he American Government to have had a farm of about 500 acres,
drained by English hands, under an experienced engineer, as a
practical sample of English work, for the study of American
agriculturists, with every drain laid down on a plan, with the
sizes of the pipes, and all details of soil, and prices of labor
and material, set forth.

"I am, dear Sir,
"Yours very faithfully,
"The HON. H. F. FRENCH, Exeter. "J. BAILEY DENTON."

CHAPTER IX.

THE COST OF TILES--TILE MACHINES.

Prices far too high; Albany Prices.--Length of Tiles.--Cost in
Suffolk Co., England.--Waller's Machine.--Williams' Machine.--Cost
of Tiles compared with Bricks.--Mr. Denton's Estimate of
Cost.--Other Estimates.--Two-inch Tiles can be Made as Cheaply as
Bricks.--Process of Rolling Tiles.--Tile Machines.--Descriptions of
Daines'.--Pratt & Bro.'s.

The prices at which tiles are sold is only, as the lawyers say, _prima
facie_ evidence of their cost. It seems to us, that the prices at which
tiles have thus far been sold in this country, are very far above those
at which they may be profitably manufactured, when the business is well
understood, and pursued upon a scale large enough to justify the use of
the best machinery. The following is a copy of the published prices of
tiles at the Albany Tile Works, and the same prices prevail throughout
New England, so far as known:

_Horse-shoe Tile--Pieces._

2-1/2 inches rise $12 per 1000.
3-1/2 " " 15 "
4-1/2 " " 18 "
5-1/2 " " 40 "
6-1/2 " " 60 "
7-1/2 " " 75 "

_Sole-Tile--Pieces._

2 inches rise $12 per 1000.
3 " " 18 "
4 " " 40 "
5 " " 60 "
6 " " 80 "
8 " " 125 "

Few round pipe-tiles have yet been used in this country, although they
are the kind generally preferred by engineers in England. The prices of
round tiles would vary little from those of sole-tiles.

Tiles are usually cut fourteen inches long, and shorten, in drying and
burning, to about twelve and a half inches, so that, with breaking and
other casualties, they may be calculated to lay about one foot each;
that is to say, 1,000 tiles may be expected to lay 1,000 feet of drains.

To assist