The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-29
LETTERS TO EDITOR
LIFE OF vITRIFIED PIPE
litor of The Age-Herald:

1 understand through MT. Dryer of Motley & Dryer, consulting engineers, in the Wood ward building, Birmingham, that you pub lshed (some time back) a letter of mine, au- authorized by me, which I sent to Senator B. T. Phillips of Opelika. My letter was also used by the Opelka News without my consent or knowledge and I understand also by your paper.
 1 have written a second letter to Senator Phillips, copy of which I inclose, and trust that you will also publish it, as it should cor rect the erroneous impression given by my first one I cannot afford to advertise this letter, and do not feel that I should have to, but trust that you can publish this nclosed letter once, and thus correct the erroneous impression given Gin my first letter) concern ing my opinion of the products of the manu- lecturers of vitrifed sewer pipe:
 Auburn, March IT, 1922. Senator B. T. Phillips, Opelika, Ala.
 Dear Sir-In letter to me about year ago you asked concerning the life of vtrifed pipe, but you did not state the purposes for which such pipe would be used. Hence my reply was made relative to purposes for which I have seen vitrifed pipe used in the bulk of my personal experience namely as highway culvert sewer pipe.
 q wish, therefore to add the following statement to the one which I have already given you and trust that you will give it the same publicity that you apparently have given my former one, and which was used without my knowledge.
 'It is understood that such short life, namely 15 to 40 years, is mentioned above, applies only to highway culvert vitrified sewer pipe, and such pipes laid close to the earths surface, and which may be subjected to shock and stress which comes from loads on the earth's surface. Such short life also arises from:
 q. The careless methods which are often employed in laying vitrifed pipe for cuvert purposes, and 2, the shock and stress to which such pipes are often subjected. To sum- marize:
 q. Improper selection of sizes and thick nesses.
 ''2. Insufficient depths.
 "3. Careless or faulty methods of laying the pipe due to inadequate engineering inspec- tion.
 "A. Shocks and stress.
 ''5. Unforeseen agencies, such as washes, undermining, etc, the agencies, outside of faulty product and ratification, which make for the very short life suggested above where vitrifed pipe is used for highway culverts.
 For cases where the aforementioned agencies not present, i. e., where l. A proper size and thickness has been used
 '2. The pipe has been laid at sufficient depth to prevent loads on the surface from subjectng the pipe to stress
 ''3. The pipe has been properly laid and sup ported
 "A. Shocks and appreciable stress not present; and vitrification and produce of first-class variety, the life of the vitritied pipe is practically indefinite, accidents practically always determining such length of life; though it must be stated again that vitrifed pipe gradually deterorates with age, while in use, gradually becoming softer and more unable to resist shock and stress. This is because the natural Weakening agencies, such ar, water, heat, cold, etc, are always present.
 Trusting that you will give the above ad- ditional statement the same publicity that you gave the former, I remain, very respectfully yours, JOHN A. CHILEAN"
 Vitrifed pipe is very commonly and prop erly used for home as we'll as for storm water sewerage, and under propev conditions may be made to give excellent service of prac tcaliy indefinite eAtehe oust pceouSe Nieiiiiou pipe is very often carelessly and improperly laid and inspected is no argument to initiate against its proper use.
 Where conditions and methods of laying and quality of pipe are high class, and pipe is of proper thickness. l unhesitatingly recom- mend vitrifed clay pipe for sewerage pur- poses especially for sizes up to three feet in diameter.
 Hoping that you will publish the latter to Senator Phillips, together with the two para graphs following it, and with best wishes, am, very truly yours,
 JOHN A. CALLAN.
 Auburn, April "A, 1922.