PIPES FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES. 



121 



Since the conception of this book the author has 

 learned of an entirely new material for the construdlion 

 of water-pipes, which is manufactured in Los Angeles, 

 California. The materials are wood fiber paper and 

 asphalt. The paper is reeled off while passing through 

 melted asphalt at a temperature of over 400 degrees, 

 wound around a cylinder and subjected to great pres- 

 sure, making it very hard. It is construc5led in sec- 

 tions of seven feet. These pipes are made with diame- 

 ters as much as thirty inches, and experts have said 

 that they possess all the essentials for a first-class 

 water-main and submain. The material from which 

 these pipes are made imparts no flavor or odor to the 

 water, does not corrode in any kind of soil, is abso- 

 lutely impervious to moisture, is pradlically imperish- 

 able, and is not affe(5led by electrical currents which, 

 as is well known, will often perforate and destroy pipes 

 of any thickness made of iron. The cost is fully one- 

 half less than metal pipe, and being very light there 

 is great saving in its transportation. Sections of this 

 asphalt pipe have been immersed in water for six 

 months, carefully weighed before and after immersion, 

 without detedling the least increase in weight, thus 

 showing clearly that it is impervious to moisture. 



