RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION 



263 



employed except where a large amount of earth is to be moved 

 and where a log loader that can be converted into a steam 

 shovel is available. 



Plowing. — Contractors usually assume that a team and driver, 

 with a helper to hold the plow can loosen per hour, 25 cubic yards 

 of fairly tough clay; 35 cubic yards of gravelly loam; or 50 

 cubic yards of loam. A pick-pointed plow drawn by four or six 

 horses and with two men riding the plow beam, is required for 

 breaking up tough clay or hardpan, the usual rate being from 15 

 to 20 cubic yards per hour. Thirty-five cubic yards of "average 

 earth" per hour is considered satisfactory work.^ 



Pick Work. — The pick is used only for light work and in 

 confined places. In one hour a man will loosen from 1.6 to 2.3 

 cubic yards of earth, from 0.7 to i.i cubic yards of gravel, or 

 0.9 cubic yards of hardpan.^ 



Picking and Shoveling. — Pick-loosened earth is nearly always 

 handled with a shovel. This method of moving earth is of 

 importance in forest work because most light railroad grades are 

 constructed in this manner, and it is also used in trail building. 



The following table- shows the average amount of cubic 

 yardage picked and shoveled by one man per hour. 



Hardpan (clay and gravel) . 



Common earth 



Hardpan 



Clay (stiff) 



Clay 



Sand 



Sandy soil 



Clayey earth 



Clay, fairly tough 



Sandy soil, frozen 



Gravel or clay 



Earth 



Capacity per 

 man per hour. 



Cubic yards. 

 0.4 



Cost per cubic 

 yard.i 



Cents. 



37* 



19-125 



I7i 

 15 

 12 

 I9-I2i 

 12 

 17 



M. Ancelin 

 Cole 



Gillette 



Billings 

 Hogdson 



Wages 15 cents per hour. 



^ The data on output are taken from " Earthwork and Its Cost." by H. P. Gil- 

 lette. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 191 2. 



2 From "Earthwork and its Cost," by H. P. Gillette. McGraw-Hill Book 

 Company, New York, 1912. P. 23. 



