The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-12
WHICH Is THE BEST PIPE?
CITY AUTHORITIES WRESTLING
WITH THE OPEN PROPOSITION.
City Engineer Meriwether Submits a
Report, But Falls to Get Down Into'the
vitals, and Another Chance is Given
Him to Throw Flood of Light.

Now that Memphis has pure, wholesome
and sparkling artesan well water, through
what kind OF pipes shall it be conductedP
Hitherto the city ordinances have speci-
fed that galvanized iron was the thing,
but an amendment thereto is under con-
sideraton by the Council.
At the Council meeting last week City
Engineer Meriwether was instructed to
investigate the relative merits Of lead, gal
yanized iron and other materials from
which pipes are made, and report to the
Council. He reported yesterday as fol-
lows:
To the Honorable Legislative council
In compliance with resolution OF your
honorable body at its meeting on March
81, 1889, the following report on the COM
parative merits of different kinds OF SER
vice pipe il respectfully submitted; For
conducting water from the street mains to
the consumers lead pipe is the material
most generally used, though plain wrought
iron pipe, wrought iron pipe lined with
cement or coated with enamel, and gall
yanized iron IL extensively used.
Lead and iron pipe lined with tin have
also been successfully used in many local
tiles, but excepting under very unusual
conditions their great cost precludes their
common use.
In view Of the numerous breaks and
ruptures in the service system OF this city,
necessitating constant attacks upon our
walks and pavements. the kind Of material
to be used becomes question OF great I'M
portance.
Plain wrought iron pipes have the adj
vantage over all others in first cost, and,
in some cities, they have proved quite
! satisfactory. The chief objection TO their
use Is the oxidation OF the interior surface.
| The acids contained in some waters act on
| the surface to such an extent as to render
a supply through long service OF this
material unfit for culinary. and laundry
purposes. Such acids are notably present
In the water supply OF this city, 30 that
the rapid oxidation OF plain iron would
result.
Galvanizing iron pipes protects them to
some extent, but not to that commonly
believed. Galvanized pipe is found TO be
weaker than plain pipe OF the same size
and thickness. IL is very generally claimed
that the ga!vanic process weakons the
metal, but Il isquite probable that the zinc
coat is frstapplied TO an inferior metal. The
fact remains, however, that galvanized
pipe is, as q rule, OF very inferior quality
OF metal. And in the coating OF zinc i'm
projections exist; at these points, and where
the coating is broken by pipe filters tongs,
corrosion will take place and destroy tho
pipe the same rs In the case OF plain pipe.
The galyanizing. however, to large
extent prevents contact with the water
supply, thus removing one OF the principal
objections TO iron pipe. Zinc is not free,
however, from being acted upon by the
acids OF some waters. Time alone can
tell what effect the acids OF the present
water supply will have upon such a metal,
but the chances are that the coating OF
zinc will be readily attacked by 1t.
The objections TO lead are its greater
first cost, and the fact that some waters
act rapidly and 10 dangerous extent upon
lead. though any water containing mineral
salts will deposit an insoluble carbonate
upon lead, and thus protect II from chemi-
cal destruction or danger. Generally speak
ing, the purer the water the greater the
danger from lead poisoning. IL is believed
that the water OF the present supply has
sufficient mineral in solution to render II
harmless. A simple chemical test will
show this, and II lis action proves to be
nil, or even very slight, lead pipo will
prove to be the best for service in this city.
II will certainly be cheapest when COM
paratiye durability is considered.