Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-06-30
AwONDEnFUL DnEDGER.
Tho Great Ad, ancems mt In the Clsnrii
of Harh ors y nd other Similar Work

Tho Great Advancement In the Clearing
| of Harbors and other Similar Work.
| For ten years no business has been less
susceptible of Improvement. than that of
dredging. This business of hundreds of
thousands invested capital has worked the
ssme method, year in and year out, with no
apparent Advancement, although Offering
An opportunity unparalleled in the history of
mechanical appliances, and until recently
uuobserved. With the advent of the Met
ropoitan Dredging Company comes long
stride toward overcoming the difficulties so
positive in the present system of digging
| This company has SO improved upon the
| old method. that they are enabled to per-
| form two days work in the time required
| for one by the old plan Not only Is the
speed Of the new method twice as great
but it has twice the power. if necessary
/ beside other Improvements of great value.
| As some four months have elapsed sin te
the dredgar vert into commission, the fol-
lowing observations regarding it are based
on practical experience. The machine
works either scoop bucket or Clam
she'll" and DO system has ever before been
able to do that. Working on \ CLAN
shell" machinery the scoop can be worked
with equal speed. Underneath the boom
| is 4 track or tramway. upon which is 4 car
rage clutch. This tramwsy havir a level
of some eight feet. and the dipper handle
being clutched and the chains drawing, the
scoop must work on level at the bottom
| for ten to fifteen feet. as the case may re-
guire. All other scoop machines work on
an arc of circle. The advantage here
can be readily seen, the bucket necessarily
coming up OVERLOOKING BY reason of hsv-
ing so much level to work upon. This
machine does away with the swinging
engines, always used in scoop digging, en-
poying the same chains for that purpose
tha: handle the dipper, and swinging much
quicker. The dredgcr can go forward
quicker than any other. as when ahead the
required distance it ID on the spot 10
properly continue digging without further
Adjustment. This is done by means of
travelling spuis. A fore and aft spud of
opposite corners. is hoisted, leaving the
| opposites in the mud. The dredger then
goes ahead without swerving an inch from
its course moving ahead eighteen feet with
out hosting the spuds. Then the spuds
hoisted can be dropped, Rad the spuds
down rishted, when the machine is ready
for digging. During recent inspection by
leading newspaper representative this
machine dug and deposited on 3 scow tso
hundred and fifty yards of clay of the hard
est kind, in one hour and ten minutes. The
Metropolitan Dredging Company at this
time was working 10 the Lynn Mass
hsrber. Those who cav aud timed this
test represented the Lynn papers. and
there were repre- sentstives of the Boston
Herald, Globe. Journal aad Post present.
each OF whom gave an interesting deserip-
ton of the speedy and thorough dredging
in their respective journals. The CON-
pany's office 10 At No. S65 Broad street.
Lynn, Mass, where full details of this
new dredging system can be obtained.
The company is ready to take contracts for
dredging. and building machines or leasing
the system. Indications point to this
method ~ the one bound to sue ,eed all
others. The company is now working out
q government contract 1t Bangor, and has
others 10 New England.