This process has not gained much favour hitherto, principally on account of the large first cost involved, which would amount to upwards of 800l. per mile of street, but the expense afterwards should not much exceed the wages of one man at about 3s. 6d. per day to manipulate the necessary work, and the interest on the outlay and depreciation of the pipes, &c.
The other objections to this system are:—
(1.) The liability of the pipes and perforations to get out of order, especially when allowed to lie idle for so many months in each year.
(2.) The unpleasantness to pedestrians which must be caused whilst the watering is proceeding.
(3.) The inconvenience to the traffic during the process.
(4.) The effect upon the water by high winds, when in all probability it would be blown back across the foot pavement.
(5.) In very broad streets it would be inoperative.
In Paris and other continental cities, and also in several towns in this country, the watering is effected by hose and reels, or by portable iron tubes.
Mr. Parry, C.E., the Borough Surveyor of Reading, has given the following particulars of the system of hand watering adopted in that borough, in which he gives the cost, and describes the utility of that method as compared with the use of water carts:
A water cart (he states) will water twice a day a superficial area of 23,849 yards, and for a length watered one width that means 5,962 lineal yards, or for a double width 2,981 yards, the cost per day of laying on being as follows:—Horse, cart, and man, 8s. cost of maintenance of cart, harness, shoeing, &c., 1s. 5d., making 9s. 5d. per day.