The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-12-08
DREDGING Of
RIVER SHOWS
RAPID PROGRESS
OVER ONE LINEAL MILE HAS
BEEN COMPLETED IN
WORK ON YELLOW
RIVER
Total of Al, 800 Cubic Yards of Earth
Have Been Removed-Lifted
Bridge Away on Thanksgiv-
ing Day.

Progress on the work of dredging
Yellow river, is being effected with
greater dispatch, than was anticipat-
ed, either by those who left the con-
tract for the work, or by those who
are executing the task. Slightly over
one lineal mile of the rivers bed
has already been completely dredged
since the starting of the work. on
November 9th. Approximately A.
300 cubic yards of earth, has been
taken from the bed of the river,
within this mile An average ex-
cavation of seven feet in depth, IS
made In the rivers bottom, which
extends to a width of fifty-fve feet.
at the bottom. The dredge is locat-
ed at point slightly over SOW n
rriles east of Plymouth and ri ihe
rate ef progress now being made. the
,lreGee will reach the city within
eisl: months ,and will complete he
entire route in fifteen moEshs. IS the
es:insate made by County SURVEYOR
Percy : Troyer who has supervision
over the execution of the immeuse
work.
The fire under the boiler Of the
great dredge, is never allowed to be-
come extinguished. and in order to
cheat winter and the coming freeze
of the river, as much as possible, the
large crane. and bucket are never
still. Day and night without pause
the dredge and its gang is at work.
The outfit has an electrical plant of
its own, which iIluminates the sur
roundings sufficiently to carry on the
work at night. A gang of twelve men
is employed. six on each shift, work
ing twelve hours each. The dredee
is in charge of W. A Schultz of Mil
waukee. a member of the dredging
firm, which has the contract to widen
deepen and straighten Yellow river,
for eleven miles of its course. from
the point eight miles up stream 10
three miles below Plymouth
Change Rivers Course.
The first change In the course OF
the river, will be commenced during
the latter part of this week. This cut
is known as the Nunemaker Cut.
and will consist in shutting the course
of the stream across the ends of a
"Ur shaped bend. Instead OF flow
ing around the bend, the river viii
be made to cut across the ends. As
result all of the land enclosed III the
bend. besides the old bed OF the
river itself. will be reclaimed for
farming proposes, as the old bed Will
be drained by the deeper bed IN the
new coarse. The Nunemaker Cut.
will consist of lineal cut OF l2Oo
feet. and will necessitate an enorm-
Gus excavation of earth, as the new
river bed will be laid seven feet low
or than the sresent bed and as stated
above. will be fifty-fve feet wide, at
the bottom. 1t is estimated that tins
eut will require somewhat over two
weeks. There are two or three more
such cuts. TO be made in the course
of the Yellow River dredge.
Lift Bridge Of Rests
wonderful sight might have been
Witnessed at the scene of the dredge
ON Thanksgiving day. when feat 81
engineering skill was executed by
the dredge. The sixty-five foot
steel bridge. which spanned the river
NJ that point. was lifted bodily from
its abuttements. swung AROUND, and
deposited upon the bank OF the r1reI
This ssere. of the steel bridge In MD
air with several workmen standing
on the structure TO preserve It's ba-
lance. was o novel one. and served
IN show the power. size and effective
ness Of the great dredge. The bridge
was tound to the beam of the dredgt
hv steel cables, men were stationed
along the floor of the bridge .and al
the word. the beam was raised Eh'
bridoe. which weighs twelve tons
was lifted easily from its abutte
ments. swung AROUND and place.
lengthwise on the shore OF the nser
The bridge Rad to be removed IN or
der to let the dredge pass down the
river. After the river had beer
widened to the required diamentions
at this point, the bridge was fonn'
to be too short to span the river and
the steel structure is still reposins
ON the bank cf the river, seven miles
cast of town. This bridye is fani-
liar sight to the boys ct the city
MANY of whom Rave Toasted CT skat-
ing up to the seven-nile bridge.