DRAINAGE OF WET LANDS OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. 



51 



Pumping Plant. 



This plant was located far in the corner of the district so as to place it 

 directly on the main outlet canal to White Lake. If the plant had been placed 

 in the middle of the south side the greatest distance that the water would 

 travel to the pump could have been reduced from 6 miles to 4^ miles. The 

 length of outlet to White Lake would have been increased, however, so that 

 the actual gain in decreased lift would have been very small. 



There are two cast-iron centrifugal pumps, having diameters of discharge 

 opening of 54 inches (fig. 16). The pumps have double intake pipes and both 

 the intake and discharge pipes are tapered and enlarged to four times the area 

 of the opening on the pump, and they discharge under water. These features 

 cut the velocity head losses to about the smallest amount that would be eco- 

 nomical. There are two engines of the Corliss type, having 16 by 36 inch 

 cylinders; these are direct connected to the pumps. (See PL IV.) Return- 



Fig. 16. — Elevation of pumping plant on area No. 7, Gueydan, La. 



tube boilers are used, with oil as fuel. The machinery is mounted on a con- 

 crete foundation supported on piling. In driving these piling the subsoil was 

 found to be very hard and the foundation should therefore be solid. When 

 the plant is run at its full capacity the pumps will be able to remove about 

 1.50 inches of water from the 5,600 acres in 24 hours. By running the plant 

 at an overload this rate can be increased a small amount. In case this proves 

 to be a larger capacity than necessary an additional area of land will be 

 brought into this district on the west side. 



The building inclosing this machinery is a frame of structural steel, covered 

 with heavy corrugated iron, and the plant is of fireproof construction 

 throughout. 



