JShe RURAL NEW-YORKER 
833 
Farm Mechanics 
Removing Pipe from Well 
I have a well where the pump was de¬ 
stroyed by a fire. It was left uncovered, 
and boys threw stones down it until it 
is impossible to get the old pipe out of 
it. It is a driven well, and the cylinder 
is very likely wedged down by the stones. 
We put a large pry on the pipe, but did 
not use our whole strength, as one man 
said we would break the pipe. What 
strain would a pipe, common black iron, 
stand at a steady pull? The pipe is IVi 
inches in diameter. I think if we could 
use power enough those stones could be 
forced up ahead of the cylinder. The 
well is about six inches diameter. 
llaganian, N. Y. j. i). s. 
No tables are at hand giving the tensile 
strength of wrought iron pipe, but its 
strength can be roughly computed by 
using the tensile strength of wrought 
iron. A bar of wrought iron, a square 
inch in cross section, is usually c.alculated 
to resist a pull of .50.000 pounds before 
parting, and using this as a basis it is 
easy to calculate roughly the pull that 
it would he safe to apply to a li/i-inch 
wrought-iron pipe. A pipe of this size 
has an actual extern."! diameter of 1.30 
inches, an inside diameter of 1..38 and a 
wall thickness of 0.14 of an inch. This 
gives a cross sectional area of metal in 
the end of the pipe of 0.0(>85 .square 
inches, and this multiplied by 50.000.— 
the tensile strength i)er square inch— 
gives 38,425 pounds as the probable ten¬ 
sile breaking strength of a piece of this 
pipe, the pull required to separate it if 
applied directly to one end. 
This pii)e is connected together by 
threading, which probably reduces the 
strength. Fifty per cent, ought to be a 
big allowance for this reduction, how¬ 
ever, which woukl h-ave the calculated 
breaking strength at 10.712.5 pounds. 
T'Sing a factor of safety of 0 which is big 
we still have left a safe load of 2,785 
pound.s—almost a ton and a half—and if 
the load is applied evenly so that the lift 
is straight up. it will no doubt withstand 
a great deal more as a good big factor of 
safety has been allowed. 
This question was referred to a leading 
manufacturer of well-drilling machinery, 
who recommends the use of pipe clamps 
and screw jacks for giving a strong, steady 
lift. The same company also suggests— 
in case the clamps and jacks fail to start 
the pipe and the casing is large enough— 
the use of a spud for breaking up the 
stones above the cylinder. This can be 
made by screwing or welding a piece of 
tool steel into the end of a pipi*“. The 
steel is then given a shape .somewhat 
similar to that of a cold chisel, the edge 
sharpened and tempered, lengths of pipe 
screwed on until the cutting bit reaches 
the obstructing stones and the tool used 
to break them up. They suggested the 
use of a drilling machine for operating 
the spud, but it is probable that a spring 
pole could be arranged to carry the 
weight of the tool and the spud operated 
by hand. If too heavy for this a tripod 
could be erected over the well carrying a 
pulley through which the lifting rope 
could be run. In this way one man could 
guide the tool while others raised and 
dropped it. These stones, if somewhat 
round in shape, may be wedged in very 
tightly—in fact there is a pipe clevis that 
utilizes this same principle. 
i’erhaps if a pair of pipe tongs could be 
fitted to the top of the pipe it might he 
turned and the stones displaced in this 
way, permitting its being lifted out. If 
this is attempted be sure to turn on the 
pipe in the direction that will twist the 
joints together, otherwise you ma.v dis¬ 
connect it in the well. This clamp and 
jack arrangement suggested by the com¬ 
pany mentioned seems to me the most 
practical of the devices for pulling the 
pipe. An immense lift can be exerted by 
it and at the same time the pull will be 
steady and straight up, making as little 
strain on the pip'^ as possible. B. h. s. 
Hard Cistern Water 
We have a cement cistern, and the 
water is hard and limy, vei'y hard to 
make a suds. Is there something that 
can be put in it to make the water soft? 
Ovid, Mich. j. o. J. 
I know of no practicable way of re¬ 
moving the hardness of cistern water 
stored in concrete tanks save pumping 
out the stored water and admitting a 
fresh supply. The first water stored will 
have taken up much of the available lime 
and subsequent supplies will be compar¬ 
atively free from that element. Caustic 
lime and caustic sotla are used to remove 
hardness by precipitating the lime pres¬ 
ent in some waters, but they need to be 
added in just the right amounts and by 
those who understand the process. While 
used by some municipaliites to improve 
the public water supply, I do not know 
of any practical method of applying them 
to domestic needs. m. ij. d. 
Chemicals in Septic Tank 
What is the right chemical to use in 
a septic system so as to render the pro¬ 
duct harmlc.ss to man or beast un<ler all 
conditions. M. P. A. 
Blairsden, Cal. 
No chemicals should be used in a sep¬ 
tic tank, as the work of destroying wa.ste 
matter in these tanks is dependent upon 
the action of bacteria that would be killed 
b.v chemical disinfectants. The liquid 
discharged from a septic tank is not free 
from possibly injurious germ life and 
should not reach water or food until it 
has been purified, either by filtration or 
b.v exposure to the disinfectant proper¬ 
ties of the upper layers of the soil. The 
common practice is to can’y the effluent 
from the tank trough drain tiles, laid with 
open joints a few inches beneath the sur- 
ing higher than the highest level of 
water in the well to prevent overflow. 
This is connected as shown, the water 
standing at the same level in the tank 
and well. A faucet provides a means 
of drawing water from the tank at any 
time, the tank slowly filling again to the 
level of the water in the well from the 
small discharge of the siphon. This tank 
may be made small in cross section, pro¬ 
viding only enough water for the present 
use. 
If the water ceases to flow altogether 
during the dry season the following ar¬ 
rangement may be used. This is also 
shown more clearly b.v the sketch. At 
the lower end of the siphon a tee can he 
connected in carrying a gate valve. 
Above the gate valve a pitcher pump 
ma.v be attached. During the wet season 
the gate valve can be kept closed, and 
the line used as a siphon, but when the 
flow of water becomes scanty or stops 
altogether the gate valve can be opened, 
the di.scharge faucet closed, and the 
pump used to draw water until a greater 
supply in the well permits siphonage to 
start again. It is not likely that this 
pump would work perfectly, due to the 
long line of pipe, which is probably not 
larger than one inch in diameter and 
more likely three-quarters. A vacuum 
chamber on the pump will help in reme¬ 
dying this. This vacuum chamber may 
be made of ordinary pipe fittings, a piece 
of three or four-inch pipe serving as the 
body. This should be fitted with a cap at 
the upper end, and with a reducing 
coupling at the lower end to permit at¬ 
tachment into the pipe line b.v means of 
face of the ground. The liquid seeps out 
through the joints between the tiles and 
is purified b.v contact with the air and 
bacterial life in the soil. M. B. n. 
Failing Water Supply 
I have a 14-ft. well dug and stoned up ; 
it is 900 feet from the buildings, and is 
piped to the horse barn. There is al¬ 
ways plenty of water in the well, but in 
a dry season there is not force enough for 
it to run. I have been advised to make 
a reservoir near the well by placing a 
larger pipe for some distance. Which 
would be better, near the well or going 
down the hill at the steepest place to 
make more force? I have drawn an out¬ 
line from well to tank .so that you may 
understand the location of it. Can you 
explain or suggest a way of improve¬ 
ment? T. II. 
New York. 
From the sketch furnished it is evi¬ 
dent that the water pipe from the w'ell 
to the horse barn acts as a siphon. A 
siphon will flow only as long as the 
level of the water in the supply reser¬ 
voir is higher than the discharge end. 
There are man.v other Ciiuscs that affect 
the flow of a siphon, such as the forma¬ 
tion of an air pocket in the line, too 
high a lift, etc., but the first one men¬ 
tioned seems to be the one applicable to 
this case. 
If T. II. has never carefully leveled 
this line it is probable that there is less 
fall than he thinks between the water 
level in the w’ell and the point of dis¬ 
charge, and it is likely that as the water 
lowers in the well during a dr.v season, it 
gradually reaches a point that is no high¬ 
er than the point of discharge, when the 
siphon will fail to operate. Or it may 
be that it gets so near the same level 
that the water flows very slowly, not 
fast enough to be of practical use, as I 
understand from the sketch that the low¬ 
er end is controlled b.v a faucet, and it 
would take too long to fill a bucket if the 
flow was slight. 
If this latter condition is the ca.se it 
may be remedied as suggested b.v the 
sketch. A bulkhead tank is erected in 
the barn with an open top, the tank be¬ 
a nipple and tee. It equalizes the load 
on the pump and makes it work easier; 
its action is somewhat comparable to 
the shock absorbers on a car, as it per¬ 
mits the long column of water in the 
pipe to be started and stopped gradually 
by the up and down motion of the pump 
plunger. 
I cannot see how either of the schemes 
suggested in the question would be of 
advantage to T. II. in securing a flow 
of water during a dr.v time. A large 
pipe at the upper end of the line would 
not cause the water to be forced any 
higher at the other end of the line, the 
thing desired, although it would give a 
slightly increased flow when the water 
was running due to lessened friction. 
E. H. s. 
Quicksand in Driven Well 
What ciin be done when I strike 
quicksand in a driven well? Sand fills 
pipe and stops the water. o. G. F. 
Stowe, ^'t. 
One of the most serious difficulties that 
is encountered in drilling is produced by 
beds of quicksand. If the sand is not too 
thick it may be possible to drive the cas¬ 
ing through it into a firmer formation, or 
if the sand does not run too freely it may 
be possible to bail out enough so that the 
casting can be driven down little by 
little. Entrance of sand into the well 
can to some extent be prevented b.v keep¬ 
ing the well as full of water as po.ssible, 
thereby producing a back pre.ssure. Other 
methods of penetrating quicksand consist 
of freezing the formation, which is too 
expensive for ordinary water wells; in¬ 
serting cement, which sinks into the 
quicksand and sets, after which it can be 
drilled through, and puddling with mud 
by the hydraulic process. The puddling 
method is the most practicable for gen¬ 
eral use. The muddy water is pumped 
downward through hollow drill rods and 
comes up on the outside. The ascending 
muddy water plasters the walls of the 
well, producing a remarkabl.v effective 
mud casing. The subject of drilling 
through quicksand is di.scussed in Water- 
Supply Paper 2,57, pages 108 to 112. 
Til is paper is out of stock for distribu¬ 
tion by the Survey, but may be obtained 
from the Superintendent of Documents, 
Washington, D, C., for 15 cents. 
GEO. OTIS SMITH, Director, 
Geological Survey. 
Crops and Farm News 
Farmers were late getting in their 
crops this .year; a good man.v have just 
finished corn planting this week, .Tune 
1,5. The corn that is up is not looking 
the best on account of so much cold 
weather. Oats and potatoes are looking 
well. Wheat probably a half crop in 
this vicinit.v. A great demand for Spring 
pigs and not many for sale. The Granges 
of Northwest Ohio will hold a Grange 
rally at Napoleon ,Iune 20. o, b. b. 
Henry Co., O. 
Dairying is the principal line here, milk 
bringing a good price, this mouth ii!2.14 
per cwt., ,$2.20 for ,Tul.v, August and Seii- 
tember .$2.00. Cows selling from .$100 
to ,$125; eggs around 40c. Not much 
of a fruit country ; a little for own use 
is about all. G. E. D. 
Herkimer Co., N. Y. 
This locality is strong on various in¬ 
dustries. such as agriculture, horticulture 
and dairying, and being so convenient to 
such manufacturing points as Harris¬ 
burg, Steelton and York farm help and 
indeed labor of all descriptions is .serious¬ 
ly scarce. The crops apparent are, in 
spite of the b.ackward Spring, encourag¬ 
ing. Grass has improved wouderfull.v 
during the past two weeks. I cannot 
recall that we hfive ever had a better 
stand or more acres of corn than we have 
this Spring, and it is doing “double 
time.” Gats and potatoes are fine, and 
wheat promises to be a f.air crop with 
tin* acreage more than normal. Ilye, 
while a limited acreage, is a bumper 
croj). Strawberries are large and plenti¬ 
ful at 10c per box. Cherries are .scarce 
and high. I’eaches will be a big crop, 
with thousands of acres bearing. Wheat, 
.$2.25 : corn, ,$1.00; oats, 70c; rye, ,$1.2,5; 
hay, .$12 to .$14 per ton. Steers, 10 to 
12c; calves, 12c; pigs, .$5 to .$8 each at 
six weeks. Milk, ,$2 per cwt.; butter, 
common, 30 to 32c; better grade.s, 40 to 
4.5c; egg.s, .32e. F. w. F. 
Y'ork Co., Pa. 
Potatoes. ,$3 per bu.; beans, .$11 per 
bu.; oat.s, .$1; hay, $13 to $15 per ton; 
eggs, 3.3c. Dairy cows, $05 to $8,5; 
pigs, four weeks old, ,$5.50 to ,$8; butter, 
45c; cheese, .30c lb.; new potatoes, $1.20 
per peck. A. A. 
Warren Co., Pa. 
The principal crops raised in this vicin¬ 
ity are: Potatoes, beams, hay and dairy 
imoducts. Potatoes. $.3 per bu.; beans, 
$7.50; hay, .$12 to $14 per ton in the 
vstack. Butter (dairy). .38c per lb.; 
cheese, 2.3c. Dairy cows, fresh, $7.5 to 
$100; beef cattle. 12c per lb., live weight. 
Milk, $1.90 per cwt. for 3 per cent. milk. 
Chee.se factory average for milk, $2.,30; 
veal calves, 12 to 1,3c live weight; live 
hogs. 14c per lb. a. c. m. 
Wyoming Co., N. Y. 
Wheat. .$2.75; beans. $9.50 per 02 lbs.; 
potatoes. $3 peck; butter, 4,5c, at local 
ci-(‘amery ; eggs, .35c; fowls, 22c per lb.; 
pork. $18 cwt.; veal. 12c to 1,3c per lb. 
Hay. .$12 to $14 per ton. Good horses 
sell for $175 to .$225 each ; small horses 
hard to sell at any price; new milch 
cows, $00 to $115, and very scarce. Fol¬ 
lowing are prices farmers have to pay 
for feed at local mill: Bran, $2.25 per 
cwt.; middlings. $2.40; corn. ,$1.80 per 
bu.; oats. 8,5c per bu.; ground corn and 
oats. .$2.95 per cwt. f. n. c. 
Genesee Co., N. Y. 
Our milk goes to .Jefferson County 
Creamery Co. Their factory is five miles 
from the railroad. We receive $2.05 per 
cwt. for milk. Shipper i)ays 12c per lb. 
for real calves. They offer 48c per lb. 
for wool. We grow wax beans for whole¬ 
sale seed houst'. receive $3.25 per bu.; 
buy potatoes at $4 per bu. Dressed beef 
brings 12c per lb. ; pork, 10c. ii. N. B. 
.Jefferson Co., N. Y. 
A larger acreage of corn was planted in 
this section than usual, but has not made 
much growth yet on the account of cool 
weather. AVheat will be about one-third 
cro[); oats and meadows not looking very 
promising. Wheat, ,$2.80 bu.; corn, 
$1.50; beans. $9 bu.; new potatoes, $.3 
bu.; lard. 20c lb.; meat, 25c lb.; sugar, 
,$10.80 per ItX) lbs. Hens. 20c lb.; eggs, 
.30c; hogs. 10 to 13c lb.; cattle, 7c to 9c 
lb. No demand for horse stock, w. ir. 
Grainger Co., Tenn. 
Hay, $12; potatoes. ,$2.25; apples, $1; 
eggs, 32c. Milk at creamery, .Tune, .$2.10. 
Cows, $60 to $100; veal, 15c; sheep very 
scarce. n. j. w. 
Potter Co., Pa, 
The following prices are all retail; 
Milk, per quart. 8c; butter’, lb., 45c; 
eggs, 38 and 40c; bacon, sliced, 40c; ham, 
40c; heans (soup), lb., 22c; beans, Lima. 
22c; lettuce per he.ad, 5c; spinach, half 
peck. 20c. - T. J. o. 
Cumberland Co., Pa. 
