A Dredge Roll Call – Contract 12

Contract 12 of the New York State Barge Canal (1905-1918) was for dredging the Oneida and Seneca rivers from Oneida Lake west to Montezuma. It was held by the Stewart-Kerbaugh-Shanley company and five dredges were built for the project.

Dredge 1- The Geyser
The Geyser was the only hydraulic dredge used on this contract. It was used to cut the short-cuts through the river oxbows. The dredge was built by Bucyrus.
We get a look at the Geyser at work cutting a new channel. The line of pipes is carrying away the spoils and depositing them on shore.
The Geyser in winter quarters along with Boat House No. 1. This gives us a nice look at the cutter-head. The length of the boom depended on the depth of the cut desired. The barge canal was designed to be 12 feet deep.
Dredge 2- The Tornado
The Tornado ladder dredge in winter quarters along with its floating conveyors. This and her sister, the Cyclone, were built by Bucyrus.
The Tornado at work cutting a new channel. You can see how the path was prepped by removing the trees, stumps, and brush, leaving only the sand and gravel to be removed. The ladder and hydraulic dredges made the cut by sweeping the entire boat from side to side.
We see the system of conveyors that is depositing the spoils some distance from the cut.
The head unit of the Tornado. Each bucket weighs over 2000 pounds.
Dredge 3- The Cyclone
The Cyclone was a sister to the Tornado. It was used in the deeper water of Oneida Lake. The spoil was deposited in a dump scow and removed to shallow areas around the lake.
Dredge 4 – The Hurricane
The dipper dredge Hurricane is seen at work in the State Cut at Jack’s Reef. This area was solid rock and needed drill rigs and blasting teams to clear the rock. The manufacturer of the dredge is not known.

Dredge 5 – The Tornado
Oddly, this dredge shared the name Tornado with the ladder dredge. This was a Marion dredge. Note the difference in construction between the two dipper booms.
This shot gives us a nice look at the blasted rock and what size the dipper could remove. Many times this larger rock was used in concrete pours with the idea that it could be used to save materials and serve as “keys” between lifts. The rock could also be crushed to use in concrete and other needs. Note the amount of wear on the boom.

All the photos used are from the New York State Archives, Barge Canal Construction, collection series 11833.