Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-08-27
.DREDGE IS ASUCCESS
Dirt Moving Device Of the Peo-
Piles Power Company
is Tested.
NEW DEPARTURE ON UPPER RIVER
Built Here for the Work of Cut.
ting New Channel in SyI-
van Water.

The Peoples Power company yes
terdav made a preliminary test of the
new dredge that has been under con-
struction at the foot of Eighteenth
street for the past few weeks and the
work done was most satisfactory.
After a few minor details are cor
rected the dredge will be ready to
begin on the contract for the execu-
ton of which it was especially con-
structed, the cutting of the 375-foot
channel for the government in Syl-
van water from the railroad bridge to
where work has been completed near
the eastern city limits.
The principle involved in the opera
ton of the dredge is an entirely new
enc in these waters, it being con-
structed after what is known as the
Bowers patent, which was developed
on the Pacific coast. The earth is
moved by hydraulic action, being
torn up by a revolving set of knives
arranged in cylindrical form rather
like an overgrown kraut cutter, and
drawn back with the water through
large pipe and run off to one side. OF
course il can be operated where there
is no stone or other distractions.
When given the proper conditions it
is said to move earth with great
rapidity.
The Ensemble.
The machinery is placed on a COW
cred barge 30 feet in length and Is
feet in width, which was built here
by I. e. sherwood. At the rear end
are two boilers capable of developing
50-horse power each. The engine
used is 75-horse power Westing-
house machine, and the pump, which
was made by the Morris Machine COM
Pany, of New York City, is arranged
to throw a 12-inch stream. The cut
ting knives are set on the end of a
24-foot arm that is let down into the
water through an opening in the for
ward end of the hull. The arm is
operated from an A-shaped derrick,
and is not movable from side TO side.
1t contains 12-inch pipe which con-
meets with the pump. From here the
| water is elevated to the roof and car
ried back to the rear of the craft
through pipe of the same size. AT
the back connection is made with q
movable hose which is carried on pom
toons as far to either side as is de.
sired. When the water is released OF
course the sediment goes to the bot
tom or is left on the bank, as the case
msy be.
Law e Works.
The dredge is fastened from the
rear and swings at the forward end,
being operated by guy cables tied
on shore and drawn by steam
capstans. By arranging an anchor
ahead it can be drawn forward and
operated without the help of tug,
1t will cover a strip 125 feet in width
and make channel deep enough tc
float any craft that sails these waters.
In making the channel in Sylvan
water three parallel cuts will have to
be made. The new dredge will dc
from three to four times as much
work as an ordinary shovel dredge OF
the same power, and owing to the
fact that the earth handled does not
have to be rehandled it can be operated
at much less expense. Five men are
all that is required to keep it running
at q rate that will move from 1900 to
1000 yards of earth a day. The
greater part of the machinery on the
dredge was made in the shops of the
Peoples Power company in this city.