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k- If Class 150 Pad. Spec. WWP-U21 oast iron pipe with mechanical joints is used it can he joined to any fitting or valve which has a bell end suitable to this class of pipe or a Class 150 Bell and Spigot pipe can be joined to any mechanical joint bell providing it is Glass 150 of recent manufacture and also providing it is straight end pipe without the bead on the spigot end. Pipe with the bead on the spigot end will not fit into a mechanical joint bell. I understand that all of the major manufacturers of oast iron pipe, with the exception of American Cast Iron Pipe Co., are now manufacturing pipe with straight ends. Bowever, if it is desired to make a connection between pipe with beaded end and a mechanical joint bell it can be made by cutting the bead off of the pipe at additional expense. Also some of the older thick-wall pipe cannot be used with the mechanical joint due to its larger outside diameter. On the basis of information developed above and study of data contained in various pipe manuals it is my opinion that it would be advantageous to operation of the water company, both from the standpoint of physical operation and operating costs to permit subdividers to Install pipe lines with mechanical joints using Class 150 oast iron pipe conforming to Fed. Specs. WWP-i*21 providing it can be done at a cost not exceeding the cost of installing pipe lines of same class of pipe with cement joints, and providing also that if the mech­anical joint pipe is used cast iron bolts are uaed In bolting joints together. I>. SRf.T /Mfa./akg-