Big Rapids, Mich., April 29, 1886. Sir: Will you please be kind enough to inform me what will be the best material to use for running lead joints in 12 and 4-inch iron pipes, such as water mains ? I generally use putty or clay for iron pipes up to 8-inch. I didn't know but that they use something different for large water mains to run lead in. Yours truly, C. B.

[The best practice seems to be as follows: For pipes up to 12 or 14 inches diameter a luting of moist clay is used for covering several yards of oakum so as to form a roll for closing the exterior of the annular space excepting at the point where the lead is to be poured.

For larger pipes a wrought-iron clip of annular form, hinged at the bottom, and with tightening screw at the top, is used for covering the space. A luting of clay is used with these, also for tightness.

In cases where in large pipes a solid joint is poured (no oakum gasket being inserted in the hub) an iron ring is placed inside the pipe to cover the joint, and the joint is calked after pouring both inside and outside.]