Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1931-05-28
Electricity Important
In Developing Land


In Developing Land
Using electric vacuum cleaners to
prepare Western Washington logged
off land for the pillow is an economical
development now being demonstrated
by the Washington State College ex-
tension service In cooperation with the
Puget Sound Power g. Light Company.
Giant stumps are made to disappear
quickly before the onslaughter Of this
little household apparatus.
A recent public demonstration was
given of the process on the farm OF
@ H. j. Stoltenberg, near Renton.
This event attracted large number
of spectators Interested in the eco
nomical clearing of stump land. r. N.
Miller, land clearing specialist of
washington State College was in
charge of the demonstration, assisted
by A. E. Lovett, county agent.
This application of an ordinary
household appliance, 1t is declared by
these experts, promises to become one
OF the most important developments
in solving Washingtons land clearing
problems. The time and cost required
by other methods, previously used, can
be reduced to such degree that land
formerly believed useless can be
brought under cultivation economical
ly.
BY reversing the action of an elec-
trio vacuum cleaner and using 1t as
blow torch logged-off land, it is
declared can be cleared at cost OF
SIS to $40 an acre, as compared with
500 to $3.50 an acre by other methods.
Where in some cases 1t would re-
quire 81 to $40 worth of materials,
without counting labor, to remove
stump, the electric vacuum cleaner
method would cost about Z to 10 cents.
1t was pointed out at the Renton
demonstration by H. j. Gille, general
sales manager of the Puget Sound
Power g. Light Company, that the
farmer can clear his land by this
method without devoting his whole
time to it. While he goes about his
other duties, the electric vacuum
cleaner can be working steadily all
day with very little attention neces-
sary.
The method consists in first remov-
ing the dust bag from the electric
cleaner. In place of the bag there is
an attachment from which eight tubes
may be led Ordinary ga inch hose
in lengths of 20 to Is feet is used. To
each of these is attached a section of
1-2 inch pipe, to IL feet long for
nozzles. Holes are bored in the stump
over each main root. At these holes
small fire is started. The the blow
pipe from the electric cleaner is
placed about IL inches from the
! face of the hole. The blast of air
forms blow torch that carries the
fire rapidly into the stump. AS the
flames progress the pipe is moved
further in. BY this method, roots can
be burned deep into the ground-far
below the pillow line.
The forced draft obtained from the
electric cleaner is sufficient to drive
the flames into all parts of the stump
reducing the average stump to ashes
in about ten hours. Other methods
of clearing leave parts of the roots
and other sections which must be re-
moved by laborious grubbing and dig
ging.
The electric vacuum cleaner method
not only replaces the pulling and
blasting of stumps but does away with
the burning that must follow. The
new method does the entire job in one
operation.
Electric power with which to oper-
| ate the cleaner is carried from the
regular service lines by insulated wire,
which for convenience in handling is
wound on the light, portable reels.
According to j. S. Scott, agricultural
expert of the Puget Sound Power g.
Light Company this is the most i'm
portant development ever made in
land clearing operations. 1t brings
the cost in time and money so low he
said, that practically all logged off
land in Western Washington can be
made ready for the pillow at profit
able figure.
AS one result of this new use for
electric vacuum cleaners Seattle
firm has gone into the business of
purchasing used cleaners throughout
the country. These are being equip
ped for stump burning purposes and
sold to farmers.
This development is making possible
the cleaning of thousands of acres of
fertile land, which soon will be pro-
ducing wealth for the benefit OF
Washington residents. There are up
wards of 100000 acres of potentially
productive land in Western Washing
ton that is now unimproved.
In connection with this method of
land clearing the electric boring ma
chine has come into use. This ma
| chine gets its power from the same
line as is used for operating the cleo
trio cleaner. 1t is the work of only
a few minutes to bore half dozen
holes in the base of stump. This is
in sharp contrast with hand boring
methods.
At the Renton demonstration S. P.
MacFadden, vice-p president and jeff L.
Alexander, manager Of the central dis
trict of the Puget Sound Power &
/ rYubt No,ropany unrn iptarnctad cpnc.