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From The
Register of Rural Affairs, 1867
As shoveling is such laborious and fatiguing work, every laborer
should aim to derive aid of all the mechanical advantages that may
be available, for the purpose of rendering such labor less
fatiguing. And the same is true when pitching compost. In order to
work with a shovel, or manure fork with little fatigue, that part
of the labor which requires the exercise of the most muscular
force, should be performed with the tool operating like a lever.
The illustration herewith given represents a laborer shoveling
with the handle of the shovel across one knee, which is the
fulcrum, the weight being on the shovel, and the power, the hand
near the end of the handle. By placing the handle across one knee,
the shovel is driven into the material to be shoveled, but a
forward motion of the body, which requires very little muscular
force. Then, by a downward thrust of the hand near the end of the
handle, the weight is raised one foot or more, with the
expenditure of a very limited amount
of muscular force.
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