1196 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The device consists of a core 10 ft. long, with a sectional sheet-iron mold. The 

 cement is rammed into place by hand, and the whole machine is moved gradually 

 forward by winding up a cable by a lever and ratchet windlass. The actual cost of 

 laying 8-iii. pipe at Rochester, X. Y., was 6.6 cts. per foot, and for 12-in. pipe 10.25 

 cts. per foot, 300 to 400 ft. a day being laid with a crew of 7 or 8 men. While the 

 pipes laid are said to be as tight as cement-jointed vitrified pipe, it would not be dif- 

 ficult to make them porous enough for drainage by using less cement or by providing 

 openings. 



An investigation of the ancient hydraulic works in Alg-eria, S. Gsell 

 ( Paris: Govt, 1902, pp. 143, figs. 27). — This report consists of descriptions of hydrau- 

 lic works of Roman origin found in the various provinces of Algeria, written by local 

 administrative officers, engineers, or army officers familiar with particular localities-. 

 There are described about SO barrages, 30 reservoirs, 20 aqueducts, and a large num- 

 ber of smaller hydraulic works formerly used for irrigation or city water supplies. 



Strainers for driven wells, D. H. Maury {Engin. News, 55 {1906), No. 10, pp. 

 260, ..'UK figs. 3). — While fine strainers have been generally favored because they 

 exclude fine sand, their capacity and durability are low. 



The principle of the coarse strainer is that fine sand is freely admitted and may be 

 pumped out, thus washing all the fine material from a zone surrounding the strainer 

 and creating what is virtually a strainer of clean gravel having a large capacity, and 

 since a certain initial velocity is required to start fine material toward the well, no 

 silt will be drawn in when pumping any less water than the maximum capacity of 

 the sand pump. 



The author describes several well-strainers and the methods of perforating well 

 casings after driving. 



Mountain road construction in Idaho, E. B. Darlington {Engin. News, 55 

 {1906), No. 11, pp. 282, 283). — The legislature of Idaho in 1905 authorized the expen- 

 diture of $50,000 for mountain roads, under the supervision of a State commission, 

 the cost of new roads to be divided with the community benefited. 



Over 100 miles of road have already been built or are nearing completion under this 

 law. It is the policy of the commission to spend only $500 to $1,000 per mile, the 

 roads being 8 to 12 feet wide, with a maximum grade of 12 per cent. Turnouts are 

 built every half mile. All running streams are bridged, culverts are built in dry 

 channels, and swampy places are corduroyed, all such structures to be 12 ft. wide. 

 The roads are carefully located with a view to future improvements. 



Road maintenance, R. A. Meeker {Engin. Rec, 53 {1906), No. 13, pp. 4%4, 

 425).— An article written for the annual report of the New Jersey commissioner of 

 public roads. The problem of maintenance is to reduce wear and replace worn 

 material cheaply. Good drainage is essential; the wearing surface should be hard, 

 and should be kept free from dust by sweeping or scraping, if the rains do not keep 

 it washed away. General repairs should be made in fall and spring, and prompt 

 minor repairs at all seasons. The use of the best stone only is recommended. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



Depreciation in agricultural values, P. Caziot {Jour. -Agr. Prat., n. ser., 11 

 {1906), No. 7, pp. 203-206).— The value of agricultural land in France advanced 

 during most of the nineteenth century, but since 1880 there has been a very great 

 decrease, the decrease being as great as 70 or 80 per cent in some instances. 



In general the land of the peasant proprietors has decreased to a greater extent 

 than that of large estates. The causes given for this depreciation are that capital 

 invested in land yields smaller returns than formerly, due to changes in agriculture 

 which make the land a relatively less important agent in agricultural production. 

 Intensive cultivation has given to operating capital a greater importance than it for- 



