Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-06-15
AN IMPORTANT INVENTION.

Az AAE UNIANT NtENIlVNs
Bradley's Excavator for Grading Hail.
roads What the Machine Is Like
and What 1t Is Expected to do.
Mr.. jeremy Bradley of this city has
invented an Excavator or Grading Ma
chine, which we think will prove one
of the most important inventions Of the
age. Messrs. bradley, Pashley 4 Hew-
EFT are now building working ma
chine, and will have it ready for trial in
the course of three or four weeks, when
its utility will be fully tested. We
have been permitted to examine the
drafts and plans, and have not the least
doubt but that the machine will work
to the perfect satisfaction of its proprie-
tors. Practical men aud good mechan-
les who have examined the principle of
the invention speak in the highest
terms Of it, and consider its success a
foregone conclusion. ~.r ia ~.
We may liken the machine to a sulky
corn-plow, with an attachment on the
rear resembling straw-carrier on a
threshing machine in or,ler that the
reader may get an idea Of its general
appearance. Two plows break the
ground, turning the burrows together,
and by All ingenious arrangement fol-
lowing the plows, the dirt is taken up
and deposited on the elevator, which
conveys it to desired height, and is
then taken by horizontal carrier,
made precisely like the elevator, ten,
twenty, or even thirty feet from the
machine. Thus the dirt may be emp
tied from the machine into wagons and
carts for drawing away, or may belplac-
ed by the machine, unaided, on the top
of any ordinary embankment. There
fore, in building railroads, its services
will be found invaluable, it being of
equal utility in making fills or cuts. 1t
is to be operated by one man, who Will
ride on the machine and drive the hors-
es. 1t is expected that six or eight
horsepower will be sufficient to work
the machine. 1t will move one yard of
earth a minute, it is claimed, and some
insist that it will do even more than
this. In regard to the amount of work,
however, much will depend upon the
size of the machine and the power EN-
ployed to propel it. There can be no
doubt, supposing its practicability un-
questionable, that it will effect an en-
tire revolution in the present slow, hard
system of building railroads. As the
machine will work wherever plow
can be operated, and as it may be man
aged quite as easily as large breaking
pillow, we may safely say that the day
when railroads shall be built by na-
chinery, in the West at least, is not far
distant. Scrapers and shovels may fol-
low sickles and cradles into obscurity.
Just think of taking ride across the
beautiful prairies of Iowa, and leaving
for your track the bed Of railway
ready for ties and iron!
For further information in regard to
this machine, apply to Messrs. Bradley,
Pashley & Hewett, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Railroad contractors will find it for
their interest to inquire into its merits,
for if it be true that it will save the Ia
Dor of fifteen to twenty men it is fact
worth knowing in these times of high
| wages. .ss.ee er...E rHs-
Something About a Corn Doctor
About two months ago a young man,
in cowhide boots and very dirty clothes,
came to Cedar Falls in the capacity OF
a doctor of afflicted toes and n retailer
of recipes for making soft soap. The
name of the individual we do not know
and, quite to our regret, are unable to
ascertain. We are mortified to say thai
he found a number of customers, who
submitted their corns to the influence
of his quackish remedies. Among 9th
ers was Charlie Melendy, son of Hon.
Peter Mslsndy. He was home from
school at Grinnell, and so seriously was
he injured by the treatment of the corn.
doctor, that it was two weeks after the
commencement of the term before he
was able to return. A few days ago
the report came that Charlie was likely
to lose his toe-that amputation wa;
thought necessary--and Charles fathe,
heard of it ut Independence on his way
home last Wednesday,. Mr.. Melendy
was talking to some friend in regard to
the matter, just before the departure of
the cars, who assured him that the yer,
liable doctor was Mt that moment i'm the
cars. Mr.. Melendy found the getlemar
and took seat by his side. The doctor
denied ever having been at Cedar Falls
but Mr.. Melendy was able to corner the
chap by calling in the evidence of II
c. Hunt, our City Clerk, who was pres
ent and who had given the fellow {
City license. When Mr.. Melendy told
him of what he had been guilty ant
suggested the propriety Of his returning
to Cedar Falls, alarm was depicted or
the Doctors stupid countenancs and HI
was anxious to pay the damages Mr.
NIelendy asked him if he supposed III
could pay for three or four lives, anC
gave him such q look that he showed
no anxiety to pursue the conversation
Mr.. Melendy kept watch of him fol
some time, but got to talking about thu
Iowa Central Railroad with some gen
tleman and momentarily forgot his
prisoner. In that moment the corn
doctor and vender of soap recipes quiet
ly disappeared, leaving his carpetbag II
the car. Mr.. Melendy searched fol
him but was unable to find him. HI
took possession of his carpetbag, ant
brought it on to Cedar Falls. An ex
animation of the contents disclosed ,
variety of boxes and bottles of medicine
and various packages of recipes, a paint