Q. In laying some tile recently we came in contact with several small springs in line of the trench, which tile empties into the bed of a rapid mountain stream. There are springs walled in on both sides of the stream above, within 200 yards of where the tile was laid.

Some days after the work was done water began running from the inside. There has been no connection with any fixtures. The tile was good vitrified drain-tile, laid in cement, each joint being carefully made.

Perhaps it would be well to state that the above is to convey the waste from a bath-house containing nineteen tubs, two closets, one swimming-bath, and a few bowls. Is it not. probable that some of the tile is not thoroughly glazed and allows seepage? Also, please state if you consider it detrimental or objectionable to leave it as it is. Water turned in from the upper end of the waste passes off promptly and perfectly free.

A. We should not consider the probability of the water soaking through imperfect glazing so great as that of its coming through imperfectly-closed joints. Few masons who put pipe together are aware how difficult a thing it is to insure the tightness of all the joints. Whenever a test is applied the number of leaks developed is astonishing.

If imperfections in the glazing exist to a sufficient extent to account for the flow above reported, they will be likely to be silted up and stop the flow after a few months. We would advise having your pipe tested by applying a tight rubber plug at the lower end, and filling it with water. If any bad joints exist they can be found readily in this way. Of course, there should not be much earth filled over the pipe where such a test is made. Leaks often occur by breaking down the pipe, and splitting the bells or hubs open with the load of the trench-filling, for lack of good continuous bearings. The pipe should be bedded in cement the whole length of every piece, to insure good support. The objections to using a leaky pipe for drainage are these - viz.: Whenever a dry time occurs the sewage will flow out through the leaks and pollute the soil. The importance of such pollution is entirely a local question. Moreover, the escape of the more fluid parts of the sewage through leaks would, perhaps, lead to trouble for lack of flushing the inside of the drain-pipe, and allow it to accumulate solid matter.