UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BULLETIN No. 3 



Contribution from the Office of Public Roads 



and Rural Engineering 



LOGAN WALLER PAGE, Director 



&J9*$mru 



Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER 



November 10, 1915 



EXCAVATING MACHINERY USED IN LAND 

 DRAINAGE. 



By D. L. Yaenell, Drainage Engineer. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 1 



Development of excavating machinery 2 



The floating dipper dredge ' 3 



The floating grab-bucket dredge 17 



The drag-line scraper excavator 18 



The dry-land dipper excavator 25 



The dry-land grab-bucket excavator 28 



The templet excavator 28 



The wheel type of excavator 30 



The hydraulic dredge 33 



Machines for cleaning old ditches 35 



Summary 37 



INTRODUCTION. 



The excavation of nearly all drainage ditches, other than mere 

 field drains, and a large part of the levee work are now done By 

 power machinery. In the carrying out of community drainage 

 projects in agricultural districts it is often the case that persons upon 

 whom must devolve the ultimate responsibility for the correct 

 design and proper prosecution of the work are but little experienced 

 in the applicability of the different types of excavating machines, 

 and have little practical knowledge of the methods and cost of 

 operation of such machinery. This is frequently true of county 

 drainage commissioners, drainage district commissioners, and of local 

 engineers who, though of limited experience in the technicalities of 

 ditch and levee construction on a large scale, are nevertheless, by 

 virtue of their office, called upon to originate or pass upon plans for 

 drainage improvements, draw up specifications, and award contracts. 

 It is for the purpose of supplying information that would be useful 

 in such cases that this bulletin has been prepared. 



In obtaining the information embodied in this bulletin the writer has 

 been aided materially by data furnished by private engineers in charge 

 of improvements and by various contractors and manufacturers. 



Note. — This bulletin is of interest to those who have to do with the installation of systems of drainage; 

 it is suitable for distribution in the eastern part of the United States. 

 4908°— Bull. 300—15 1 



