WET LANDS OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. 



65 



Not all the pumping plants have kept careful and complete records of 

 their operation. Without such records it is impossible to know whether or not 

 the plant is being run economically or to ascertain sources of waste. From the 

 standpoint of the owners of the land such records are as essential as are the 

 accounts of any business concern to its proprietors. These records are essential 

 also to progress in the matter of design and construction, not only of the 

 pumping plant, but of the other drainage improvements. If the canal system 

 is adequate or the levee system subject to seepage, careful records of opera- 

 tion will show that further improvement is necessary. The proof of the value 

 of any set of improvements is the service rendered, and unless records are kept 

 it will not be possible to judge of the serviceability of such improvements. 



In the past, owing to a lack of records of actual operating conditions, the 

 capacity of the pumping plant and the character of the machinery have varied 

 widely on the different districts. The data herein published as to amount and 

 cost of pumping should enable those in charge of the design and operation of 

 such improvements to judge better of the requirements. These records will be- 

 come of much greater value if they are continued over a long term of years and 

 if they are extended to include all districts drained by pumps. 



The following form is recommended as one including the essential features of 

 daily operations. 



FORM FOR DAILY PUMPING RECORDS. 



(Date) _ 101 





Suction 

 gage. 



Dis- 

 charge 

 gage. 









Start 

 pump. 



Stop 

 pump. 



"Flow meter. 



Hour. 





Gallons per minute. 





No. 1. 



No. 2. 



No. 3. 



No. 1. 



No. 2. 



No. 3. 

























One page should be used for each day. The gages in the reservoir and the 

 discharge canal should be read before starting and again about one-half hour 

 after starting. If practicable, all items should be entered once each hour. 

 Other items that might affect the operation of the plant, such as improper 

 canals or seepage through levees, should be noted. 



Expenses of operation should be kept carefully and classified under the 

 following headings : Fuel, labor, supplies, repairs, and superintendence. The 

 records should be kept in such a form that the totals for each month and 

 year can be determined. The cost per acre per year can thus be obtained, but 

 to determine the cost of removing a certain unit of water the capacity of the 

 pumps at the various speeds and lifts should be determined by testing. The 

 above form provides for such data that the amount of water pumped can be 





