Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-02-04


charge is placed is the biggest factor
in stump blasting. Improper and care
less tamping wastes dynamite and
time. Damp clay is the best material
for tamping, but any soil used should
be made as firm as the surrounding
soil. All pressure from the explosive
escaping through an improperly
tamped hole is wasted About four
inches OF earth should be firmly
pressed on top of the charge. Crum-
bled soil mot lumps) should then be
rammed tightly with a wooden lamp
ing stick all the way to the top of the
hole.
A good cap crimper-t best is
cheapest-should be tied to every dy-
Misunderstanding box. Proper placing
OF the cap in the charge means better
work and less waste explosive.
Since Wisconsin has passed the
million pound mark in the use of ex-
plosives for farming and the quantity
is still steadily increasing, the mat
ter of safety is important. Low-grade
dynamites are now about as near
"fool-proof'' as explosives can be. Al
most all danger can be avoided by the
use of electric blasting. The charge
and not until then. Furthermore, the
blind, where the top is rOtted or
burned away, can be removed by
charges placed under each holding
part and all fired at once. The result
is effective because no dynamite is
wasted and the hole is shallow. The
caps cost little more, but safety,
convenience and efficiency more than
pay for the extra cost, just as the self
binder justifies a greater cost than
the old reaping machine.
Much has been said for and against
the use of stump pullers, but it is
still true that a stump puller will
give good results when used under.
the conditions for which it is made.
On pine stumps in medium and light
soils, a stump puller used with the
stump for handling, is most desirable.
On heavy clay soil, particularly when
wet, it is doubtful whether stump
puller of >any kind is desirable. 1t is
only when the operator uses the best
OF Judgment that he gets any results
at ALL
The capstan type Of sh0Tsespo
stump-puller is usually best Tripod
pullers and one-man outfits of vari-
Gus kinds may be desirable for special
conditions. The one-man outfits have
advantages where the stumps are not
too large or where the stumps are
on low ground where teams connot
work conveniently. The tripod puller
is of greatest use where the stumps
are few to the acre. With any of these
pulling devices, the pull is slow be-
cause the comparatively m all
strength of a man or horse has to be
applied to mechanical device to get
the added strength for pulling. The
increased power is got by reduced
speed
On the heavier lands much soil is
often pulled up with the stump. This
requires the use of more or less ex-
plosiye with the stump puller to split
the stump either before or after pull
ling if it is large. Generally, better
results follow the use of dynamite
before pulling, as loading is easier
and the strain on horses is avoided.
( Stump puller equipment is now fair
ly well standardized and the complete
outfits are commonly sold Special
conditions may require some varia-
ton from these standards.
The puller is usually sold with
about 100 feet of mainline cable with
what is known as a closed socket on
the outer end for attaching addition
al lengths of cable. Wisconsin condi-
tons seem to require equipment of a
size to go with A-inch main pulling
cable Where heavier cable than this
would be needed, use more dynamite.
This cable is lower in price and more
easily handled than larger sizes.
Oil and grease will save labor of
both man and horse on the stump
puller as well as on any other piece
Of machinery. They also prolong the
life of the machine 1t is unwise to
leave valuable cable out in the wealth
err where it rusts quickly and loses
strength The steel cable used on the
stump puller is made with hemp
center This hemp center helps lub-
ricate the cable Whenever the ca
BILE is put away it should be carefully
creased with heavy axle grease or
similar oil.
In using the stump puller it is fire.
quently desirable to knock off the soil
from the roots of the stump with a
grub hoe just as the stump is coming
out. This keeps the soil in the hole
where it belongs and makes the stump
more easily handled
Cooperation among neighbors is al
SO important where stump puller is
used. The most effective work can be
done with crew of about three men
and a team, so it is desirable for a
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