The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-27


wees of an expert engineer TO con-
slider all sides Of this question" said
Mr.. Pound. 1--WE want man III
whom we can put implicit commence
To make a thorough and exhaustive
examination and tell us just what is
the trouble.
The board acted on Mr.. Pounds adj
vice and will Immediately get in touch
with experts. II is planned to en-
ploy one from outside the city, hav-
ING no connection with local inter
ests. who will go at the problem from
an entirely unbiased standpoint. Sew
eral engineers were on hand and Of
fered hearty cooperation. II. Cola
more, president OF the Detroit Engi'
neering society, proffered the ser
vices OF the society, while A. t. wa
terfall, OF the Russell Wheel & Foun-
dry Co., considered one OF the best
experts on the manufacture OF iron
in the country, spoke 10 the board
and offered his assistance.
The Detroit Testing laboratory
made tests and analyses OF three
specimens of the broken pipe for the
board The tests for transverse and
tensile strength of the metal varied
considerably but Mr.. Fenkell gave II
as his opinion that they were within
the specifications of the board. IL
was i'm the chemical analysis, how
ever. that the iron fell below stand
ard. A portion of the 42inch water
main which broke in the vicinity Oh
Gladwin park. Jan. 81, showed the
following: Silicon, 1.26 per cent;
phosphorus, 1.103 per cent. The an
alysis of the 42-inch pipe broken al
Hurlbut and Kercheval, Feb. 8, snow
ed 1.l9l per cent phosphorus and l.Ss
per cent silicon, while analysis or the
3O.inch pipe which broke at Elmwood
and Milwaukee. March 8, showed SUI
per cent phosphorus and 1.78 per cent
silicon A fourth analysis made on a.
section OF broken pipe by the lapora-
tory at it's own initiative, the loca'
ton of the break not being gwen
showed 3.04 per cent silicon ana 100
per cent phosphorus.
In his report to the board, Mr. Fen
kell says, in part:
THE various possible causes Tor
breaks in mains as far as your civil
engineer has knowledge, may be sum
married. as follows:
Poor workmanship when mains
are laid.
Excessive cadlking of lead joints
when mains are laid.
EXPANSION OF lead in joints due TO
changes of temperature.
Settlement of foundations.
Settlement of ground over tun'
nels: and of back-filling in trenches
through which water pipes pass.
Pressure from everything eartn'
and pressure from surface OF ground
Excessive water pressure.
Air in mains.
Water hammer.
Vibration from passing cars.
Effect OF frost.
Expansion and contraction due to
temperature changes.
STRAINS due to difference in tenn
perature between water and earth.
Freezing of joints.
"Electrolysis.
Flaws in pipe.
Poor iron In pipe.
Cooling strains in castings.
"Corrosion.
Extraordinary causes"
He then proceeds to discuss the
relative importance OF each possible
cause and in his conclusion. he says:
Your civil engineer concludes that
several of the reasons for breaks
which have been discussed could have
played but little IL any part in caus-
ing the damage. There are other
proposed causes which, although not
sufficient in themselves TO cause
breaks, did probably contribute their
share toward producing extraordinary
stresses in the pipes. Among these
may be mentioned cooling strains in
castings, flaws in pipes, strains due
TO difference in temperature between
water and earth, effect of frost, and
settlement Of foundations. But while