Chapter VI: Appendix: Actual Cost of Steam Shovel Work

(From an article in Engineering News, June 9, 1888, we take the following particulars of reports on the actual cost of steam shovel work, and these reports show how variable is the cost of excavating, depending, as it does, upon delay, unavoidable on every line of railway, upon the weather, character of the material, length of haul, and many other conditions. When conditions are favorable as to material, prompt and short hauling, with no delays, the results show a very large increase in the output, and often a decrease in cost.--Ed. Eng. News.)

From a report of the General Roadmaster of the New York Central & Hudson River R. R. of work done by two shovels on the Eastern and Western divisions, we find the largest day's work for one shovel at Yost's pit was 174 cars, the average for the month of August being 121 cars per day and for July 116 cars per day. It could have made a larger average than this with twenty more cars, as the trains making long runs could not keep cars in the pit. The largest day's work at Bergen pit with one machine was 156 carloads, the June average being 117 cars and the July 116 cars per day, and for two weeks in August 134 cars per day. At this pit they came in contact with cement, hard pan, and very coarse material. At Yost's pit they have loaded 10,511 cars in four months up to Aug. 1. Figuring these at 9 yds. per car, which is low, makes 94,599 yds. The cost of delivering on roadbed was $5,261.25, or about 5-1/2 cts. per yd. The average cost for handling by men loading and unloading is 14 cts. per yd.

The report on a machine working in New Mexico on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. says: "In cemented gravel, we find no difficulty, under favorable circumstances, in loading 75 to 100 cars per day, at a cost not to exceed 10 cts. per cu. yd."

The engineer of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Delaware R. R. gives some statements as to the cost and amount of some excavating work done under his direction. This shovel worked about 5-1/2 months in stiff clay, as follows:

March loaded 1154 cars, worked 24 days.
July " 955 " " 24 "
Aug. " 1157 " " 22 "
Sept. loaded 1556 cars, worked 23 days.
Oct. " 1552 " " 23 "
Nov. " 539 " " 12 "

Total, 6,915 cars, 41,490 cu. yds. Greatest number of cars loaded in a single day, 97. Shovel supposed to work ten hours a day, but did not average more than 6-1/2 hours on account of waiting for cars. Carloads average 6 cu. yds. per car. Average cost of loading, 3 cts. per cu. yd., including expense of all men, shovel, oil, waste, etc. Loaded, hauled material, and unloaded at a distance of ten miles from pit, at 10 cts. per yd., including all costs, shovel, use of cars, engines and crews. A 20-mile haul on this road cost 15 cts. per yd., and a 30-mile haul about 20 cts. per yd., while on some roads a 30-mile haul costs over 75 cts. per yd., depending on the frequency of trains.

The following report from the superintendent of the Sioux City & Pacific Ry. gives the operations of a shovel for nine months working in a yellow clay bank from 30 to 40 ft. in length, and with a one-mile haul: "The total number of cars loaded was 31,420 in 209 days, giving an average of 150-3/4 cars per day. The greatest number of cars loaded in one day was 275, with an average of 6 cu. yds. per car. The average cost of loading per cu. yd. is 6-1/2 cts., including expense of all men about shovel, and shifting of shovel track. Average cost of unloading with one-mile haul, 7.8 cts., including wages of all men with trains and engines, use of cars and locomotives, with all supplies and repairs of same, making a total cost of 14.3 cts. per cu. yd. or 85.8 cts. per car delivered on track."

A report showing the largest amount of work, with the most complete detail as to the expense of operation was furnished by the resident engineer of the Missouri Valley & Blair Railway & Bridge Co., contractors for the Chicago & Northwestern Ry. bridge across the Missouri River at Missouri Valley, Ia., the material excavated being used in the approaches to the bridge. The work, a tabulated statement of which is given in Table IV., was done under the most favorable circumstances, with but few delays, and with but one locomotive, as the cars ran down the hill themselves while being loaded, the locomotive being employed to haul the empty cars back; the haul was short and a round trip was made in 30 minutes. The report shows that during the work of six months the average number of cars loaded per day was 205, including delays and movings, and that the average cost per cu. yd. was 7 cts., which, as shown, included labor of loading, moving shovel about once a month, moving track to suit, dynamite for caving bank, repairs of shovel, fuel, oil, waste, wages of watchman, rent of cars and locomotives, labor of engineers, firemen and wipers, labor, conductors and brakemen, and, in fact, absolutely everything connected in any way with filling the embankment.

TABLE IV.

Work Done by Steam Excavator in Six Months at Missouri Valley, Ia.

Repairs to locomotive, shovel and cars; material $457.14
Repairs to locomotive, shovel and cars; labor 211.80
Supplies for shovel 1,760.00
Rent of locomotive and cars 1,404.75
Supplies for locomotive 1,781.52
Wages of locomotive attendants 1,508.37
Wages of all other employees 10,680.01
-----------
Total cost $17,803.59
Cars loaded 32,141
Cost per car 55.38 cts.
Cost per cubic yard 7 "
Hours worked by gang 2,325
Hours worked by shovel 1,926

The report of the Roadmasters' Association for 1885 gives the cost of steam shovel work as follows:

Railway. Work. Cost per yd.
Baltimore & Ohio Including everything,
haul 5 to 25 miles 8.1 cts.
Michigan Central Loading 4.5 "
Michigan Central Hauling, 30 miles, labor only 4.0 "
N. Y., P., & O. Loading 7.0 "
Central Iowa Loading 4.75 "
" " Unloading 1.9 "
" " Engine service 3.1 "
----
" " Total 9.75 "

The detailed statement given in Table V. was prepared by Mr. E. A. Hill, Acting Chief Engineer of the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield R. R., and is a record of work done under the supervision of Mr. A. J. Diddle, Roadmaster. It shows marked economy and gives an excellent idea of how the expenses are apportioned. The Otis type of excavator was used, which cuts 24 ft. wide and to a depth of 4 ft. below the track. The banks were about 15 ft. high, the average haul 4,000 ft. Twelve flat cars constituted a train. By a special cable arrangement the time of plowing off, ordinarily requiring about 15 minutes, was reduced to 5 or 6 minutes.

TABLE V.

Steam Shovel Work; Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield R. R.

Sangamon Montezuma Sangamon Nichol's
River Gravel River Guion Hollow
Trestle. Pit. Trestle. Trestle. Trestle.
1885. 1886. 1886. 1887. 1887.

Total number of days 54 186 48 108 51
Number of working days 46 115 38 85 40
Days idle besides Sundays 0 45 3 7 4
Material handled light gravel. light light light
clay. clay. clay. clay.
Average height of bank 10 ft. 12 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft. 12 ft.
Total No. cars loaded 2,899 8,631 2,771 5,254 2,528
Greatest No. load. per day 94 124 90 80 75
Least No. cars load. per day 22 16 50 30 15
Average No. loaded per day 63 75 73 61.8 63.2
Average length of haul 1 mile. 9 miles. 1 mile. 2 miles. 3/4 mile.
Grade, shovel to dump, p. c. -1.00 varying. -1.00 -1.00 -1.00
Tons coal used, shov. & eng. 141 853 99 170 65
No. car loads per ton coal. 20.5 10 28 30.9 38.9

Cost of Work Per Car Load.

Sangamon Montezuma Sangamon Nichol's
River Gravel River Guion Hollow
Trestle. Pit. Trestle. Trestle. Trestle.
1885. 1886. 1886. 1887. 1887.
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
Foreman at $125 per month 8.86 9.67 8.00 9.01 9.88
Cranesman, $2 to $2.50 day 5.35 5.62 4.80 3.54 5.57
Fireman (shovel) $1.50 day 2.88 3.37 2.87 2.90 3.27
Laborers (4) $1.25 per day 7.86 9.92 8.77 9.80 9.80
Watchman at $1 per day 2.07 1.96 1.88 2.50 2.25
Total shovel crew 27.02 30.54 26.32 27.75 30.77
Engr. and fireman (engine) 12.00 14.50 7.44 11.00 13.10
Trainmen (conductor, $2.50;
brakemen, $1.50) 5.97 14.60 5.74 5.25 5.77
Total train crew 17.97 29.10 13.18 16.25 18.87
Helpers distrb. earth, $1.10 .... 1.74 .... .... 2.72
Sec. men (track work), $1.10 0.81 1.88 1.38 1.45 ....
Bridge carpenters (repairs
to plant), $2.50 0.15 1.58 0.16 1.04 2.08
Sec. men (reprs plant), $1.10 .... 0.62 .... .... ....
Shop bills (repairs to plant) 1.69 10.90 1.27 10.60 1.67
Total repairs to plant 1.84 13.10 1.43 11.64 1.67
Coal from $1.25 to $1.41 ton 6.31 13.30 4.47 4.31 3.28
Oil, waste, etc. 0.52 1.55 0.75 0.86 0.36
Total supplies 6.83 14.85 5.22 5.17 3.64
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Grand total per car load 54.47 91.19 47.53 62.26 59.75
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Cost, cu. yd., 8 yds. per car 6.43 11.40 5.94 7.79 7.47
Add " " for interest on
cost of plant 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Cost per cu. yd., includ. int. 7.43 12.40 6.94 8.79 8.47

BACON'S
HOISTING
ENGINES
For Every Possible Duty.

FARREL'S--Ore and Rock
CRUSHERS.
Screens, Elevators, Etc.

THE STANDARD FOR 25 YEARS.

EARLE C. BACON,
ENGINEER,

Havemeyer Building, New York.
WORKS:
PACIFIC IRON WORKS.
FARREL FOUNDRY & MACHINE CO.

Steam Shovel
REPAIRS.

Dippers, Dipper Teeth, Dipper Bails, Dipper
Mouths, Kept in Stock.

CHAINS OF ULSTER AND NORWAY IRON.

We have built a new shop, and are preparing
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STEAM SHOVELS
of very substantial construction.

We call attention to the fact that we have
made for years a specialty of =Pile Drivers=
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VULCAN IRON WORKS,
CHICAGO.

NEW YORK DREDGING CO.,
ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS.

Machines at Work, Washington, D. C.,
Jacksonville, Fla., and Oakland, Cal.

INCORPORATED UNDER LAWS OF NEW YORK.

CEO. W. CATT, M. Am. Soc. C. E.,
President and Engineer.
O. L. WILLIAMS, Secretary and Treasurer.

SPECIALTIES:
Machinery for Economical Excavation of Canals for
Dredging; for Reclamation of Low Lands.
CORRESPONDENCE SOLICITED.

WORLD BUILDING, New York, N. Y.

G. L. STEUBNER & CO.,
MANUFACTURERS OF
HOISTING BUCKETS
OF ALL KINDS AND FOR ALL PURPOSES.

Side Dumping Cars,
End Dumping Cars,
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Special Cars,
Iron Wheelbarrows,
Iron Hoisting Blocks,

Tar Heating Furnaces,
Sheet-Iron Work,
Iron Forgings, Etc.

Send for Catalogue and
Price List.

168-176 EAST THIRD ST., LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y.

THE BEST STEAM SHOVEL CAR.

WRITE FOR PRICES AND
CATALOGUE TO

Ryan-McDonald Mfg. Co.,

44 SOUTH STREET,
BALTIMORE, MD.,

MANUFACTURERS OF

Light Locomotives, Contractors' Cars, Derrick
Irons and Crabs, Hoisting Engines and All
Classes of Narrow Gauge Cars.

CONTRACTORS'
AND
RAILROAD SUPPLIES.
Construction,
Dump and Mine Cars.

CATALOGUE AND PRICES ON APPLICATION.

HAROLD C. DAYTON & CO.,
44 DEY STREET, NEW YORK.

M. BEATTY & SONS,
WELLAND, ONT.

Dredges, Ditchers, Derricks and Steam Shovels
OF VARIOUS STYLES AND SIZES TO SUIT ANY WORK.

SUBMARINE ROCK DRILLING MACHINERY,
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AND OTHER CONTRACTORS' PLANT.

CONTRACTOR'S LOCOMOTIVES ON HAND.

We Keep on hand a number of sizes both narrow and wide
gauge locomotives, of best construction, for contractors'
service. Catalogue mailed and prices quoted on application.

H. K. PORTER & CO.,

BUILDERS OF LIGHT LOCOMOTIVES,

WOOD STREET, Near 7th Ave., PITTSBURGH, PA.

NO. 1 SHOVEL ON CHICAGO DRAINAGE CANAL.

OSGOOD DREDGE CO., Albany, N. Y.

MFRS. OF DREDGES AND STEAM SHOVELS.

OTIS & CHAPMAN,

STANDARD GRAVEL and
HARDPAN

EXCAVATOR

MANUFACTURED EXCLUSIVELY BY

JOHN SOUTHER & CO., BOSTON.

Earth Displaced at ONE-QUARTER LESS EXPENSE
Than by Any Other Machine

_To Whom It May Concern_:

I hereby certify that I have used the Otis patent improved
Steam Excavator the past twenty years, in all kinds of earth
excavation, and believe it to be the best dry land excavator in
use, and the only one that will work successfully in hardpan
material. I have excavated and put into cars five million yards
under one contract for making land in Boston; with two of these
machines I loaded from seventy to eighty thousand yards per
month. N. C. MUNSON.

C. P. TREAT,
CONTRACTOR BANGOR & AROOSTOOK R. R.

J. A. LANE, Manager.
ROB'T SMITH, Ass't Manager.
S. H. DOTY, Engineer.
H. C. DECKER, Cashier.

_Houlton, Maine, December 31, 1894._

_This is to certify that in the month of October, 1894, the bearer, Mr. John B. Shaw, with 1-3/4 yds. Souther Steam Shovel, loaded on cars 38,168 cubic yds. of ballast. Pit measurement by R. R. Co.'s Engineers._

(_Signed_)

_C. P. TREAT,
per S. H. Doty._

Transcriber's Notes

Illustrations in this booklet are not always labelled in order of appearance, so full page diagrams may appear out of order. Fig. 4. seems to have been ommitted and is not found (or referenced) in any of the online sources. Minor corrections made to punctuation. inconsistent hyphenation and spelling.

In particular:

p7. "rceiving" changed to "receiving".

p11. "wabble" has been left - it appears to be a variant spelling of wobble.

p18. "overhanging ledges or these materials" changed to "overhanging ledges
of these materials".

p22. "only few men" changed to "only a few men"

TABLE II.

"Loose gravel 1 30 1 30 2 60 3 90 4 12"

changed to

"Loose gravel 1 30 1 30 2 60 3 90 4 120"

p50. "steam or air driver" change to "steam or air driven"