WATER SUPPLY FOR THE FARM. 541 



Industrial University, with a view of obtaining a pure and permanent supply in a more eco 

 nomical way than by the usual manner of a wind-mill. 



At one side of a lot, recently seeded and used as a pasture-field, is a well nine feet deep, 

 with a supply of water varying from three .to four and one-half feet. On making a survey, 

 I found that, by going 700 feet, and making an excavation of three feet, a point could be 

 reached one foot lower than the bottom of the well. This passed over an elevation some five 

 feet higher than the surface of the ground at the well, and would give a maximum fall of 

 about six feet, when the tank I proposed to construct was empty and the well full; and I 

 estimated an average fall of three feet. By calculation I estimated that by the use of the 

 siphon using a one-half inch gas-pipe, placed two and one-half feet below the surface, thus 

 giving a total rise of six feet, and a fall as stated above a sufficient amount of water would 

 be discharged to supply fifty head of cattle. 



In July last this plan was carried out and put in operation, and now has been going 

 three months, and I can safely say that it is a perfect success, as we have pumped no water 

 from that date to the present. 



To prevent mud and water in the space excavated, eight by twelve feet was planked 

 over at the side of the tank, with tile laid under the plank, connecting with a previously-laid 

 drain, one hundred feet farther down the slope; and a gas-pipe from the top of the tank was 

 run through the plank and into the drain, to carry off any overflow of water. Later, a float 

 was arranged to stop the flow when the tank was filled, thus preventing any waste of water. 



As in these times the cost of everything is a large item, I will give it in this case: 



Tank, holding 12 barrels, ..-.- . . . . $9.75 



700 feet i-inch gas-pipe a 3 cents, . . . . . 21.00 



Digging and filling 700 feet of ditch, . . . . 9.00 



Excavating for tank, fitting pipe, etc., .... 15.00 



Total, $54.75 



To remove the air from the pipe, an old thrown-away iron pump was used; and this is 

 left in position to force out any sediment that may settle in the pipe. A common cistern- 

 pump, such as is usually used in sinks, costing about three dollars, would be sufficient for this. 

 Great care must be taken in the use of the siphon to exhaust all the air from the pipe, 

 and to so arrange the end inserted in the well or spring, that sand or mud will not be liable 

 to get into it and obstruct the water. 



The water will sometimes become obstructed in the siphon on account of air getting into 

 it. All running water contains more or less air. This air will naturally accumulate at the 

 upper end of the siphon, and when the pipe becomes filled with it, the water stops running. 

 When this occurs, the only thing that remains to be done is, of course, to remove the air. 

 A vertical branch may be inserted in the top of the siphon (the highest point in the bend), 

 having one or two stop-cocks. If two are used, a space of a few inches of tube should be left 

 between the two. When air accumulates in the bend of the siphon, open the lower stop-cock, 

 and let the air up into the tube above it, which should previously be filled with water. 

 When the air fills the tube close the lower stop-cock, and open the upper one, and pour 

 in water to fill the tube again. By repeating this process the air can all be removed. Care 

 should be taken, in inserting the branch, that it does not extend into the tube to impede the 

 current of the water. It should only extend to the upper face of the inside of the tube. This 

 branch should have hay, leaves, sawdust or some other material packed about it, in order to 

 be kept from freezing in winter. When a single stop-cock or a screw-cap is used for the same 

 purpose, the two ends of the siphon will need to be plugged up, after which water should be 

 poured through the branch. When the air has escaped, close the branch, unstop first the 

 upper and then the lower end of the siphon. A stop-cock at either end of the siphon will 

 prove a more ready and easy means of opening and closing it. 



