Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-08-24
The New Patent Eycayat0r,

We noticed the other day in the list
of patents issued from Washington,
mention of Bradley's new Excavator us
having just been favored with patent.
There was a mention in our columns
last week, of the immense wheels
which were being fitted for the ma
chine. Collector Hewctt calling upon
us, informed us of the progress and To-
cation of the mechanism going on in
this city. On Tuesday, by tho polite
ness of Mr. Bradley himself, we rode
out to the head of Main street TO exam
Inc the Excavator, so far as it has now
advanced in its construction. BY
careful survey of the plans and the
beautiful drawings of the Patent office,
compared with the unfinished structure
itself, we were able to get very good
idea of the invention. ..e .s.-..
And truly it appears to be great and
a grand affair. None of your piccanin-
ny affairs, but an outdoor giant, that
will ride through the swales of the
prairie, like the Great Eastern through
the swclls Of the ocean, leveling every
thing in its way.
The plan of the thing is this: Two
plow-like shoveis arespropelled through
the earth, from two to six inches below
the surface, as regulated by the foot of
the driver; huge revolving hoe comes
down and takes the earth behind, up q
short inclined plane, upon long revolt
wing apron or elevator, which carries it
backward and upward, over the main
wheels, till it is near twenty feet above
the ground behind; and there another
transverse apron, adjustable to rise or
fall OF any distance, takes the dirt to
wagons, or dumps 1t outside the track.
The main wheels are giants, ten feet
high, with solid iron axles weighing
800 pounds each, so that the elevation
is easily secured, while the traction is
easy, without danger of up setting. AS
a further means for the latter purpose,
each wheel is adjustable, to be raised or
lowered by cam motion, as occasion
requires. The driver is seated high
above tic plow shovels, over q pair of
steering wheels attached, to the pole
which are shackled back to the main
machine, with apparatus for raising
aud lowering.
f The whole is to be drawn by six or
eight horses, cutting a trench feet
wide ut each advance, and if working at
the full capacity designed, it will re-
move from three to four cubic yards of
earth per minute, equivalent to the
work of ninety men. But if it attains
to only one or two yards per minute, it
will be great thing. -
With Mr.. Bradley nre associated Mr..
Pashley and Collector Hewett as pro-
prietors in the enterprise. The present
machine,i is being got up in very SUBJ
stantial manner, and on scale larger
than in all cases necessary, since it is
intended for a special purpose, being
ordered for grading the Pacific Railroad
on the western plains. Great expense
is Incurred in its construction, some
81 800 being spent OH this one machine:
and the company have set up a tempo
rary smithery of their own at Mr..
Bradiey's place, where the, operation
may be seen going on. They propose
to have the eXcavator ready for trial in
about month, when we shall expect
to give fuller account of the work ing.
1t IS hoped that an exhibition may be
IN lln ~ if nt +in S+,ts !N,:1.
We consider this an enterprise highly
creditable to Cedar Falls, as well as 10
the inventor and proprietors; and we
see no reason, in our examination of the
principles Of the structure, why it
should not prove an eminent SUCCESS
If so, it must work an entire revolution
i'll railroading, and must bring for
tune to the owners of Rights. For,
greatly as such an Improvement is call
ed for, i'll this day OF universal machin-
cry, there is nothing Of the sort on foot;
the only other invention being that of
Judge Williams, which is merely q self
loading wagon, doing the work on a
much smaller scale. s.." .ra
1t will be well for cntcrprizing citi-
zens to. purchase territory for this in
vention without delay for when pres
emily under full way, the price may
rise to much higher figure. This no.
tice being unpaid for, this suggestion
must De taken as simply the impression
OF "a locker on in Venice"
r.