436 Transactions of the American Institute. 



•water from a spring to my house and barn, and also, more partica- 

 larly, in regard to how water-lime cement pipe is made. 



Mr. Daniel Burr, Fredrica, Del. — In 1854, 1 had eighty-nine rods 

 of cement pipe laid in Morris, Otsego county, N. Y., and I con- 

 sider it the best for conveying water I ever saw. It should be laid 

 deep enough, so as not to be affected by frosts. I put mine three 

 feet under ground, which well repaid me by keeping the water 

 cool in hot weather. In moist ground the pipe was perfect; there- 

 fore, the deeper it is laid the better, as it cracks in dry earth. I 

 used half a bushel of water lime, and one bushel of clean, coarse 

 sand per rod in making it. 



A correspondent sends the following: To begin, first see if sand 

 of the best kind is to be had. It is said that clean and coarse is 

 best. What I used would average nearly as coarse as pin heads. 

 If such is not convenient I would take finer, make it clean, and mix 

 with an equal quantity or more of gravel, which may vary in size 

 from a pin head to a hickory nut. Get cement that will set at 

 once, else time will be lost in waiting. Next, dig the ditch two 

 and a half or three feet deep, wide enough at the bottom to work 

 in conveniently; grade the bottom with some care. Now, make a 

 wooden rod, the size of the passage desired, eight or nine feet long, 

 perfectly straight, round and smooth, so that if turned in the sofl 

 pipe, it will not disturb it a particle. Two inches from one end 

 cut a slight notch all round, not quite one-eighth inch deep. Take 

 a piece of soft leather or rubber eight or ten inches long, fit it 

 around the end of the rod till the edges meet evenly and smoothly; 

 sew it together and tack it fast. Stufi'it with dry grass or cotton, 

 making it smooth and plump, the same size as the rod. Just at 

 the end of the rod the stuffing should be a little loose, making a 

 flexible neck that will alloAv the rod to be raised while putting 

 down the plaster. A few feet of gas pipe of the right size may 

 be bent into shape, by heating the proper places, to raise the water 

 from the bottom of the ditch to where it is to pour out. Other- 

 wise a wooden upright must be procured. This must go down far 

 enough to stand firmly. Two inches above the bottom of the ditch 

 make a hole in the side, and put in round tile, or something around 

 which to begin the cement. Three hands can work to advantage. 

 Have water, cement and sand convenient. One man should measure 

 out two parts of the mixed sand and gravel (some say three) to one 

 of cement; mix it quickly and thoroughl}' Avith water sufficient to 

 make a mortar easily worked, and stiff enough to keep its shape 



