THE PUBLISHERS' DEPARTMENT. 



CONSTRUCTION OF DITCHES. 



Among the many labor-saving and economic 

 machines invented within the last quarter of a 

 century, there is none that has been more success- 

 ful than the New Era Grader and Ditcher. In the 

 irrigation districts, particularly, it has afforded the 

 means of construction of ditches so cheaply that people 

 who had become impoverished by successive failures 

 of crops to such a degree that they could not afford 

 the expense of constructing large irrigation enter- 

 prises by old-time methods, have by means of the New 

 Era been able to secure the rapid and cheap construc- 

 tion necessary to give them water for their coming 

 season's crop, and at a cost within their means. 



The earlier machine, known as the Wauchope, was 

 subjected to fifteen years of study and improvement 

 and then the New Era was evolved, new patents 

 obtained, and what was then considered a perfect 

 machine put upon the market; since then, constant 

 study has resulted in such further improvements that 

 as it now stands, it can be well pronounced as perfect 

 a machine for its purposes as any invention of the age 

 for any other purpose. There are but few people 

 residing in the Middle or Western States but are famil- 

 iar with the New Era or its earlier prototype, as dur- 

 ing the past twenty-five years, tens of thousands of 

 miles of country roads and ditches have been con- 

 structed by their use, thousands of miles of railroad 

 beds, and thousands of miles of large irrigating canals 

 and laterals, while on large work such as levee con- 

 struction, or the cutting down of hills, loading wagons, 

 and filling up hollows, Western cities employ them. 

 Nor is the fame and reputation of the New Era lim- 

 ited to America, but the machines are used in various 

 countries around the world. The New Era will con- 

 struct shallow ditches of any size, for when it becomes 

 necessary to construct a canal wider or deeper than 

 the New Era can deliver from the earth directly, it 

 can be used as a wagon-loader, and then limitations 

 end. 



Small ditches are rapidly and cheaply constructed 

 with the Austin Reversible Machine. This machine 

 is also very desirable on large irrigation work, where' 

 there frequently occurs necessity of removing earth 

 beyond the delivery of the New Era, also on side-hill 

 work the opening can be made on a steep hill by a 

 blade machine, so the New Era may be used, when 

 otherwise the slope of the hill would be too great for 

 the New Era to work, and the blade machine by cut- 

 ting level tables would enable the New Era to handle 

 the larger work. 



The Austin Wheeled Scraper is the result of long 

 and careful study by experienced contractors and 

 mechanical experts, of the various scrapers in use, 

 with a view to producing an implement free from the 

 various objectionable features so noticeable in other 

 and earlier styles. The especial advantages of the Aus- 

 tin over all other styles are, that when in position for 

 loading it is absolutely locked so that it cannot be 

 dumped; that when loaded, by the great leverage, in 

 connection with the movement of the team (which 

 assists in raising the load), it is more easily broken out 

 219 



of the ground and lifted; when lifted, it hangs higher 

 from the ground than any other make, is perfectly 

 balanced with the point well up to avoid wasting, and 

 having higher wheels runs lighter and more stead- 

 ily; that it has an adjusting screw at rear end of pole 

 for arranging proper height of draft for small mules 

 or large horses, on any kind of work, and there is no 

 down draft on the pole to chafe the necks of the horses. 

 It dumps readily and easily on level and irregular 

 surfaces. Draft irons, levers, hangers, etc., are all 

 straight, no bent angles to break; all pivotal points 

 steel bushed; when worn they may be readily re- 

 placed; axles attached so they cannot spread the 

 wheels at the bottom, causing heavy draft and rapidly 

 wearing away the spindles. It is made in three sizes. 

 For more detailed information write direct to F. C. 

 Austin Manufacturing Co., Carpenter street and Car- 

 roll avenue, Chicago. 



BARNHART EXCAVATORS. 



The accompanying illustration shows one of Barn- 

 hart's Ditching Dredges owned by A. V. Wills & Co. 

 of Pittsfield, 111., and in operation in the Scioto Marsh' 

 near Kenton, Ohio. 



This machine was built by The Marion Steam Shovel 

 Company, of Marion, Ohio, who are manufacturers of 

 excavating machinery of over thirty different styles 

 and sizes, and adapted to all classes of work. Where 

 there is sufficient water to float a dredge, they have 

 their floating machines, and for work where it is im- 

 possible co have water until after the ditch is con- 

 structed they have their traction dredges and Kings 

 County Ditchers. This company have the largest 

 plant in the United States for the manufacture of this 

 class of machinery; and, being equipped with all mod- 

 ern appliances, they are abundantly able to take proper 

 care of their many customers by furnishing a first- 

 class machine at a moderate cost. In simplicity of 

 design these machines stand at the head; and, there 

 being less parts there are consequently fewer compli- 

 cations and not so many parts to replace with repairs. 

 These machines are being used in all portions of the 

 United States, and in Mexico and Canada. It is possi- 

 ble with this class of machines to excavate to a depth 

 of from nine feet to twenty-five feet, dump at a height 

 of from fourteen feet to thirty-four feet, and at a dis- 

 tance of from thirty feet to eighty feet from the cen- 

 ter of machine to center of dump on either side. The 

 ditch shown in illustration is forty feet top, thirty feet 

 bottom, and an average depth of over four feet. The 

 material excavated is hard pan and boulders. The 

 capacity of dipper used is one and one-half yard, the 

 machine having a record of two thousand feet of ditch 

 in six days' work of ten hours per day. 



How many feet are there in one yard? 



Tommy: "Well, about a thousand, if you count all 

 the chicken tracks in the new flower beds in cur 

 yard." 



