Also, if you are dealing with Axles, connecting directly to a stack opens it up for the pumped medium (Water or Magma) to flow back up the axle. Not a problem with water, but with wood being the only material for axles, Magma might not work that good.
Ex:
##D###
#.pP+#
###A##
#=Wall
.=Open Space
+=Floor
D=Dorr
A=Assembly (Axle or Gear)
pP=Pump, west to east. (Or from West)
In the above example, magma will flow along the diagonal into the Assembly and down the shaft used for it as none of the Assembly components block traffic. So unless you use only Magma safe gears the entire way, which would be a huge power waste, you need another way.
One trick is to power it from the top of the stack, but that isn't always viable depending on what power sources you are using (Since 10 tiles of horizontal axles eats only 3 logs, but vertical travel is at 1:1).
The solution, same legend:
##D###
#.pP+#
##pP##
###A##
The second pump, while not moving anything, will transfer power to the rest of the pump stack at a mere cost of 10 extra power. The second pump blocks liquids and traffic, sealing the wall and protecting the assembly from flooding. But this is only required if you aren't providing power from above the stack. If you would have the power assembly on the same level as the pump stack at any point, then use this plan for the level that the pump stack meets the assembly.