On the Drainage of Lands, Towns, and Buildings (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Excerpt from On the Drainage of Lands, Towns, and Buildings

The flat stone drains shown in Figs. 45 and 47 are economical forms of construction in some localities, namely, where the required slabs are cheap and abundant. The shoulders, shown in Fig. 47 as being left in the soil, may be in some cases better substituted by clearing the drain out level, and introducing two slabs of stone, meeting at the bottom, and having a stone wedged in between them at the top, the upper portion being filled in with loose stones. If the flat stones at the sides can be obtained 6 or 8 inches broad, and 15 inches thick, at about 4d. Per ton, an acre of land may be drained with drains 32 inches deep below the crowns of the gathered-up ridges, and laid at distances of r 5 feet, at a cost of about £2 1zs., exclusive of carriage of materials, and the ploughing by which the upper ridges are formed. Constructed as in Fig. 47, if the covering flags can be procured 12 inches wide and 2 inches thick, at the same rate per ton, the acre may be similarly drained for 8s. Or os. Less.

For the draining of bogs, the arrangement represented in Fig. 49 is peculiarly applicable, all the materials being on the spot, as the whole drain is refilled with the peat itself, which is well known to resist the action of water with impunity. Provided the cutting of the drains be done in summer, when the material quickly becomes dried, and sufficient time is allowed between the successive opera tions cf cutting and refilling to effect the required con solidation, no better method is yet devised for effecting this kind of work. The liability of the mess in the bed of the drain to subside in detached parts, and with great irregularity, is certain to destroy any arrangement of tiles, pipes, or other artificial materials.

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