In the shore-protection work at Chicago, done in 1882 by the Illinois Central R. R., a crew of 9 men, at a daily expense, for labor, of $17.25, averaged 65 piles per 10 hours in water 7 feet deep, the piles being 24 feet long and being driven 14 feet into the sand. The cost for labor of handling, sharpening, and driving, was a little over 26 cents per pile, or 1.9 cents per foot of distance driven, or 1.1 cents per foot of pile.* Both steam hammers and water jets were used, but not together. Notice that this is very cheap, owing (1) to the use of the jet, (2) to little loss of time in moving the driver and getting the pile exactly in the pre determined place, (3) to the piles not being sawed off, and (4) to the skill gained by the workmen in a long job.
On the Mississippi River, under the direction of the U. S. Army engineers, the cost in 1882 for labor for handling, sharpening, and driving, was $3.11 per pile, or 20 cents per foot driven. The piles were 35 feet long, the depth of water 15.5 feet; and the depth driven 13.6 feet. The water jet and drop-hammer were used together. The large cost was due, in part at least, to the current, which was from 3 to 6 miles per hour.t
QosT OF DRIVING SHEET PILES. The cost of driving sheet piles differs considerably from that of bearing piles,—on the one hand because the former is usually driven in softer ground, which tends to make the cost less; and on the other hand, because the former must be fitted together, which tends to make the cost more.
The cost of driving 130 United States steel sheet piles 11i feet into coarse sand and gravel in constructing a coffer-dam for a bridge pier was 7.2 cents per ft.; and the cost of pulling the same was 4.0 cents per ft. These costs include a charge for fuel, the use of machinery, etc., and also the cost of straightening piles that were bent or warped in driving; but does not include general oversight by the contractor. The wages of common laborers varied from 17i to 20 cents per hour; and enginemen and derrick men received 221 cents per hour.$ In Chicago the cost of driving 156 pieces of United States sheet piling, each 16 ft. long, 14 ft. below water which was 3 to 6 ft. deep, into coarse gravel ranging in size from } to 8 inches in diameter, was 42.5 cents per piece, exclusive of fuel, rental of plant, braces, and waling.¶