Beaverton times., October 21, 1921, Page PAGE THREE, Image 3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER H, 1921
TH1 BBAVBRTON TIMES
PAGE THREE
PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL
HORSE SHOW
By Chas. Led better.
indications are that the Pacific
International horse show, Nov. 7
to 12, will be more extensive In
every way than heretofore. In rop
ulrfr Interest the horse show Is on
, a par with anything In the country.
The great amphitheater, seating
7600 people, has been filled to over
flowing the latter nights of the
week. Thursday, Friday and Sat
urday nights laBt year many hun.
dredB were unable to find seata.
This year in order to distribute the
attendance throughout' the week,
many of the most spectacular jump
ing events will be scheduled for
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
nights. The week's attendance last
year was over 35,000, which if
evenly distributed would allow a
seat for every' one.
Practically all of the prominent
former exhibitors will Bhow their
prize winners again this year and
many otherB that will be new to
Portlanders. '
Many Improvements have been
made at the Exposition grounds.
With the three new wings made pos
sible by the state legislature's
$100,000 appropriation, there ' Is
now under one roof over ten acres
of ground, making it the largest
livestock exhibition building in the
- world. This year's additions have
made it possible for the exposition
management to make several altera
tions that will add greatly to the
comfort of the horse Bhow exhibit
ors. The two sales amphitheaters
between the ring and the horse
"'barn have been removed to other locations,-
thus almost doubling the
stall room allotted to the horse !
show management, also giving add
ed space for carriages and traps,
and a proper lobby for getting to
and from the show ring.
A. P. Fleming, who made a con
spicuous success In managing Inst
year's Bhow, will again be at the
helm this year and predicts an
unusually large number of out-of-town
exhibitors. The Pacific Inter
national Livestock Exposition is
rapidly becoming known as the
largest affair of its kind in the
world, exceeding even that of the
International at Chicago. What
this means can hardly be realized In
terms of dollars and cents, not
only In its effect of increasing the
quality In the breeding classes of
all klnd3 of stock, but In the ad
vertisement to the Pacific North
west in general. The night horse
show 1b but little behind the expo
sition In reputation and value to
the Pacific const, which Is one of
the great horse raising districts of
the country.
It is an eiitirel" erroneous Idea
tlir.t the automobile has replaced
the horsn tor general utility. The j
iinimal census of last year shows ,
something over a million more ;
horses in the United States than
that of 1910. The tractor has not'
bean found economical for general
farm work and many who have
tried It out are coming back to old
reliable Dobbin, ,
The average business man falls to
realize the Importance of the stock
and hore industry and its bearing
on general prosperity. . There has
been no finer conception locally
and nothing has been done of more
permanent value to . the community
than the inauguration and mainten
ance of the great annual stock snow
at North Portland. That the pub
lic gives It adequate support is due
more to Us educational slid inter
esting character than to a realiza
tion of Its commercial value.
UNCLE SAM'S MORGAN HORSES
By W. H. Gocher.
On October 1, when the bronze
statue of a typical Morgan horse
was unveiled at the United States
Morgan Horse Farm near Middle
bury, Vt.) those who were present
saw a spirited representation of
what a dealer would term a 1200
pound horse on short legs. The
sculptor, Frederick G. R. Roth, pro
duced a type for the management
of the farm to breed up to. in hie
work he blended the airy poise of
the Black Hawks with the substance
and power which made the Wood
bury and Bulrush members of the
family famous on the stage coaches
before the railroads penetrated the
remote corners of New England.
One hundred years have elapsed
since Justin' Morgan died on a farm
near Chelsea, Vt. In that century
the Morgan horBe climbed the lad
der of fame, reigned supreme for
a time In the show ring and on the
trotting tracks, and then began to
fade. The Denmarke and larger
breeds took their place under the
saddle, the Hackneys and mixed
trotting breedB followed them in
heavy harness, shlle the speed de
veloped by the Hamletonion strains
sidetracked them on the turf.
The late Joseph Battel! of Mid
dlebury, Vt., saw the cloud coming.
He owned Daniel Lambert when be
died and had General Gates, a bro
ther of Lord .Clinton 2:08, in
the stud. Having faith in the Mor
gan as a utllty horse, he met It by
establishing the Morgan Register.
Later on when he began to close
up his aflalrs, Joseph Battoll pre
sented his farm to the government
and transferred the stock an It for
$10,000.
'About 14 years ago, a group of
admirers of the family organized
the Morgan Horse Club. It pre
sented the statue to tho government
and now owns and controls the Mor
gan Register,
As soon as the government be-!
gan breeding operations, a differ
ence of opinion arose as to the
proper size for the Morgan horse.
Selections were made from the In
bred descendants of Ethan Allen,
the majority of them being nearer j
14 hands than 15, and weighing' be
tween 800 and 950 pounds. I
General Gates remained at the
head of the stud. He was under 15
hands, had ft bad temper, something
very unusual among Morgan horses,
and bred small. His foals were
stylish and had eolid colors, the
most of them belna black like their
sire. They were not, however, large
enough for cavalry or farm work.
The- late H. R. C. Watson, who
tor a number of years bred Mor
gana at Brandon, Vt.t was ft strong
advocate of the larger type. He
was satisfied that the stages in the
early days were not horsed with
14-hand ponies. In 1911 he de
cided to make a canvas of Vermont
and learn from the oldest horsemen
what he could do about the Blse of
the old Morgan horses. Statements
were received from men who bred
or owned horses that were got by
the. sons of Sherman Morgan, Bul
rush Morgan,, and Woodbury Mor
gan, the three ions of Justin Mor
gan which made the reputation of
the family,
Sherman. Morgan aired Vermont
Black Hawk, Billy Root, Whalebone
and Flint Morgan. The Woodbury
line was. continued by Morgan Cae
sar, Chittenden County Morgan and
Gilford Morgan. The Bulrush Btraln
waa continued through the Ran
dolph Horse, Jennison Colt and
Morrill to Young Morrill, the sire1
of Fearnaught and Winthrop Mor
rill.
At St. Albans, Erasmus D. Fuller
was located. He was born in 1834
and his father in 1797. The lat
ter In the early '80s started the
first livery business in St. Albans.
Erasmus grew up with it. They
used up to 72 Morgan horses a year
their stages ' and in the livery
sold from 75 to 100 each sea
son. All of these horses were from
15v; to 16 hands, blocky built,
and welgbed from 1050 to 1100
pounds. They were prompt, cheer
ful drivers, good roadBters and
could make ten miles an hour. They
were largely ofthe Woodbury and
Morrill strains. They were not as .
Champions and Prize Winning
Classes at the
trim or handsome as the Black I
HawkB but were stronger and heav
ier.
At Shoreham, W. W. Moore was
found. He was born tn 1826. He
said: "The first Morgan horse 1
remember was Hale's Green Moun
tain Morgan. He wojild weigh 1100
pounds and stood over 16 hands.
This horse waa very stylish under
the saddle, I remember Black
Hawk. He was a beautiful horse
with a rapid gait. He stood 15
hands and weighed 1000 pounds.
He founded a" distinct family.
"At the first state fair held at
Middlebury there was a spirited con
troversy over the difference be
tween the Black Hawks and the
Morgans. At that fair there were
30 black BtalllonB In the show ring.
All of them were by Black Hawk.
I have never seen a family that
could equal it in style, beauty and
road endurance. The Black Hawk
horses ran close to 15 hands. I
had some under and some over, a
few being 15 hands."
S. D. Wells, who wasborn in
1825, said: "I was a blacksmith
at Bridport in 1844 when Black
Hawk was brought to the town. He
waa a noble looking horse and fast
on a trot for those days. . His colts
averaged from 050 to 1100 pounds
while one named Addison stood 16
bands. He . weighed over 1200
pounds and Bold for 15000."
Elmer Barnum, who was born in
1834 at Shoreham,. said: "Black
Hawk was the first Morgan horae
I ever saw. He started a new race
of horses. They won all the prlzeB
at the fairs. I remember Green
.Mountain Morgan. He was a chest
nut horse with a style entirely dif
ferent from Black Hawk, j The
pair met in the ring at Rutland
in 1852 and Black Hawk won."
Melzar B, Walker still lives at
Whiting, Vt. He was born in 1S32. i
:-;'C KM r . , I I'M
a , ted
- 1 1 - " i"
He said: "General Gate was the
nearest picture to Black Hawk. He
was 16 hands high and hit get ran
from 15 to IBhk hands. The Mor
rilte were larger, stronger and fast
er than the Black Hawks. They ran
from 1000 to 1200 pounds. Old
Morrill was the finest looking Mor
gan stallion that ever stood. He
was 15 hands and weighed 1200
pounds. The Lamberts, as a fam
ily, were like the Morgans. They
were lighter horses and had more
style than the Glfiords or Morrills,
but they were not as strong.
Charles H. Williamson was horn
In Middlebury, Vt., In 1841. He
said: "Black Hawk was an inchmand for forequarter beef cuts,
taller than General Gates. He was
stocky made with a beautiful head
and small ears. He was a good knee
actor and s square trotter. My
father had constantly from H to
20 Black Hawk horses In his livery
stable. You could never drive one
of them bo far In one day but what
you could get him back the next,"
Mr. Watson never said what he
did with the evidence gathered. Of
late, however, the management of
the Morgan Horse Farm began to
conform with bis views as to larger
stallions and larger mares.
When the Morgan statue was
unveiled, the stallions Troubadour
of Willowmoore, Scotland and Ben
nington were standing In front of
it. Troubadour is a Western prod
uct and Is inbred to Black Hawk
through hit sire, Jubilee de Jar
nette and his dam. He Is a solid
bay with black points, over 1S
hands, and weighs 1200 pounds.
There Is very little resemblance
between Troubadour and the typical
Morgan In bronze. He haB a long
back, a defect whfch was apparent
In the four fillies and one sire by
him that were exhibited In the
show ring, a neck like a Shire horse
and one front foot that toes out.
In addition to this there was ou
each of Mb four feet what looked
like a two-ponund Bhoe, as the
web of each of them was almost
A PERCHERON TRIO
Stallions in the A. O, Ruby String ot Heavy Drafters, Wlio Will beLnadJiig Coitlenthm In
Pacific International Livestock Exposition, November 5-12, at Portland, Oregon,
two Inches in width.
Any horse that has to carry that
much iron to improve his action
can not prove a sire of good gaited
foals and especially the stamp that
Is supposed to go with a Morgan.
The breeders of trotting horses
tried that a number of years ago
with Smuggler, a champion, and
failed. Troubadour and all others
like him are apt to go the same
route as a horse cannot transmit
what he does not possess.
Scotland is a chestnut horse with
white trimmlugB. He has done con
siderable Bervlce and has proved a
good sire with a few of his foals
paotd. Bennington is a brown horse
with a white splash in his face. He
looks like a very useful horse.
THE MEAT AND LIVESTOCK
REVIEW FOR SEPTEMBER
General,
There were two distinct features
of the meat trade during Septem
ber. One was the slackening of
the export demand, discussed here
inafter. The other was the persist
ent disinclination of the consuming
public to forego its war-time pre
ference for the most eoatly kindB
of meats.
With nearly 4,000 000 Industri
als workers reported idle by the
president s sub-committee on un
employment statistics, it naturally
would be expected that the so-
called choice meats would be In less
demand and that a considerable
share of the consuming s puolic
would turn to those outs which, al
though they require more time for
cooking, are highly palatable and
nutritious and are available at very
much lower prices.
But, with a 1 Blngle exception,
there has been no change In con-j
Burners' buying preferences.!
Throng bout the month of Septem
ber the beet -from more costly cat
tle was In better demand than the
less expensive grades; and the rel
atively higher- priced pork cuts
were more eagerly sought tban
those selling at lower figures.
The single exception to be noted
has to do with the forequarter outs
of beef. Beef experts say that,
partly on account of the season tnd
partly on account of educational ef
forts conducted by packers,' house
hold editors, agricultural colleges,
and various other agenc.es, the pub
lic la now evincing greater interest
in and ft relatively Increased de-
! From the standpoint of the in-
dividual consumer, and particularly
, the consumer who on occasion Is
partial to delicatessen foods, a lit
tle feature worth remarking la the
decline In boiled hams during the
month. The wholesale reduction on
these hams ranged from five to ten
gents a pound.
Pork and Swine,
Export Trade,
Shortly after the first week of
September, the foreign demand
slackened. The trade with England
was dull, which was not surprising
in view of the "somewhat unsettled
conditions In the United Kingdom
and in view of the fact that the
British are usually slow buyers on
a declining market.
On the continent, too, demand
decreased and was confined to enot
stocks. Some packers reported sat
isfactory sales from stocks already
abroad ; other packers reported a
small volume even on spot sales.
It la said that stocks in the Unit
ed Kingdom are jiot heavy and that
on the continent, notwithstanding
the -goodly supply of lard there,
the stocks are not burdensome. It
is pointed out that this Is the nor
mal season for a good demand for
lard from continental Europe.
. In connection with the lard re
quirements of central Europe, It Is
worth noting that a drouth in Ron-
tinentat Europe has reduced the
fat on meat animals and thus haB
strengthened the demand for im
ported fats. To this circumstance,
one packing company attributed the
fact that it sold large quanltles of
oleo oils to European buyers dur
ing September. For the same rea
son, it 1b said, tallow has been in
good demand. The decrease in do'
mestlc lard stockB is a factor that
should be considered In relation tc
prospective exports of lard.
Domestic Trade,
The packing industry, with val
ues fully liquidated month- by
month ever since the readjustment
period began, is finding a fairly
good demand for its pork products
(as well as beef products) at the
levels now iprevafling. In fact Ihe
price of meat, which is a perishable
commodity, has proved Itself not
only responsive to conditions of
eupply and demand, and values,
tnrougnout tne wnoie transitional
period, have been readjusted to lev
els at which the products moved.
Meanwhile the receipts of livestock
have been absorbed promptly, and
production has bean carried on at
a volume fully equal to that, of
normal years.
From the beginning to the end
if September, hams declined at
wholesale four or five cents a
pound. Standard bacon declined a
cent or two, and fancy bacon some
what more, but the demand for
smoked meats strengthened toward
the end of the month. Boiled hams,
as previously noted, showed de
clines ranging from five to ten
cents a pound. .
Cooler weather seemed to whet
the consumers' appetite for fresh
pork. There was a good demand
from dealers for it, and, in Eastern
markets, the demand was very
strong In proportion to the supply.
Standard bacon (bacon ot medi
um, grade? Is still selling aj whole
sale under the price of standard
ham, which is a reversion ot the
normal price relationship between
these two cuts. Lards declined
during' the month.
At present levels, there la a sat
isfactory trade. Bunlness on many
items improved during the last few
days of the month.
Live hogs declined somewhat. Re
ceipts were rather heavier than had
been anticipated, and the market
also was affected by the changes
In trade conditions Bet out above.
It was pointed out by one expert
on the pork trade that many ot the
hogs which have been received are
of the new crop; hogs which nor
mally would not have been expected
to arrive until later and which
therefore should be deducted from
prospective receipts.
This same expert regards the
availability of cheap corn on the
farms as a factor tending to retard
premature shipments of, hogs and
tending also to reduce the early
winter receipts.
Other experts ot equal standing
do not give the Bame weight to
these factors. -
There were substantial withdraw
als ot pork products from cold stor
age during September. This, of
course, Is the season when It Is
normal to expect withdrawals ot
products, accumulated in the period
when the ourrent receipts exceeded
the requirements ot the consuming
demand, for use when' the situation
should be reversed.
Ueef and Cattle,
More cattle were received In Sep
tember than in August; and, con
sequently, there was more beet to
be marketed. Western cattle have
been coming to market in IncreaB
ing numbers. There has been an
oversupply of heavy beef.
For these reasons, values, both
for the live animals aud the dressed
beef, declined.
The supply of finished steers of
handy weight sometimes called
"shop" beef was lighter than that
of heavy beef. Cattle ot handy
weight, therefore, declined the
least.
In the last week of September,
the trade in cattle suited to Ihe
eastern Kosher trade was dull be
cause of the religious holidays oc
curring early in October.
The demand for hides and fats
has been good; the prices, about
BtuBdy,
Ijamb and Sheep
Wide fluctuation! characterized
the September lamb trs.de. These
fluctuations were caused by varia
tions In the supply of native lambs.
Toward the end of the month, the
trade showed evidence of settling
down to a healthy basis.
HHEHMAN COUNTY FAIR
The showing of livestock at the
Sherman county fair at Moru, Ore.,
although the entries were very few,
was fairly good and comprised some
of the state fair championship cat
tle. The show conblsted of Here
ford and Shorthorn cattle exhibited
by Horbert Chandler, of Baker,
Oregon, and Mr. Barnum, president
of the Sherman County1 Fair asso
ciation, Hereford breeders, and Uuy
Ddlay of Hot Lake, Oregon, breed-
of Shorthorn cattle. Without
competition the championships and'
ribbons were awarded to the above
named breeders;
Sherman county, long famous tor
Us fine horses, made a very credit
able showing at the fair and for
this Wm. Roos of Wasco, was
largely responsible. Mr. Roos was
winner in all classes exhibited, and
his exhibits consisted of exception
ally fine individuals,
The sheep exhibits' were made by
Wm. Riddle & Son of Monmouth,
Oregon; J S. Hubbard $ Sons
of Monroe, Oregon, and Archie C.
Stewart ot Leth bridge, Alberta.
Grand championships were awarded
to Messrs Hubbard 4k Sons In the
Cotswold and Lincoln exhibits and
Mr .Stewart was awarded grand
championship on his exhibit of
Southdowns,
The hog and poultry exhibits
were very few and are said to have
been far below the average In Sher
man county.
Attractions on the half-mile track
were featured by the same horses
which have followed the circuit
(his aesson. Ideal weather during
the tore part ot the week afforded
reason for a good attendance, but
a heavy ralu storm Thursday ninht
and Friday morning seemed to put
a crimp In the fair and during the
last day, Friday, the attendance was
vey small. In fact, the events of
the week were almost entirely con
summated Thursday evening. Many
of the stock exhibits were moved
out Thursday eveulng and the
barug weie almost entirely vacated
Friday morning, some ot the exhib
itors shipping to San Francisco,
Col.; some to Spokane, Wash., and
others returning to their respective
homes.
The agricultural display was
somewhat varied In character but
not extensive, and. Indeed, not as
representative ot Sherman county
as Is possible to secure.
OltKUON CATTLE NEARLY
TTHKHCILAR FREE
"Proclaim Oregon a bovine para
dise about 99 per cent of the more
than 10,000 cattle so far tested for
tuberculosis are tree of that dreod
disease. "
Such Is the preliminary word that
gOBB out from the state college ex
tension iter vice which, In connection
with the Uvea took men, the state
livestock sanitary board and the
federal bureau ot animal Industry,
is carrying on a campaign to clean
up the state and as tar as possible
establish a state-wide cattle district
lor production of beet and milk
and for market of purebred stock
tubercular free.
Several tubercular-tree 'area b
have already ben established,
porta E. B. Fitts, directing the work
in Oregon as the representative of
tho extension service. The largest
of these Is Clatsop county. Several
other counties are engaged in the
clean-up tn a county-wldB basla and'8,ttW belongs to the Inland Empire
can soon be declared disease-free.
In Polk county 1821 cattle were
tested with 31 reactors. In Linn
county aao 8 wore tested with only
14 reacting a remarkable showing,
deirlares Professor FittB. . In Dhs
chuiea coutity 1 5 out of 257 re
acted. Of the first 600 teaU-d lu
Crook county not a reactor was
found.
Tills Is a fine tribute to Oregon
cattle raising conditions. In the
oantorn utatos a much higher per
uoniage ore diseased, In one state
as hUh as 17 ' per cent. At this
rate Oregon would have had 1700
diseased out of the 10,000 Instead
of about 100 actually found,
(JOlKHNMHNT KYHIIIIT
ATTRACT ATTENTION
By Ira N. Oahrlelson
The government exhibit at Al
bany attracted much attention from
ihe crowds In attendance. This
exhibit consisted of specimens of
animals and enlarged photographs
from the Biological Survey aud a
large number of photographs, as
well as signs, maps and literature
from the Forest Service.
The Biological Survey exhibit was
designed to call to public at ten Ion
the tremendous lost of farm crops
and foodstuffs due to the depreda
tions of rodents ot many kinds, as
well as loss to livestock due to coy
otes and other predatory auinials.
information was also given regard
ing the various methods used by the
bureau In fighting these animal
pests.
The Forest Service photographs
brought out the work this branch
of the department of agriculture Is
doing in trail and road building,
in fighting fire, In reforestation
and many othor activities. The val
ue of tlu natonal forests for eras
ing ot sheep and cattle and as a
future timber supply were well
shown. The great value of these
forests & recreation and vacation
grounds and their popularity with
hunters end fishermen wore illus
trated by many beautiful pboto-
grupbj,
The booth was crowded through
out the fair, many persons return
ing several times to secure furtner
information or to study the display.
IflologJeal Report.
The report ot John H, Heck tier,
who acted as foreman of the Bio
logical Survey poisoning govern
ment land in Jackson county, Ore.,
against gray diggers has Just been
made public by the survey head
quarter office In Portland.
Mr. Heckner reports poisoning
40,280 acres of Infested lands, re
poisoning acres of that poi
soned last year, and of covering
and poluonlng where neoded 16,-
U60 acres of lightly Infested lands.
The total of 01,1150 acres was treat
ed at a cost ot $.023 per acre. Dur
ing this time, Mr, Heckner bad one
paid assistant and 102 farmers as
sisted In poisoning government
lands lying close to their farms.
This laud in largn part consisted
of the - old Oregon A California
land grant which reverted to the
government several years ago. It
lies scattered throughout the cul
tivated sections ot Jackson county
and unless poisoned Berves as a
breeding ground for squirrels which
during the summer migrate, down
Into the cultivated fields.
'WESTERN ROYAL LIVESTOCK
The Western Royal Livestock
show, third ot the series held an
nually at Spokane, Wash., Is the
great show window ot the north
western Industry. Once a year the
best examples of purebred herds
assemble In ft miniature panorama
of the industry's scope in the great
Northwest. The purebred livestock
exhibition will be staged this year
in the heart of Spokane's business
district. The show will open Octo
ber 17 and olose November 2.
Mote than three city blocks will
be required to house the thousands
of purebred horses, cattls, sheep
and swint which have been entered
for the exhibit. These herds are
the pick ot the West and will rep
resent communities Iron the Mis
sissippi river to the Pacific ocean
and from the northern snows to
the tropical seotlons of southern
California, .
Special entertainment features In
cluding dally afternoon and even
ing programs will be staged in a
large amusement arena capable of
seating 8000 people comfortably
and providing standing room for
3000 more. One of the leading
features of 'this program will be a
40 -piece band and a vaudeville
show each plght,
A large arena capable of hand
ling 10,000 people will be uaed to
stage the sock Judging, special con-
slgiimont sales and horse show ex
hibition numbers In addition to the
livestock parades at f blue ribbon
winners.
There will be special days for
stockmen from Montana, Idaho,
Orogon, Washington and British
Columbia, with excursions from
several of the more Important lire
stack districts In those states. Civ
ic organisations of Spokane will
take charge of special nights (or
programs ot their own and a fea
ture for one night show will be the
formal coronation of Taurus III,
titular head of the lives took king
dom, under the auspices ot the fa
mous Ordor of the Royal Bull.
There will be athlttlo nights with
Mmxlug bouts, wrestling, exhibition
stunts; a style show; amateur
vaudeville night with acts and
dances and a niardl gras night to
clusD the show with sos turned revel
ers dunning out the closing hours.
The Western Uoyul Lives took
and the grunt Northwest and prom
(sos this year to be the largest show
ot the uerles held in the Spokane
country. More than 3000 pure
bred unlmals will be shown, accord
ing to advance Information from
prospective entries recnived already
at stock show head quarters. Many
famous herds of dairy cattle at
tending the National Dairy Show
at St. Paul will be at the Western
Itoyal on their way to the Pacific
International show to be held at
Portland the following woek.
FIRING T. N. T.
A new method for firing T. N, T.
In propagated ditch blasting which
greatly reduces labor costs and
saius time has been evolved by the
State Board ot Health of Green
wood, Miss. It was planned to blast
deeper the Walker's Lake canal to
eliminate sources of moiqirito
breeding.
In describing the new method, J.
Lyell Clirke, saultary engineer ot
the board, says:
"Work on the canal was begun
in May, was checked on account of
the high water, and again discontin
ued when attempt, was made to fire
T. N. T, In water by priming each
charge with an elsotrio cap con
nected In series the usual method,
Owing to Ihe leakage ot the
eleutrlo current through water, this
method proved a failure, caused
misfires and resulted In a labor
cost almost prohibitive.
"T. N, T. being very Insensitive,
will not explode b the propagated
method, so In an sffort to reduce
the two main items of cost of ditch
blasting whfch are labor and caps,
a new method has been evolved.
Tusts were made wherein tf-pound
charges of 60 per cent straight dy
namite were used In lieu ot else
trio caps. Knowing that concussion
from the explosion ot one primed
charge placed in the center of a
line ot charges of -pounds of dy
namite, spaced at Intervals ot 18
inches, would be transmitted
throughout the entire Mae and
cause almost simultaneous combus
tion, It was thought that the ex
plosion of the top charges of dyna
mite would in turn detonate the
large charges of the more Insensi
tive T. N. T. placed benesth It. This
It did. The top charges of dyna
mite exploded the T. N. T. mors
completely than did the electric
caps, shattered the- top soil and
lifted It well back, gave the T. N. T.
an opportunity to heave out the
bottom strata In good form and In
addition thereto eliminated lb cost
ot priming each hole, the cost of
connecting the caps in series, and
the cost ot re-shooting misfires.
Only one cap was required to set
off one hundred charges. The re
sulting ditch was wider, larger and
more uniform tban that const met ed
with the T. N. T. detonated by an
electric cap placed In each chargaf
besides, the work was speeded up
about 200 per cent.
"The cost at blasting a ditch 10
feet wide at top, t feet wide at
bottom and 4 feet deep with charges
of 1 pounds of T. N. T. (or pic
ric acid) detonated with 44-pound
charges of straight dynamite spaced
18 inches apart, Is approximately
1760 per mile; or 14 cents per cu
bic yard of earth removed. Six
laborers under average swamp con
ditions can blast one mile of ditch
in one week.