HALIFAX WATER WORKS. JOHNSTOX. 109 



the scraper inserted by Land into the main. The piece taken 

 out is thdn replaced and secured. The water is turned on, 

 and by its power forces the scraper along. As it passes the 

 exits they are turned off by men stationed there, and the scraper 

 continues its course to the end of the main where a 

 length of pipe has been removed. A sufficient quantity 

 of water escapes through the valves ahead of the scraper to 

 wash the incrustation removed and keep it from sticking. The 

 water is allowed to run for some time until the sediment dis- 

 appears, w y hen it is shut off and the length of pipe inserted 

 again and the water turned on to the distribution pipes. The 

 average cost of cleaning the 24-inch low service mala for the 

 past twenty years has been 15.07 for each cleaning of 13,400 

 feet, and of cleaning the high service main $18.80 for each 

 cleaning of 36,340 feet. Between 1882 and 1904, both inclu- 

 sive, there has been cleaned 223 miles of mains at a total cost 

 $732.07, or at an average rate of $3.28 per mile. 



Distribution Mains. 



The pipes in the distribution system are of cast iron, all 

 those laid since 1855 being coated, and those 6-inch and over 

 laid before 1890 having mostly wooden joints. They range 

 in size from 3 inches to 24 inches in dameter, the mains to the 

 hydrants being, Avith few exceptions, taken from a 6-inch pipe 

 or larger. Some of the old 3-inch mains lately removed and 

 replaced with larger pipes, when cut, were found to be so 

 choked that there was barely room to insert a lead pencil 

 through the opening. These were old, uncoa.ted pipes and the 

 metal had deteriorated badly. The mains are generally laid 

 on the north and east sidles of the streets, with valves set in 

 line with the street lines. Iron pipes with sleeves, were first 

 used for stopcock boxes about 1862, before that wood had been 

 used. The valves used for letting the high service into the low 

 for purposes of fire protection are kept clear from ice and snow 

 during the winter. 



