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



In 1886-87 the next important pipe line of this kind was built from 

 Cherry Creek crossing to Denver. Some of this lasted until 1907, 

 when it was replaced by a 30-inch fir pipe. The original line con- 

 sisted of about 7| miles in all, of 37, 30, and 24-inch pipe, the mate- 

 rial being about two-thirds western yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa) 

 and the remainder redwood. 



In 1890 a 30-inch pipe was completed from the Platte Canyon to 

 Ashland Avenue, Denver, about 21 miles; 16.4 miles of this line is 

 wood — Texas pine and California redwood. It is still in use. In 

 the spring of 1890 a 24-inch redwood pipe 5|- miles in length was 

 built at Ogden, Utah. In 1911, 4,674 feet of this line was replaced, 

 but is still used as an overflow pipe from a reservoir. On a few 

 summits, where not always full, the pipe has decayed badly, but 

 with these exceptions the original line is in general very well pre- 

 served. When inspected in October, 1912, repairs were being made 

 at a river crossing, where settling of the bridge had caused the split- 

 ting of many staves, which were being replaced. These staves were 

 not rotted materially, but about one-eighth of an inch of the interior 

 was so softened that it could be easily, scraped off with a knife. 

 Many of the staves were also split back from the saw kerf several 

 inches, thus permitting the outer portion to decay more rapidly than 

 the rest of the stave. This portion of the pipe at another point, 

 where supported on a trestle protected from the sun by rough boards, 

 showed the staves to be in a perfect state of preservation. The 

 pressure at the latter point was light, as indicated by the spacing of 

 bands, which were 1 foot apart. 



A 48-inch redwood pipe, 2,000 feet long, built by the Bear Valley 

 Irrigation Co., at Redlands. Cal., in 1891, was in continuous use 

 until the summer of 1912, when it was replaced by a ditch. About 

 500 feet of this pipe at the upper end was completely buried, and 

 of the remainder of the line which was originally supported 200 

 to 300 feet became partially covered by slides from the slopes. 

 Where in contact with the earth the staves of the pipe were consid- 

 erably decayed, but in other parts the wood was well preserved at 

 the time of its removal. 



In 1892, 48,193 feet of 24-inch redwood pipe was built for the 

 Butte (Mont.) Water Co. Eugene Carrol, manager of the company, 

 under date of January 15, 1913, states : 



During the past season we had occasion to open this pipe to make a new con- 

 nection at the lower end and found it in excellent condition. As far as we 

 know, the whole line is in excellent condition, and there has been no deteriora- 

 tion noticeable. Of course, the bands are rusted considerably, and when it is 

 necessary to remove a band a new one has to be substituted. At one point 

 where earth was hard to get we backfilled with broken rock, which allowed 

 the air to get to the outside of the pipe. It is our experience that this caused 

 the deterioration of the wood, and the broken rock was removed and replaced 



