14 BULLETIN 300, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In the same general locality as the foregoing case, and under the 

 same soil conditions, a 1-yard dredge which was, except in respect to 

 capacity, equipped similarly to the above-described machine, was 

 operated in the construction of ditches which averaged 30 feet wide 

 and 5 feet deep. The cost of the dredge, erected, was $11,000. The 

 average output per 12-hour shift during a 2-years' run was 1,000 

 cubic yards. The cost per shift was as follows: 



Labor (4 men) $10.00 



Fuel, 5 barrels oil, at $1.75 8. 75 



Repairs, oil, and grease 5. 50 



24.25 

 Cost per cubic yard, exclusive of interest and depreciation, $0.0242. 



In another drainage project in southern Louisiana several ditches, 

 each 3 miles long, were constructed by a dipper dredge installed on a 

 5J? by 18 by 70 foot hull. The power was obtained from a 60-horse- 

 power internal-combustion engine. The dredge had a 1^-yard dipper, 

 40-foot boom, and convertible power spuds. The total cost of the 

 outfit, including house-boats and small towboats, was $12,000. Two 

 shifts of 10 hours each were run for 26 days in each month. The 

 crew were furnished subsistence, and each shift consisted of: One 

 runner, at $125; 1 craneman, at $65; and 1 engine tender, at $40 

 per month. One cook, at $35, and one general utility man, at $60, 

 were also employed, making a total labor cost of $555 per month. 

 The average dimensions of the ditch were: Top width, 25 feet; bot- 

 tom width, 18 feet; and depth, 8 feet. The ground was nearly level 

 and the water stood about 3 feet below the ground surface. The 

 excavated material was a stiff, sandy clay. About 3.4 miles of the 

 work consisted in cleaning old channel, which required frequent mov- 

 ing and gave small yardage. The total excavation in five months was 

 about 216,000 cubic yards. The cost was as follows: 



Labor and board $3, 555 



Fuel and oil 2, 300 



Repairs 980 



Interest and depreciation 2, 050 



8,885 

 Cost per cubic yard, $0,411. 



A steam-operated floating dipper dredge, mounted on a 5 b}- 15 

 by 60 foot hull and equipped with a 1-yard dipper, 38-foot boom, 

 and inclined telescopic bank spuds, was used in the excavation of 

 about lOf miles of ditch in North Carolina. The cost of the dredge 

 is stated to have been $6,613.82. One shift of 10 hours per day was 

 run. The actual number of days of operation was not recorded. 

 The crew and rates of pay were as follows: One engineer, $125 per 

 month; 1 craneman, $2 per day; 1 fireman, $1.25 per day; 1 watch- 

 man, $1.50 per day. The crew furnished their own subsistence. 



