, 1876-04-22
CORRESPONDENCE.
Ia Conner.

Dear Sir. Seeing that you are awe 10
tho interests of this Territory and especially
to this section of it, perhaps an article on
diking would be acceptable to yot and an
advantage to your readers
1t is the general practice to build the dixie
Before putting in the dams, as about all the
dikinr is done after the high winter tides
are over; a better way is to make the dixie
high enough II teap of the summer tides,
and then put in the dirrs so as to have dry
land to finish the dixie with. To commence
diking we must first consider the nature Of
the ground, its altitude, and what we lave
to contend with: whether surf, current, or
drift timber that will be likely to come
against it when built. For dixie 3 It. high,
it should not be less than 81 It. wide at the
base and % to #. on top; dixie to be 4 it.
high, should not be less than #. wide at
base, and 3 #. wide on top, In many places
here we find the ground so porous that it
lets in much water under the dixie, in that
case, it will be necessary to dig ditch
through the porous strata, ill in and tamp
it well. This has never failed with me to
remedy the evil 1t is also nect ssary to see
that there are 10 holes in the ground, such as
are made by mice and rnuskrats, on which the
dixie is to be built. For dixie 3 #. high,
take all the earth from the ditch on the in
side of the dixie so as to make it deep
enough to drain the lower ground get
spades with solid eye, no Iiyets, as the
mud sticks to the spade around the rivets
aud causes great deal Of detention, much
trouble and vexation. The ditch should be
at least it. from the dixie; this will prove
more secure than if made closer; cut sods
about 12 inches square, make wall on each
side, then fill in between the walls with
clay, and tamp we'll If the ground is not
too dry, it can be tamped with spade, by
cutting the big clods and stamping it down
with the feet, but if too dry, it will be ne
ceseary to make q wooden tamper, such as
is used, in tamping down paving stones IN
streets. If there is no sod on the ground it
must be made wider, so rs to get the re-
quired height, without sods. There has
been much said about sod walls being the
poorest part of a dixie, and, us rule, this
is true, but it must he remembered that we
are not done with the dixie even when it is
finished it will settle and crack, and in
many places the sods will rot and crumblc.
1t is the cheapest way to build with sods,
as described, and by tamping the cracks, it
will do for the first year; the next year take
q spade and cut the sods down on each side
of the dixie, and tamp down solid, by so
doing all the cracks and holes can be seen
and filed, them dig down some OF the dry
dirt on top Of dike tamp all the cracks, Ill
up all little Says, and sow with orchard or
rye grass, (no blue grass) II your work is
well done, your dixie is as permanent as your
farm. Another important consideration,
where there is a sag or little slough to cross
make your dixie wider as it will necessarily
have to be n little higher, in order to stop
the water at such places. 1t is aggrivating
to go over many of the dikes here, and when
ever you find sag, or slough, the dixie is
not only lower, but without sufficient width
to build it high enough. In putting in
dams, flood gates or sluce boxes the first
thing to look to is the foundation.
If the bottom is sand, it is bad, you had
better go up the creek until you can get "A
mud bottom, if you can do so without too
much expense, if not, put pine brush and
mud, in the bottom of the creek, where the
dam is to be made, and for some distance
each way The banks of the creek must be
cut with an even slope, from top to bottom,
so that the dam will settle evenly and cause
no holes 1t is necessary to have the sluice
boxes as low down as possible, so that they
will let out most Of the water, and give
drainage to the land; at the same time they
must be high enough so that they will not
settle down, so as to be under water, and
must be SO that they can be got at when
there is anything wrong. If the creek is not
more than 10 it, deep, or docs not require a
dam more than ~ it. high, 20 it, is wide
enough for the dam and "a for the sluice
boxes drive in long stakes or poles, so that
they will be long enough, to reach up to the
top Of the dam, when finished. Drive your
stakes as near perpendicular as you can, in
straight line, and build your dam to them.
If the creek is small, or there Is a small guam.
tity of water to let out, the suice boxes
should be made Of four planks 3 by 12 inches
it will then be 3by inches in the clear
1t is surprising to see the amount of water a.
box of this size will let out The box
should be put together with 8 or inch gal
vanized wrought iron spikes, or wooden
pins one inch in diameter; use no cut or
common iron spikes, in any work of this
Find, they will rot off in few years and
cause much trouble. A job of this kind, if
well done, will last not only for lifetime,
but tor generations to come. 1t is certainly
a more pleasing Thought that we are doing
something that will be blessing to genera
tions to come after us, than if we should do
something that would cause them to curse
us. Any man or set of men who will have
L ~. Al ~ !. g