The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-09-25
NEW EXPLOSIVE
TRIED in SOMERS
Pike Creek Drainage Dis
trict in SOmers Tried
New Explosive.
MAY SAVE VAST SUMS

Some interesting experiments are
being conducted by Professors John
Sweinhardt and E. R. Jones of the
college of agricultural engineering OF
the University of Wisconsin with ref
erence to the use of explosives in the
cleaning out of farm drainage bitches.
The initial experiment was conduct
ed in the Pike Creek drainage district
in the town Of Somers, Kenosha coun-
ty, few weeks ago. The results OF
this experiment, while quite satisfac-
tory, were not such as to warrant the
recommendation of the use of explo-
sives for this class of work.\ Further
experiments were carried on yesterday
on the Edward Anderson farm in the
town of Norway, which were very sat
isfactory, and it is planned to put on
a demonstration at the Anderson farm
on Oct 10, to which demonstration all
drainage commissioners, drainage en-
gineers, and interested farmers in this
locality are invited.
It is planned to clean out lateral
drain three-fourths of a mile in
length. There are about so miles Of
open ditch laterals in the Norway and
Dover drainage district which were
dug about 10 years ago with dry
land drag line dredge. These bitches
have become silted in to an average
depth of about three feet, and the
time has arrived when they must be
cleaned out. These are the small
bitches originally dug with a three
foot bottom, to an average depth of
from six to eight feet, and with side
slopes Of one to one. 1t is necessary
that they be cleaned out at the pres
ent time in order to give outlet drain
age to the farm lands.
New Method Much Cheaper.
The original cost of these bitches
was $3.50 per rod, and it was esti-
mated that the cost of cleaning them
out at this time would exceed the or
iginal cost. The experiment conduct
ed Thursday demonstrates that this
work can be done with explosives at a
cost of $1.15 per rod. The method
used is to place the charges of ex-
plosive down to the original grade line
of the ditch. The space between the
charges must not be more than 10
inches, the charges being placed along
the center line of the ditch.
Ordinarily, for ditch work straight
80 per cent nitro-glycerine dynamite
is. used as this is the only explosive
that will propagate, or in other words,
by the ignition of one charge, all of
the charges are ignited through the
action or explosion of the charge
which Is primed. However, in the re-
cent experiment a new wartime ex
plosive known as peritol is being used.
This explosive is being furnished by
the government to the farmers at a
cost of cents per pound in carload
lots, while the cost of the straight 90
per cent nitro-glycerine dynamite in
carload lots Is 10 cents per pound. "
The peritol, however, will not pro-
pagate, and, therefore, with each
charge of peritol one-quarter pound
of the nitro-glycerine dynamite is
used. The experiment showed that
the use of the cheaper explosive Is
equally as effective as the high per-
centage nitro-glycerine.
May Save $25,OOO.
If the large demonstration which
The college Of agriculture is putting
on proves to be successful in the
cleaning out of the small lateral ditch
es, it is probable that the work in the
Norway and Dover drainage district
now under consideration will be done
by this method, which will result in
saving to the farmers in this drain
age district of upwards of 5000.
One great advantage which results
from the use of explosives for the
cleaning out Of bitches is that no I'M
slightly spoiled banks are left. The
earth removed from the bitches by the
explosive is scattered broadcast.
In many of the small drainage ditch
es constructed some years ago there
Is a large growth of willows and 9TH
er vegetation. In the experiments con-
Quoted Thursday test was made of
the result through these growths of
willows in the bottom of the ditch.
Wherever these growths are encoun-
tered more explosive is used and the
charges are placed one foot apart in
stead Of 1s inches apart, with the re-
( suit that the explosion removes the
entire growth, roots and all.
Peter J. Myers Instrumental.
The experiments which were con-
Quoted in this locality were carried on
at the request of Peter ]. Myers, at
torney, who organized most of the
drainage districts in Racine and Ke<
nosha counties.
IL the results which are now APP
parent are followed up there will be
a new departure in the cleaning out
of the farm drainage bitches. The
cleaning out of these bitches has al
ways been very expensive and when
ever it has been undertaken in this
locality it has been necessary to bring
in the heavy type of machinery en-
ployed in the original construction of
the work, and in some instances the
work of cleaning out bitches has been
more expensive than the original con-
struction, due largely to the increased
cost of labor, material and fuel. Sew
eral types of light machines for the
cleaning out of bitches have been in
troduced, but none of these machines
has proved to be satisfactory.