UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
= C 5 f^^Lf<u 
BULLETIN No. 906 
Contribution from the Bureau of Public Roads 
Thos. H. MacDonald, Chief 
J^^^^ru 
Washington, D. C. 
March 23, 1921 
THE USE OF CONCRETE PIPE IN IRRIGATION. 
By F. W. Stanley, 
Senior Irrigation Engineer, 
With Introductory Paragraphs by 
Samuel Foetiee, 
Chief of Irrigation Division. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
The Use of Pipe in Irrigation 2 
Incasing Old Pipes of Metal and Wood 
with Concrete 4 
Concrete Pipe 4 
Reinforced Concrete Pipe 6 
Manufacture of Plain Concrete Pipe- 8 
Quality of Concrete Pipe 9 
Cost of Unreinforced Pipe 12 
Page. 
Laying Concrete Pipe 13 
Causes of Failure in Concrete Pipe 15 
Pipe Systems for Irrigation 23 
Settling Basins and Screens 27 
Air Vents 29 
Relief Stands 30 
Measuring Devices for Pipe Irriga-; 
tion Systems 31 
Distributing hydrants 44 
INTRODUCTION. 
In the more arid parts of the West, arable land possesses little 
value without water. The water which can be put to a beneficial 
use is limited to relatively small quantities, so that when it is fully 
utilized, only a small percentage of the total fertile and arable 
lands of the West can be reclaimed by irrigation. In recent years, 
owing to the rapid increase in the value of soil products, intensively 
farmed land under irrigation systems has risen in many cases to 
double its former, prewar value. This great advance in the value of 
irrigated land has placed a premium on water, and a widespread 
effort is being made to convey, distribute, and use the appropriated 
waters in such a way as to incur the least possible loss. Every gallon 
of water wasted by seepage and absorption in porous earthen chan- 
nels or in careless use on the land, robs the farmer of so much profit, 
whereas every gallon saved protects fertile soil from water-logging, 
and results in larger yields and profits to the grower. 
3445°— 21 1 1 
