The Water Supply of the El Paso and Southwestern Railway from Carrizozo to Santa Rosa, N. Mex. | Page 7

more than 1/4
in. deep and remaining distinct under the water around the shore line
for one year. Apparently, the reservoir will finally become water-tight
at all elevations.
The soil in which the four service reservoirs on the railway are built
proved to be about the worst for such work. In its natural state on the
prairie, after the excavation for the reservoir was completed, it filtered
water at the rate of 3 ft. per day. Tamping and puddling still left a
filtration of 12 in. per day, with a tendency to increase. Enough water
filtered through the concrete to produce settlement and cracks. Finally,
the concrete was water-proofed with two coats of soap, two of alum,
and one of asphalt. This has made all the reservoirs water-tight.
Elaterite, an asphalt paint made by the Elaterite Paint and
Manufacturing Company, of Des Moines, Iowa, was used successfully
on the Luna Reservoir. This paint is applied cold, and preliminary tests
showed it to be quite efficient.
The analysis of the soil is as follows:
Loss on ignition 3.35 Silica 56.36 Oxide of iron 2.93 Oxide of
aluminum 8.97 Calcium oxide 15.95 Magnesium oxide 0.98 Oxides of
sodium and potassium 0.47 Carbonic acid 11.35 Sulphuric acid 0.11
Chlorine 0.04 Manganese Traces ------ 100.51 Insoluble matter, 64.50
per cent.
_Pipe-Line Leakage_.--There is no measurable leakage from the iron
pipe. By thorough inspection and measurement at the end of two years,
leakage on the wood pipe, between Coyote and Bonito Creek, from the
11-and 12-in. pipe, was found to be as follows:
On 8.6 miles, 11-in. pipe, 146,600 gal. per day = 17,046 gal. per mile. "
4 " 12 " " 14,829 " " " = 3,702 " " "
The 7-1/2-in. pipe on this section appears to be leaking less than the
12-in. pipe. Inspection and measurement of it are to be made in a short

time.
There is no material leakage from the 10-and 16-in. pipe between
Bonito Creek and Nogal Reservoir, as determined by velocity and
volumetric measurements hereafter described. The greatest probable
error in the velocity measurements would not exceed 1/2 per cent. If
such error existed, and was all charged to leakage, it would amount to
but 17,204 gal. per day, or 1,582 gal. per mile, out of a daily delivery of
3,784,000 gal.; but the measured discharge of the pipe, as determined
by the velocity, was 5.84 sec-ft., while the mean maximum volume of
this water over the weir at the end of the pipe is recorded by the weir as
5.88 sec-ft.
From Coyote, east along the railway, the wood pipe is remarkably tight.
The rate of leakage from it, as determined by 600 observations
uniformly distributed, was as follows:
11-in. pipe = 120 gal. per mile per day. 8-1/2 and 7-1/2-in. pipe = 268 "
" " " "
The maximum rate on 1 mile was 1,613 gal. The minimum found was
zero.
The observations were made by uncovering a joint and measuring the
leakage therefrom for 10 min. A graduated glass measuring to drams
was used. The rate of leakage varied from 5 drops to 45 oz. in 10 min.
Of the joints uncovered 57% was found to be leaking. It is rather
remarkable that, in the large leakage of the 11-and 12-in. pipe between
Coyote and Bonito, only one out of every eight joints was leaking. This
indicates a physical defect in such joints. The largest leak found on one
joint was at the rate of 17[,?]280 gal. per day. Leakage between or
through the staves is not measurable, as it is not fast enough to come
away in drops unless there is some imperfection in the wood.
The insignificant leakage of 120 gal., stated above, is from the 11-in.
pipe in the pumping main between Coyote and Corona. The present
maximum working pressure on it is 100 lb. per sq. in. All the figures
given above include visible and invisible leakage, the latter being such

as does not appear on the surface. The visible leakage is but a small
part of the total.
Stopping the Leaks.--Generally, any ordinary leak is readily stopped by
pine wedges. Sometimes a loose joint requires individual bands bolted
around it. Bran or saw-dust is effective in stopping the small leaks
which cannot be reached by the wedges. The good effect of the latter is
likely to be destroyed by a rapid emptying of the pipe. If the water is
drawn out faster than the air can enter through the air-valves, heavy
vacuums are formed down long slopes, and the air forces its way in
through the joints and between the staves. The result is that the pipe
will frequently leak badly for some time after it is refilled, although it
may have been tight previously.
A full pipe and