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? 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; 80-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:* 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 $438 (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 
1U. S. Geol. Survey, Water Supply and Irrig. Paper 48, p. 71. 
2Ann. Rpt. Water Div., Dept. Public Utilities [Spokane, Wash.], 1911. 
