  We define a 90% complete, volume-limited sample of 31 z<0.1 x-ray clusters
and present a systematic analysis of public ROSAT PSPC data on 22 of these
objects. Our efforts are undertaken in support of the Penn/OVRO SZE survey, and
to this end we present predictions for the inverse Compton optical depth
towards all 22 of these clusters. We have performed detailed Monte Carlo
simulations to understand the effects of the cluster profile uncertainties on
the SZE predictions given the OVRO 5.5-meter telescope beam and switching
patterns; we find that the profile uncertainties are one of the least
significant components of our error budget for SZE-based distance measurements.
We also present baryonic masses and baryon mass fractions derived under the
assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium for these 22 clusters. The mean baryonic
mass fraction within R_500 \sim 500 h^-1 kpc is (7.02 \pm 0.28) x 10^-2 h^-3/2,
or (19.8 \pm 0.8) x 10^-2 for h=0.5. We confirm the Allen et al. (1993) claim
of an excess absorbing column density towards Abell 478, but do not find
similar anomalies in the other 21 clusters in our sample. We also find some
evidence for an excess of soft counts in the ROSAT PSPC data.
  A measurement of H_o using these models and OVRO SZE determinations will be
presented in a second paper.
