Much of it was transferred en route, and 6% was broken when received.
The breaks were generally cracks of the spigot end. Of this broken pipe,
practically all was cut and laid. The average cut was about 16 in. from
the spigot end of 533 pieces. This cut pipe has caused no trouble in the
trench.
At least 27 pieces of cracked pipe got past the field inspectors and
into the trench. This cracked pipe began blowing out at a pressure of 50
lb., and continued until the full normal pumping pressure was reached,
when the breaks suddenly ceased. These pipes were broken out at the rate
of 1 or 2 per day, with an occasional day between breaks. A 24-hour
work-train service was maintained. The pipe gang soon became skilled,
and could put in a new section of pipe in from 4 to 6 hours. Each break
generally caused an interruption of about 6 hours to the pumps on the
section where it occurred. The best record was 3 hours and 50 min. from
the stopping to the starting of the pumps. This strenuous life lasted 30
days. Most of these breaks were in or near the middle of the pipe.
Evidently, the field inspectors were not expecting cracks in that
locality. An inspection usually indicated that the pipe had been struck
by the bell of another one in the vicinity of the break.
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