RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION 
299 
with a round, sharpened bar. The outside row of holes had a 
degree of slant that would produce a cut with sides of the desired 
slope. After covering the site of the proposed cut with holes, 
they were loaded with 60 per cent dynamite. The center holes 
were loaded heavier than the others and were pruned for electric 
firing. The explosion of the central charges fired the others. 
The length of cut blasted at one time did not exceed 200 feet, 
A large amount of the earth was thrown entirely out of the cut 
and the remainder was handled readily with a drag scraper. In 
tight wet earth one ton of 60 per cent dynamite will loosen earth 
for 1600 linear feet, where the maximum cut is 5 feet. 
Wheelbarrows. — Barrows are not profitable for moving earth 
except on short hauls, for stony soil, and in places unfavorable 
for the use of horses. The average load on level runs is approxi- 
mately 250 pounds or yV of a cubic yard of earth, and on fairly 
steep grades tV of ^ cubic yard, "place measure." 
The average amounts moved, per barrow, on a level in ten 
hours and the cost per cubic yard for picking, shoveling and 
moving, when wages are 15 cents per hour, are as follows •} 
Distance 
Quantity 
Cast per cubic 
\ard 
Feet 
100 
75 
50 
25 
Cubic yards 
10.5 
11.1 
11. S 
12.5 
Cents 
22.50 
21.25 
20.00 
18.75 
Two-wheeled Dump Carts. — These are used for transporting 
material for distances varying from 75 to 500 feet, and are es- 
pecially serviceable on short hauls and in narrow cuts. 
The average load of dump carts on level roads is 0.37 cubic 
yards, and on steep ascents 0.25 cubic yards, "place measure." 
On short hauls one driver attends two carts, leading one to 
the dump while the other is being loaded. On long hauls he 
may handle two carts by taking both at one time. The carts 
are loaded at the pit by shovelmen. 
WTien wages are 15 cents, and horse hire 10 cents per hour 
the average day's work on level gi'ound for a one-horse cart of 
^ The figures on the amount of work performed and costs are based on datn 
contained in "Earthwork and its Cost," by H. P. Gillette. 
