New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-01-13

vance that the benefits resulting
from their misdirected efforts
would not be commensurate with
the expenditures incurred.
1t Is characteristic Of almost all
artificial drainage Improvement
that, II certain amount of work
Is needed, the actual construe tion
OF a part only of the whole work
Will not produce correspond
lngly proportionate benefit. That
is, if only one-half Of the needed
work is carried out much less
than one-half of the full benefit
Will be obtained. 1t is, perhaps,
approximately true that the ear
rying out of three fourths of the
ieeded work would yield one
fourth Of the total benefit. The
last one-fourth of The work pro-
duces perhaps three -fourths of
THE benefit. Ii is on account of
this relation that the original
planning of all drainage work on
a sufficiently comprehensive and
adequate scale is so important
Naturally those who have had
no experience in constructing
drainage improvements can have
Little comprehension Of the ir-
Vulnerable difficulties and obsta-
cles that may arise in the con
struction of extensive work and
in It's operation after completion;
and, too often, when they have
the responsible charg, of such
work, tlhey are prone to refuse to
accept the advice Of others who
have had extended experience.
There are still intricate problems
and battling uncertainties, nume-
roue enough, in securing drainage
in difficult situations, but there
would seem 70 be no excuse nova
days for undertaking important
work in violation of fundamental
principles of drainage science
well known to every experienced
worker in this field Of engineer
ing.
1t is not alone sufficient, how
ever, that the drainage work as
constructed shall secure the de-
sired benefit. The work must be
done economically and in such u
way as TO secure the greatest
profit to the landowner, Several
quite different plans for the drain
age Of given district might Sc.
cure equally well the desired i'm
provement. In such q case that
plan should be chosen which will
prove cheapest in the long run.
and to determine the best and
cheapest plan is. the special pro-
Vince oftthe engineer. The enri-|
neer has been defined as a person
who can do with one dollar what
anyone else can with two. One
of the first steps taken in begin
ming a large drainage project
should be to secure the services
of a competent and experienced
engineer. Such man is needed
to make the necessary surveys and
plans for the work; to make in
spections and estimates during
construction; and, when a pump
ing plant is a part of the work.
, test the completed plant to see
that it complies with the speci-
fications and meets the guarantees
of capacity and efficiency. He is
needed also to advise as to the
most economical and efficient ope-
ration Of the plant after its COM
pletion and as to its management.
maintenance. and care.
Drainage by means of pumps
has been carried on in European
countries for the last 100 years
and has been rapidly increasing
in this country during the last
/ 25 years. Through this extensive
| experience, including numerous
! failures. considerable amount OF
knowledge is now available on
the subject Of the proper arrange
menr and the requisite capacity of
pumping plants. It is the object
of this bulletin to discuss the
various questions arising in con.
nection with the reclamation OF
agricultural land by means OF
pumps in order that, the conclu-
sions drawn from experience may