28 BULLETIN 155, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



estimated that the use of wood effected a saving of 43 per cent over 

 steel pipe of similar size, No. 12 gauge, and nearly 50 per cent over 

 one of equivalent carrying capacity. In discussing the waterworks 

 of Denver, in 1894, J. D. Schuyler states : 



At a moderate estimate the saving effected by the Citizen's Water Co., by the 

 use of wooden pipe for their main conduits has been no less than $1,100,000 over 

 the cost of cast-iron pipes of equal capacity. The interest on this amount at 6 

 per cent would renew the mains every five or six years, or duplicate them as 

 often as that if necessary. 



S. Fortier 1 gives the bids for supplying material and laying the 

 following pipes at Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1900 : 30-inch stave pipe, 

 $2.95 and $3.10; 30-inch cast-iron pipe $10.20 and $10.85; 30-inch 

 riveted steel pipe, $8.65 and $9.15; 24-inch stave pipe at $2.60 and 

 $2.55; 24-inch cast-iron pipe, $7.45 and $8.15; and 24-inch riveted 

 steel pipe, $5.75 and $6.05. 



At Spokane, Wash., the relative prices for small pipes are about 

 as follows : 2 6-inch wood pipe, 25 cents per linear foot ; 6-inch steel 

 pipe, 63 cents per linear foot; 6-inch cast-iron, 72 cents per linear 

 foot. 



The price per ton of cast-iron pipe at Spokane is about $43 (1913), 

 and somewhat less at Pacific coast points. 



LAYING MACHINE-BANDED WOOD PIPE. 



Laying machine-banded wood pipe is a very simple operation, and 

 as no calking of joints is required it may be done by unskilled labor. 

 Nevertheless^ much dissatisfaction in the use of pipe of this kind 

 may result from carelessness in handling and laying. 



In shipping from the humid Puget Sound region to the arid or 

 semiarid districts east of the mountains wood pipe may shrink very 

 materially if allowed to lie exposed to the sun and wind for any 

 considerable time, and for this reason -it should be protected from 

 such influences so far as possible before laying. Otherwise it may be 

 difficult to get the pipe tight after water is turned in. Care should 

 be exercised in handling the pipe, so as to avoid bruising or in 

 any way injuring the tenon ends. The tenons should be carefully 

 examined as the pipe is being put together, and, in case bruises 

 or scratches occur, the section should be turned so that the injury 

 will be on top where it can be easily plugged if a leak should 

 develop. 



Pipes up to 4 inches in diameter may be driven together with a 

 maul, -a tampion being used to protect the end of the pipe. Pipe 

 6 inches in diameter and larger can best be driven with a ram which 



1 U. S. Geol. Survey, Water Supply and Irrig. Paper 43, p. 71. 



2 Ann. Rpt. Water Div., Dept. Public Utilities [Spokane, Wash.], 1911. 



