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Ch. 10: Ditched and Flumes

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CHAPTER X.
DITCHES AND FLUMES. DITCHES.
The demand for water throughout the mining districts has caused the construction of thousands of miles of ditches. The cost of these has been immense, but the returns on legitimate enterprises have well repaid the capital invested. On account of the rugged character of the country traversed by the ditch lines, in order to lessen the cost and expedite the work, steep grades were used, high trestles were built (in some instances supporting large flumes at elevations of two hundred to two hundred and fifty feet), and wrought-iron pipes were introduced for conveying the water across the valleys and canons. The boldness with which these works were undertaken was characteristic of their originators.
Location and Construction Principles.—In lo­cating and constructing ditches the following rules should be observed:
(1) The source of supply should be at sufficient eleva­tion to cover the greatest range of mining ground at the smallest expense, great hydrostatic pressure being always desirable.
(2)  An abundant and permanent supply of water dur­ing the summer months should be secured.
(3)  The snow line, when possible, should be avoided, and the ditch, especially in snow regions, located so as to have a southern exposure.
(4) All water-courses on the line of the ditch should be secured ; their supply partially counteracts the loss by evaporation, leakage, and absorption, and frequently fur-
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Ch. 9: Measurements of FLowin Water Page of 331 Ch. 10: Ditched and Flumes
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