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167
In the remit to me from Hong Kong, it will be
remembered the question of one or two pipes was put forward for
my consideration, and after very carefully considering the
matter, viz: the cost of the work and the future maintenance,
I came to the conclusion that it would be better to provide two
18" pipes rather than one 24". Two pipes, naturally, cost
more than one, but they give the security and reliability of two
lines of main against one, and that in itself appears to me to be a
factor of first importance.
Another consideration is that if two
and
18" pipes are laid instead of one 24" it will be possible when
required, by closing off one pipe to so increase the velocity in
the other pipe as to scour and clear it out from time to time,
this cannot be done with one 24" pipe, Again the trench work
across the Harbour is not greatly increased by laying two pipes
together over what it would be by laying one 24".
I should add, that every part of the work and every
operation has been designed. to be of the very highest class, and
the materials are such as to obviate any failure. The pipes are
much thicker than those used on land and will have " Bitumen
lining and be double covered outside so as to remove the possibility
of action internally and action of sea water externally In
addition, owing to the long length of this main, and depth of
water in which it is to be laid, special design has been
adopted for laying, ball and socket joints have to be introduced,
but these have been reduced to a minimum number and are of the
highest class of material and workmanship,
TENDERS
Both Firms tendering are of first rank, accustomed
to large operations, and are firms to which a special contract of
this description might with confidence be entrusted.
The representatives of both Firms inform me that
their tenders have had to be increased far above the actual cost of the work due to the requirements and stipulations in the
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