Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-10-14
BEGINNING A DRAIN.
A Few Important Points to Be Observed
n.OFder to Succeed Well.

A Few Important Points to Be Observed
Order to Succeed Well.
/. Secure good outlet for the water
TO flow Off freely.
3 Lay the main drains from three
to four feet deep-the latter depth is
better than the less. but we can't al.
ways get the outlet to begin so deep.
Ii the fall is sufficient, we can save it,
and soon have the nee lssary depth.
s. We should use size Of tile large
enough TO remove the surplus water so
as to have the surface ready for tho
plow in twcnty-four hours after n rain
fall. / have generally determined tho
sizes Of tile about rs follows: | looS
over the land and estimate about how
many acres OF the surface will run the
water of a rainfall to the point where 1
am going to make my outlet II tho
estimate is that the water of ten acres
Is b 90 through my outlet, / take hall
the number of acres rs the size in
inches for the inside diameter Of nv
tile, which would be livc-inch tile at
the outlet, and smaller sizes in proper
tiOna the lins Of tile advances, de-
pending upon now the water Is re-
ceiyed. But if the fall is rs much rs an
inch to the rod, and the work well
done, then ! would use a fOur-inch tilu
at the outlet, and third OF the wayup
the drain drop on tO threc's, and near
the head Of the drain use wo's if
could get them. But we must make
allowance for imperfect work. and il is
well to have the tile large enough.
There are more mistakes from the usr
Of tile too small than of tile too large.
4. In laying out the line of the drain
| make it as straight as can to secure
the most direct flow OF the water.
Then | stretch line Of two or three
rods in length at the side OF the intend.
ed ditch, and begin the work with q
siXteen-inch ditching spade at the out
let and work back. going thc spades
depth, throwing the dirt on one side.
The width OF the ditch at the top
should not ordinarily be more than ten
inches, growing narrower as we 20
down. use an adjustable scoop 10
remove the loose dirt that fails 10 stick
to the ditching spade. / work back
the length Of the line tho first spade.
then go forward and commence anOth-
or spade Of depth, and carry that back
the length Of the line, and then the last
spade | work down deep enough to
make the grade, loyeling the bottom
with my adjustable scoop.
>. The leyeling Of the bottom 10 re.
ceiye the tile il the important part of
the work. II there is water in the bot
tom Of the ditch, / make the bottom
50 uniform in the fall that the water
viii llOw regularly all the length com
pleted. The ditch at the bottom
should be just wide enough to receive
the size OF tile 10 be laid, then the tile
will be supported by the side and not
easily moved when the first dirt. IL
thrown on.
In this way work out the drain o
lines length at the time until / have
gone over sufficient space to make il
necessary to lay the tile, unless there
IS quicksand. when lay the tile as /
go.
9. In laying the lie, commence at
the outlet lay the first joints OF hard
burnt tile 50 they will not BE- injured
by the frost lay few cobblo stones
rs large as my head around the mouth ol
the tile, 10 hold it firmly and protect II
from the tramping of stock. As soon
as ! get two or three joints laid stand
on them and lay t;ie neat joint, placing
the tile as closely end 20 end as can,
and AS perfectly in line AS possible. to
baye the waterway inside free from
shoulders, also having the grade regu-
lar. When | have advanced five or six
feet, have a long-handlod shovel (of
the adjustable scoop will do) and fili in
some clay on the tile, pressing il down
firmly with my foot. watching carefully
that the ;,le are not displaced. IIay-
ing covered the tile in this way, 1 hll
tho balance Of the ditch with plow OF
Bcraper.
When the days work Is done and
the ditch Is not finished, / put in o
board at the upper end 10 prevent the
dirt washing inis the drain during tho
night from any accumulation Of water.
ln the way named 1 90 on with the
work until ! lay as much as I can foI
The present, then / secull the upper
ends and drive stake, 50 II / shonld
want to run the drain further / will
know where 10 commence. And
generally do want 20 10 further ~
r. noaou, fii Draindqe aid Iarnl Jour
nal,
III pCOfc1f DC1uDi4sS'