EXCAVATING MACHINERY USED IN LAND DRAINAGE. 21 



machine of the smaller size in from 2 to 3 days and easily put it up 

 in a week. It makes 13 loads on a wagon and can easily be loaded 

 on a flat car. 



COST OF ROTARY TYPE. 



The cost of revolving drag-line excavators runs from about $6,000 

 to about $25,000. A steam-operated excavator equipped with a 

 40-foot boom and a lj-yard bucket costs about $6,500 if mounted on 

 skids and rollers, and $10,000 if mounted on caterpillar traction. 

 A steam-operated excavator equipped with a 60-foot boom and 

 2-yard bucket costs $9,000 if mounted on skids and rollers, and about 

 $13,000 if mounted on caterpillar traction. If operated by internal 

 combustion engines, this last-named machine would cost about 

 $17,000. A steam excavator with a 125-foot boom costs approxi- 

 mately $27,000. 



VARIATIONS IN STATIONARY TYPE. 



A number of different forms of the stationary type of drag-line 

 excavator are on the market. A light machine of this type has been 

 put out recently which is being used quite extensively (Plate III, 

 fig. 2). The machine is built entirely of steel. The main frame is 

 24 by 24 feet and can easily be made wider or narrower if desired. 

 The platform is 12 by 30 feet. The frame is mounted on four steel 

 wheels, each 5 feet high and 2 feet wide. The boom is 40 feet long 

 and can be extended an additional 10 feet if it is desired to use the 

 machine for tile trenching or lowering large tile into place. A 

 40-horsepower, 4-cycle gasoline engine is used for power. The bucket 

 has a capacity of five-eighths cubic yard. The machine complete 

 weighs 12 tons. When dismantled it can be loaded on one flat car, 

 or if transported by team will make 7 wagon loads. One man is 

 required to operate the machine and one man to handle the track in 

 soft ground. From 20 to 25 gallons of gasoline are required per 

 10-hour day. The machine can be moved ahead without interrupting 

 its operation by means of a cable attached to a "dead man" or to 

 stakes. The large wheels will travel over reasonably firm ground 

 without track and no trackman is therefore needed except in ex- 

 tremely soft ground or swamp. The machine costs approximately 

 $4,500. 



This same type of machine, made entirely of wood, is convenient 

 for light work such as cleaning ditches, etc. Such a machine is illus- 

 trated hi Plate IV, figure 1. It is equipped with two 12-horsepower, 

 air-cooled gasoline engines, 50-foot boom, and \ cubic yard bucket, 

 and has been used in cleaning out old ditches in Iowa. The 

 machine weighs about 12 tons and cost $3,000. Four men are 

 required in using it, two operators and two trackmen. About 20 

 gallons of gasoline are required per 10-hour day. Four men can set 

 such a machine up in 3 days and can take it down in 2 days. The 



