The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-03

The NEW DREDGE- BoAr.-The government has
at last responded to the demand uf the Western
steamboat interest, and has prepared a suitable
boat TO remove the bars that Obstruct navigation
curing low water.
The steamer Octava, well known 10 the noun
tain trade, las been chartered and fitted with
Longs scraper. This is essentially wooden
massive triangle attached to the bow of the boat
by means of heavy beam, upon which it rests,
with TIE apex OF the triangle uppermost. iAttach-
ed TO the under side of the beam forming the base
of the triangle is a row of large scoops, open at
both ends. In operating on bars the boat goes 10
the head of the bar and lowers the triangular ap.
paratus until the scoops rest on the bottom. Ii
keeps its head up stream and backs down stream,
dragging the scraper after it. There are suitable
arrangements for regulating the depth and angle
at which the scraper works. The present boat,
not being specially designed for the work. can
hardly dredge advaDtageOusly a. greater depths
than seven feet; this, however, is greater depth
than is generally needed.
The principle ON which the machinery is con-
sructed is simply this that all that Is needed is
to stir up the mud and sand in the river so that
the current may remove il while in sns pension Ii
manifestly can only work to advantage ia the
channel OF the river, as there alone Is strong
slow and expensive in It's operations to be used
for dredging low-water bars, but tie simple con-
trivance described above fulills its object per-
feetly and expedltiously.
The first trial with the dredge took place yes
terday at Alton, and the performance came up to
the nc ST sanqulne expectations of those aboard.
The boat will probably work between this place
and Cairo until navigation closes. and afterwards
on the Arkansas and other rivers further South.
Col. Macomb, of the corps OF engineers, is in
charge of this boat as well a. of all the snag
boats Major Suter, his assistant, is al present
controlling the movements of the 0ctagla aud
testing her powers.-lSt. Louis Dispatch.
HINDs AND BONDAGEEs.-The manner in which
the re gular farm laborers on a Northumberland
farm are paid is different from that pursued in
the south of England, and deserves notice. The
men permanently employed on Northumbrian
farm are called hinds and there are generally as
many binds as there are pairs of horses employ
ed on the farm. These binds live rent free IN cot
tsges on the farm, and their Goals are hauled 10
their masters carts from the mouth of the coal
mine. carriage free. They also possess a COW,
which in summer Is permitted TO browse in the
pasture along with their masters cows. They
also receive yearly from the farmer about twelve
bushels OF wheat, sn equal amount Of peas, twice
| as much barley, and three times IS much oats,
and they usually have about thousand yards of
potatoes IN one Of the farmers fields. At sheep
| shearing time they also receive certain amount
| of wool. and in money, annually, about eight
| pouuds. Out Of these emoluments, however. the
| hind has TO provide woman laborer lad to
work under him IN the fields. This subordinate in
| Northumberland is termed bondager." be-
| heve, however, that at present there is amongst
| the hinds growing disposition 10 take more OF
their wages In money and less In Kind aBd also to
| abolish the Z" boodsger" system altogether. Some
1 of the Northumbrisn farms are very large, but
| fully three eighths of the land 10 the country Is
under DO cultivation, and consists Of moors.-l fem
pie Bar.