lS3r,.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



441 



brazed, or willi mastic de fontenier. The di- 

 ameters of the pipes are from m. 0.19, to ni. 0.20. 

 and even m. 0.30. The.-=e pipes: ure also suh]ect 

 to the daiiijer of beiiiir sonietiiiies crusheil under 

 the bh)vvs of the rammer, by which they are dri- 

 ven down. Still, notwiihstaiidinijtiiese objections, 

 tabes of cast iron are often used with success in 

 France and in Enirland : but it is necessary first 

 to test their streri;Lrth, and to be assured ol the 

 ((ualil^'and nature of the metal belcire they are used. 



3. Pipes of sheet iron resist injuries better than 

 the cas!. None but the thick hammered sheet 

 iron should be used — not the tole lamiaee. The 

 thicknoss of the sheets used is from m. 0.005, to 

 m. 0.008. These pipes are united by brazed sol- 

 dering, and by bein;!^ fitted in each other and fas- 

 tened with iron pins, wiiich are coanter-siink, or 

 lost in the thickness of thesheetiron. The diame- 

 ters of these tubes are from m. 0.10, to m. 0.20. 

 These pipes are used with the greatest success, 

 when sheet iron of the best quality is the material. 

 Some persons have these pipes tinned, to prevent 

 their oxydation, and the consequent coloring of 

 the water. This precaution is very good ; but it 

 requires much care, and presents difficulties in the 

 tinning of" the joints. In short, it is important not 

 to use, for cheapness, sheet iron that is too thin, 

 because it is decomposed quickly, and when holes 

 are thus once made, they. suffer the ascending wa- 

 ter to escape into the permeable earth. 



4. Pipes of common sheet tin [that is, of very 

 thin iron washed with tin,] have been used in 

 Kngland, and their inconveniencies have been evi- 

 dent, on account of their weakness, and their quick 

 decomposition. They ouirht never to be used, 

 unless as temporary and provisional means, lor 

 want of, or while waiting for permanent pipes. 

 Still it is preferable to make use of pipes of thick 

 sheet iron, well tinned, liaving care that the joints 

 are again well covered with tin, as it is apt to be 

 exposed at the cut, or place of contact of two 

 pieces of pipe: when they receive a double tin- 

 ning, it is said, they are not liable to any causes 

 of decay, and are perfectly well preserved. 'I'hey 

 are from ni. 0.20, to m. 0.25 and m. 0.30 in diam- 

 eter. 



5. Pipes of zinc, from m. 0.10, to m. 0.20 in 

 diameter, have been used in some bored wells, in 

 preference to sheet iron tinned, for cheapness. 

 But these pipes are not always of long duration. 

 They are subject to be speedily decomposed, and 

 last but a little time in certain kinds of earth, 

 which appear to exert upon the zinc a powertiil 

 decomposing action — or rather, perhaps, from the 

 effect of the galvanic action which is exercised 

 between the zinc and the iron of the boring in- 

 struments. Thus zinc tubes should not be used 

 except lor temporary purposes, and in that case, 

 sheet iron tinned would be preferable. 



6. Pipes of copper are not so costly as might 

 at first be supposed. They are not subject to de- 

 cay or destruction, and are employed with the 

 greatest success tor the great bored wells of pub- 

 lic fountains, and of factories. Thus, at St. De- 

 nis, at Tours, at Elbeuf, &c. bored wells have 

 been tubed with copper: and as the metal used 

 is only fi-om m. 0.003, to m. 0.004 in thickness, 

 the expense of the material has been compensated 

 by its small degree of thickness, and the advantages 

 of the unalterability of copper, after its surfaces are 

 bronzed. 



Vol. IV— 56 



I thiidf that pipes ol wood, alder, ehn, or oak, 

 may be made use of with success in wells which 

 are not more than 40 to 50 metres in depth : but 

 that the preference should be given to pipes of 

 copper when the wells exceed that de[)th, or 

 when, from the nature of the ground, there is 

 reason to fear great difficulties in putting down 

 wooden pipes: since a well once tubed with cop- 

 per, will never need repairs. 



The prices of tubing varj' according to tlie ma- 

 terial used. Thus — cast iron pipes, according to 

 their diameter, are worth from 12 to 15 francs the 

 running metre : hammered sheet iron, at 2 fi'ancp 

 the kilooframme, 18 francs the runnin<r metre; and 

 pipes of red cop(ier, at 4 francs the kilogramme, 

 are li-om 25 to 27 ti'ancs. 



As to the precautions to be taken in placing the 

 pipes, the most essential, and those which should be 

 particularly recommended to well-borers, are these: 

 1st. To put down tubes of ascension (or those in 

 which the water is to be confined in ascending,) 

 as low as the deepest hard and impermeable bed 

 of earth which lies immediately over the water- 

 yielding bed, fi-om which burst up the overflowing 

 waters : 2nd. To pour behind the tube of ascen- 

 tion, whether between it and the earth, or between 

 it and larger temporary pipes, a cement or grouting 

 of hydraulic lime of the best quality — which is 

 strongly objected to by many, even to this time. 

 One of the best examples of tubing, thus execu- 

 ted, and which deserves to be considered as a mo- 

 del, is that which Mr. Degousee has constructed 

 in tlie well bored under his direction in the jJbat- 

 ioir of Tours. 



For tlie Fanners' Register. 



WIIICH IS THE BEST ROUTE FOR A RAILWAY 

 TO THE SOUTH-WEST ? 



A writer over the signature R. N., in the Farm- 

 ers' Register for September and October, has 

 hrouirht before the public a plan, or route, for a 

 south-western railway, a part of which is practica- 

 ble, and will be usefiil and profitable if carried into 

 eli'ect. A part I consider badly located; and noth- 

 ing but actual survey, and mature consideration of 

 the various interests atrecled by the railway, will 

 enable the public to determine on the proper route. 

 Some of the general principles laid down by R. N. 

 are undoubtedly correct ; but he has not, in my 

 opinion, in la\ ing out his work, conformed to hia 

 principles. His views are too general; so much 

 so as to serve and forward but few particular in- 

 terests; and if but a small portion of the special in- 

 terests of the state are benefited, it follows of 

 course that the general interest is but little promo- 

 teii. My object however is not to enter into di.=g- 

 cussion with R. N., but to lay before the public 

 my own plan for a south-western railway, or rail- 

 ways; and all I ask for it, is a just decision after 

 actual survey, and comparison with other routes. 

 I cordially concur in the sentiment, that public ad- 

 vantaije and interest ought under no circumstan- 

 ces to be made to yield to individual interest. In 

 ^=uch a work as a road or railway, however, the 

 term " public and general interests" must have a 

 more limited meaning than that which would 

 make it embrace the whole s*ate of Virginia, the 

 city of Richmond, the James River and Kanawha 

 Company, &c. I mean that there are eonie great 



