Prof. J. T. Stewart, of the Minnesota Agriculture College, has enumerated a number of points to follow in the planning for the construction of tile drainage systems, which the drain tile manufacturer might profitably pass on to his farmer friends. The following points suggested by him apply to conditions found in the South. The individual farmer should:

1.  Select an area the tiling of which will drain the most land at the least expense.

2.  Locate the low spots and water channels during the wet season of the year.

3.  Examine thoroughly the character of the ground, by digging holes along the lines of the proposed drains.  Dig some of these holes when the ground is dry and others when the ground is full of water, and note the comparative ease of the work, the caving, the rapidity with which the holes fill with water, the presence of find sand, gravel, etc.

4.  Contract with a reliable tile factory for the delivery of the tile needed at prices f. o. b. the nearest railroad station to the work.  Let the delivery be at a season when you are not busy with other work and when the roads are good.  Tile can often be hauled advantageously during the season when crops are being hauled to town, the wagons returning from town loaded with tile instead of empty.

5.  A few days before the engineer comes out to make the survey, run the mowing machine along the proposed trench lines; also have stakes cut and ready.

6.  If there is no available man in your neighborhood competent and experienced in laying tile, try to get such a man from some other locality for a few weeks, until you can “learn the trade.”  If weeds have grown up again, remove them.  Be careful not to break down the survey stakes or drive over them in unloading tile.

7.  See that the tile is conveniently distributed, and broken pieces for batting joints scattered within easy reach, before the tile man begins work.  If there are no pieces, the layer will break good tile to get them.

8.  See that the upper end of each tile is securely closed against the entrance of silt or mud when leaving work at night.

9.  If practicable, before the trenches are filled, have the surveyor test the grade of the tile.  This can be done after the tile are blinded by running an iron rod thru the blinding to the top of the tile, and holding the leveling rod on the top of the iron rod.

Source:

Brick and Clay Record
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL
Volume 51, Number 10, November 6, 1917
Page 845