HALTFAX WATER WORKS. — JOHXSTOX. 109 



the scraper inserted by band into tbe main. Tbe i)ieee taken 

 nut is tbea replaced and secured. Tbe water is turned on, 

 and by its jiower forces tbe scraper abmg. As it passes tbe 

 exits tbey are turned off hy men stationed tbere, and tbe scraper 

 continues its course to tbe end of tbe main wbere a 

 lengtli of pipe bas been removed. A sufficient quantity 

 of water escapes tbrougb tbe valves abead of tbe scrajier to 

 wasb tbe incnistation removed and keej) it from sticking'. Tbe 

 water is allowed to rim for some time until tbe sediment dis- 

 appears, wben it is shut off and tbe lengtb of pipe inserted 

 again and tbe water turned on to tbe distribution pipes. Tbe 

 average cost of cleaning tbe il4-incb low service maia for tbe 

 past twenty years bas been 15.07 for eacb cleaning of 1:5.400 

 feet, and of clea'ning tbe higb service main $18. SO for eacb 

 cleaning of 36,340 feet. Between 1882 and 1904, botb iaclu- 

 sive, tbere bas lieen cleaned 223 miles of mains at a total cost 

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



Disfribufion Mains. 



Tbe pipes in tbe distribution system are of cast iron, all 

 tbose laid since 1855 being coated, a-nd those C-incli 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 

 liydrants being, with few exceptions, taken from a (J-iach pipe 

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

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

 choked that there was l)arely vooui to insert a lead pencil 

 through tbe oi)ening. These were old, uncoated pipes and tbe 

 metal had deteriorated badly. Tbe maivis are generally laid 

 on the north and east sides of the streets, with valves sot in 

 line with tbe street lines. Iron pipes with sleeves were fii"st 

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

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

 for purposes <»f fire protection are kept (dear from ice and snow 

 during tbe winter. 



