The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-08-08

chief function of the main drain is to
carry off the water brought into 1t by
the sub mains and laterals. The sub
mains are placed in the secondary hol-
lows with the laterals extending from
them at right angles out into the field.
The function of the laterals is to take
the water from the ground and con-
vey 1t to the sub-mains.
The direction which the drains shall
take depends upon the local conditions
and the lay of the land. The laterals
should have slight turn at the juno
ton with the sub-mains so as to start
the water in the direction of the out
let instead of causing 1t to flow
against the opposite side. The distance
between the laterals also depends upon
local conditions. the chief factors be-
ing the quantity of water and the ma.
ture of the soil.
No properly constructed drain will
carry off the water unless it is below
the water table. Surface water, when
in excess of what the soil can hold by
capillary attraction will continue to
percolate down through the soil until
static water below. It is when this
water table rises to the level of the
drains that the water begins to flow
out through them. This water table
is series of curved surfaces, the low
points being in the immediate vicinity
of the laterals and the higher point
midway between. This is due to the
fact that soil resists the movement of
the water. Owing to this fact the
deeper the drain the lower will be the
water table and the further apart may
be the position of the laterals.
This light soil in Yakima valley will
allow the water to soak through very
fast and the curved surface of the
water table will not be very high.
which will allow a considerable width
between the lateral drains. 1t is not
always possible to place drain at
depth which will produce the best re-
suits. but it should in all cases be laid
below the range of tillage imple-
ments. frosts and the roots OF ordinary
crops. Three and half to four feet Is
a good depth, making allowance for
grade of five inches to every 100 feet.
A grade of less than this IL used will
require more accuracy in the execu-
ton. No grade should be over twelve
inches to every 100 feet.
The following according to Wheeler,
will give some idea as to the amount
of water carried by different sizes of
tile Two and a half-inch tile carries
Is times the water carried by pinch
tile 3-inch tile carries 25 times the
toI hx.o OF A. po
tile carries times the water carried
by Pinch tile; 5-inch tile carries rs
times the water carried by 2-inch tile;
S-inch tile carries 25 times the water
carried by 2-inch tile
The general practice throughout the
east is to use Pinch tile for the lat
erals and various sizes for the mains,
depending upon existing conditions
and the number of acres to be drained.
In an open soil 4-inch main will
drain twelve acres. This, of course, de-
ponds upon the grade, for the greater
the grade UP to twelve inches for each
hundred feet the smaller will be the
size of tile required.
The cost of the tile varies widely in
different localities, owing to the dis
lance from the point where they are
made. About 1000 pieces of 2-inch
tile are used to the acre in the east. at
n cost of $40 per acre. 1t will cost
more out here, as the price increases
with the distance from the point Of
manufacture.
The following is the list for prevail
ing prices in the east:
2-inch tile per thousand ......$ 1900
3-inch tile per thousand ...... 1000
4-inch tile per thousand ...... $500
6-inch tile per thousand ...... 10000
12-inch tile per thousand ...... $4,000
These prices are subject to discounts
sometimes as high as 40 per cent.
The most expensive part of this
work Is the digging of the bitches,
and the extent of the cost depends up
on the manner in which It Is done. The
following Is from Brooks of Massa-
chusetts and may prove helpful to the
amateur:
"1st. Find men for the work If posi-
BILE who are accustomed to 1t.
"2nd. Have them open narrow ditch
es. About 20 inches at the top and 5