UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
3\J9*&mfU 
BULLETIN No. 300 
Contribution from the Office of Public Roads 
and Rural Engineering 
LOGAN WALLER PAGE, Director 
s>J?*<$-ru 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER 
November 10, 1915 
EXCAVATING MACHINERY USED IN LAND 
DRAINAGE. 
By D. L. Yarnell, Drainage Engineer. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
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 
