RECLAMATION OF TIDE LANDS. 389 



should be made ol" hard brass. For the purpose of balancing the gate 

 so it will open and close with a minimum pressure, a projecting arm 

 with an adjustable weight is attached to the inside, as shown on the 

 drawing. When the gate is hung, tliis weight can be shifted in or out 

 until the position is found where the gate opens with least pressure 

 and then fixed by means of the set screw in this position. A gate 

 constructed as above specified possesses all the essential requisites of 

 a good tight gate. The creosoted material gives it the qualities of 

 durability; the link hinge and rubber cushion allow it to firmly seat 

 itself on all sides and formu tight joint; wliile a counterweight renders 

 it sensitive to the least pressure. A cheap structure might be erected, 

 but there would be constant danger of its giving way at a critical time, 

 and it would have to be replaced at frequent intervals, so that a 

 permanent structure, even at an increased cost, is more economical. 

 A bill of material required to construct either the wooden or stone 

 abutment with the necessary gates is given on page 397. 



PUMPING PLANT. 



Where the fluctuation between high and low tide is not sufficient 

 to afi^ord natural drainage, some kind of pumping plant must be pro- 

 vided to discharge the water. The pump should be placed within the 

 inclosure at the lowest point adjacent to the embankment and should 

 be used to lift only such water as wdll not flow out during low tide. 

 This water can be discharged through a sluice and need not be lifted 

 over the embankment. A centrifugal pump operated by a steam or 

 gasoline engine is probably the best for tliis class of work. The size 

 of pump and engine dej)ends upon the area to be drained. From 

 experience in numerous places it seems that where such land is in 

 cultivation the pump should be able to discharge 1,000 gallons per 

 acre per hour to properly protect the crops in times of heav}" rains. 

 But where the land is used for pasture or meadow the removal of 

 one-half of this amount is sufficient. The pump and engine should 

 be placed on a solid foundation and carefully housed against damage 

 from the weather. The additional expense incurred in providing 

 substantial foundations for the pump and engine and making an 

 ample sump for the suction pipe will be more than repaid in economy 

 of operation and efficiency of plant. Many crops have been destroyed 

 and nuich damage occasioned because of the inadequac}^ of the pump- 

 ing plant or its failure, owing to faulty construction, at a critical time. 



The cost of installing and operating a pumping plant depends 

 largel}^ upon the extent of the tract to be drained. As a rule, the 

 larger the volume of water to be handled the less the cost per acre 

 or per gallon for doing it. Even where the water is ordinarily dis- 

 charged through a tide gate, it is wise to have an emergency pump 

 to take care of the seepage and rainfall, during periods of high tide 

 when the gate does not open. 



