Steam Shovels and Steam Shovel Work

APPENDIX.
ACTUAL COST OF STEAM SHOVEL WORK.

The engineer of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Delaware R. R. gives some statements as to the cost and amount of some excavating work done under his direction. This shovel worked about 5½ months in stiff clay, as follows:

• March loaded 1154 cars, worked 24 days.
• July loaded 955 cars, worked 24 days.
• Aug. loaded 1157 cars, worked 22 days.
• Sept. loaded 1556 cars, worked 23 days.
• Oct. loaded 1552 cars, worked 23 days.
• Nov. loaded 539 cars, worked 12 days.

Total, 6,915 cars, 41,490 cu. yds. Greatest number of cars loaded in a single day, 97. Shovel supposed to work ten hours a day, but did not average more than 6½ hours on account of waiting for cars. Carloads average 6 cu. yds. per car. Average cost of loading, 3 cts. per cu. yd., including expense of all men, shovel, oil, waste, etc. Loaded, hauled material, and unloaded at a distance of ten miles from pit, at 10 cts. per yd., including all costs, shovel, use of cars, engines and crews. A 20-mile haul on this road cost 15 cts. per yd., and a 30-mile haul about 20 cts. per yd., while on some roads a 30-mile haul costs over 75 cts. per yd., depending on the frequency of trains.

The following report from the superintendent of the Sioux City & Pacific Ry. gives the operations of a shovel for nine months working in a yellow clay bank from 30 to 40 ft. in length, and with a one-mile haul: "The total number of cars loaded was 31,420 in 209 days, giving an average of 150¾ cars per day. The greatest number of cars loaded in one day was 275, with an average of 6 cu. yds. per car. The average cost of loading per cu. yd. is 6½ cts., including expense of all men about shovel, and shifting of shovel track. Average cost of unloading with one-mile haul, 7.8 cts., including wages of all men with trains and engines, use of cars and locomotives, with all supplies and repairs of same, making a total cost of 14.3 cts. per cu. yd. or 85.8 cts. per car delivered on track."

A report showing the largest amount of work, with the most complete detail as to the expense of operation was furnished by the resident engineer of the Missouri Valley & Blair Railway & Bridge Co., contractors for the Chicago & Northwestern Ry. bridge across the Missouri River at Missouri Valley, Ia., the material excavated being used in the approaches to the bridge. The work, a tabulated statement of which is given in Table IV., was done under the most favorable circumstances, with but few delays, and with but one locomotive, as the cars ran down the hill themselves while being loaded, the locomotive being employed to haul the empty cars back; the haul was short and a round trip was made in 30 minutes. The report shows that during the work of six months the average number of cars loaded per day was 205, including delays and movings, and that the average cost per cu. yd. was 7 cts., which, as shown, included labor of loading, moving shovel about once a month, moving track to suit, dynamite for caving bank, repairs of shovel, fuel, oil, waste, wages of watchman, rent of cars and locomotives, labor of engineers, firemen and wipers, labor, conductors and brakemen, and, in fact, absolutely everything connected in any way with filling the embankment.

TABLE IV.
Work Done by Steam Excavator in Six Months at Missouri Valley, Ia.

The report of the Roadmasters' Association for 1885 gives the cost of steam shovel work as follows:

The detailed statement given in Table V. was prepared by Mr. E. A. Hill, Acting Chief Engineer of the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield R. R., and is a record of work done under the supervision of Mr. A. J. Diddle, Roadmaster. It shows marked economy and gives an excellent idea of how the expenses are apportioned. The Otis type of excavator was used, which cuts 24 ft. wide and to a depth of 4 ft. below the track. The banks were about 15 ft. high, the average haul 4,000 ft. Twelve flat cars constituted a train. By a special cable arrangement the time of plowing off, ordinarily requiring about 15 minutes, was reduced to 5 or 6 minutes.

TABLE V.
Steam Shovel Work; Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield R. R.

Cost of Work Per Car Load.