Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1875 — Digging Ditches Economically. [ARTICLE]

Digging Ditches Economically.

A ditch is an open channel for conduct ing water, while a drain consists of* a subterraneous passage for water. When ditches are excavated with hand tools only the work is laborious and the cost more expensive than when teams and machinery can be employed to perform a part of the work. Many years ago when we were in the possession of a farm, much of which required draining, we performed a large portion of this irksome drudgery by the aid of the team and the common plow. Betting stakes for tlie line of the drain the plow was run along this line, turning a furrow, which was then thrown back out of the way by hand with shovels. The plow was then put through back again down the drain, the near horse walking in the lurrow; this loosened dirt was also thrown back. We found, however, that this opened the ditch rather too narrow, and in cutting one since, proceding in the same way, allowed the off-horse to walk back in die cleared furrow, which, if the plow is set for a narrow furrow in common plowing, will cut about the right width. The plowing and clearing was continued (the near horse in the furrow) through three times more, when we found we could go no deeper because the double whiffletree dragged on the ground. The clevis was then raised above the top of the beam, and one horse put on, which by walking in the ditch drew the plow up and down once more, thus loosening the hard soil about one foot in depth. The work was done in less than half a, day, and saved at least two-thirds the labor had it been dug by hand. Our ground is full of small stone, making the use of a pick requisite, and increasing the work of ditching to some extent above that of a simple clayey soil. After*tliis experiment a long double whiffletree was employed (say six feet in length) with a horse at each end. Then the subsoil plow was drawn by a chain three or four feet long extending from the whiffletree to the plow. With a subsoil plow the earth could be broken up to the depth of three feet. When laying small drain-tile in a ditch it is a nice job to get a level surface among the stone and over the occasional soft spots of sandv clay found along the bottom. When ’laying tile of any size we first place them within reach along the bank, and then, facing the head of the drain, stand upon each one, and with one foot stamp it down until it will not rock or tip either way. On ground free from stones the work is simple and easy, but here we often come to a spot where a stone of some size has to be removed to. get a level bottom. Here the tile will not lie firm without the hole is filled up with small stone and a flat one placed under the end of this tile and the next one, just low enough to keep the watercourse level. When the tile lies firm under our feet as we stand upon it we proceed to the next and not before. In the sandy bottom soft spots larger flat stones are filled in to keep the course of tile to its proper place so, that they may not sink into the mud and thus become obstructed. When soft, sandy places are over two feet in length we lay in a good sound board to keep the tiles in tlie proper plage. As a covering for tile before putting on the dirt we have used straw, small stone and pieces of sod; but it is only the larger Cracks which need anything, and sods are generally most easily got, and we think will answer every purpose. After shoveling in a few inches of dirt and treading it down the remainder may be filled in by a plow, with a long whiffletree to allow one horse to walk each side of the drain. Or some use one horse to a plow and require the animal to travel over tlie tile. But this is a practice not to be commended; as there are numerous liabilities to displacement of the tile and crushing tender ones. The first dirt should be shoveled in the ditch by a man who will be exceedingly careful to avoid breaking tile by allowing stones to fall on them. If hard tile are properly laid the drain will remain serviceable for ages to come. — W - . F. Herald.

Wuen at a trial matqh of sausage-mak-ing machines m Cincinnati one. of them amputated the hand of its exhibitor, a heartless bystander remarked that it took the palm. Sam Music has been arrested for murder in Illinois. He can plead self-defensfc—-so many people have murdered psalm 1 music— Boston, Globe. Y\