD"

This statement is incorrect the romans had much more than a ditch.

Otherwise good article

Yes this is correct. It was a flagrant oversight on my part. I have removed the entry from Peer Review to add the missing data regarding roman aqueducts and will re-submit when complete.

Oh and i thought you could add some links to other articles. Here are some i looked up that might be good

A469064 - An Overview of Waste Water
A565832 - Gravity
A765731 - Investigation into the Quantity of Heat
A158609 - Concrete


Also...

The footnote at the end would be best as a propper footnote. For example:

Man hole covers are round for several popular reasons. People who interviewed with IBM and in the past were asked the question of "Why is a manhole cover round?" IBM asked this question to test the common sense and creative thinking abilities of it's potential engineers.


I was also told that all guideml should be in capitals eg should be .

SI x

I look forward to seeing it when you resubmit it

SI

I am updating the GuideML.

Thank you for the links. That puts a nice finishing touch on it.