Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-29

of the Mary Ann"
Many motorists have driven to the
scene on Sundays but have been dis
appointed to find the MARY Ann" ly-
ing idly by the river bank and her
crew asleep or away looking for
something more exciting than river
dredging operations. Week days, two
crews work. work on ten hour shifts.
operations stopping for four hours
in the middle Of the night.
Dredging to tho novice. however.
| is interesting work. especially when
a new channel Is being dug thru
former timber land. The MARY Ann"
approaches the old river bank and
| the long iron boom extends out as
| II to grab a tree stump. Instead the
big bucket sinks into the earth be-
side the stump and removes a great
mouthful. Again It strikes. this time
on the opposite side Of the stump.
and the stump 10 LETT standing al
most unsupported, like an unearthly
monstrosity. Tho third strike. how
ever, is from under the stump and
1t Is lifed high in air and dropped
on the pile Of dirt forming new
| levee along the channel
Operated by One Man.
One man, Immediately behind the
giant crane on tho deck Of the MARY
Ann" deftly operates the levers
which drop the bucket into tho water
or deep in the river bank. lifts 1t.
filled to Overlooking. and empties 1t
at the side OF the river. He is an
adapt at the task, causing tho bucket
to descend at tho right point, TO raise
and to majesticaIly sweep over the
river and TO drop its load at the
precise point where the contents will
be Of most service In forming . bank.
Six men form the crew and day
shift and night shift are engaged.
The night labor is most desired dur
ing the hot period. but the two
crews change weekly, one working
six days and then six nights. Altho
the work may not be so closely fol-
lowed by the spectator at night It Is
probably more interesting. Electric
headlights shoot long rays ahead into
the cleared acreage whore the new
river bed IL to be dug, and other
lights on the crane distinctly show
every movement Of the giant arm as
1t dips and rises.
Forssters '1Iazins the Way.
Out in front Of the "Mary Ann" is
a gang OF woodsmen who are clear
ing the way for the new river course.
Trees have been telled and bonhres
here and there evidence tho work of
clearing the path.
Tho Mary Ann" follows slowly
but surely, digging q new river path
fifty or more feet In width. The
MARY Ann" II q big vessel. 10 feet
in length and forty three feet beam
and displaces moro than 400 tons.
She was built on the Iowa river, Just
over the county line In Hardin coun-
ty, by Pollard q Campbell, OF Omaha,
who have the contract for the dredg-
ing.
Following in her wake. some Of the
boats being far in the rear, are the
other vessels Of the fleet" The
"Aeet' In addition to the flag ship"
is composed Of two bunk boats. two
coal barges and q tug.
Crew Finds Work Pleasant.
The crew of the MARY Ann seem
to enjoy life, which is more or less
in the open. A colored cook, whose
table service is lust like home" is
popular with skipper, mate and men.
The only incident which has tended
to mar the trip, thus far, has been
the serious illness Of the cooks wife,
who has been very sick from pneu-
monia for the past two weeks. Her
| condition is improving.
The Grew seems to enjoy the COM
pany Of the visitors, whose presence
keeps the work from becoming
monotonous. As the work progresses
farther toward this city the visitors
are expected to increase. There are
few points along the river where
the task will be full sized Job sure
enough, and at such places the work
will hold exceptional interest not
alone to those familiar with the
nature OF the work but to the public
as well.
One Of these tasks soon will be
reached when the MARY Ann must
pass the Liscomb bridge. Just what
course the contractors will pursue at
this point has not been decided on.
Another big task will be the passage
of the Albion railroad bridge, where
span of the bridge probably will be
removed and replaced in less than q,
days time. At such times the sight
seers will find the work of the MARY
Ann" most fascinating