"Jerry Donovan" wrote:
"Andy Hill" wrote in message
.. .
"jedi" wrote:
Ok, I have decided that there is no way I am going to be able to dig out
the
pond I now have in mind on my own so I'm thinking of renting a digging
device.... It has to be small enough that I can get it in my back yard -
maybe I could take out one section of fence. Does anyone know what the
smallest excavator is that you can rent and how easy they are to use?

Without really answering your question, be sure to call around to local
guys who
own their own equipment. Ofttimes it's cheaper to pay an expert (who
knows
how to dig the hole *fast*) than to pay rental fees while you learn how
(and how
not) to use the equipment.

True, but not half the fun. :-)
It's the old boys and toys thing. YMMV

Well, sure. If you're just dying to learn how to use one of those little
backhoes, by all means have at it. Just don't fool yourself into thinking
you're saving money.

Derek Broughon wrote:
On Fri, 2005-25-02 at 13:00 -0500, Benign Vanilla wrote:

"Derek Broughon" wrote in message
.ca...
snip

Well, you know, I'd have to doubt that you could be forced to pay for
replacing everybody else's cable service if they've got lines running
through your land without an express right of way.


From the MD, Miss Utility site...

"Penalties for Violating the Miss Utility Laws: Actual repair costs, and
civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation for the first offense, plus up to
10 times the actual cost of repairs, which can equate to millions of
dollars, for each subsequent offense. "


Sure, but don't they have to have a right of way? Not for your own
utility supply lines, but I've never seen a case of a legitimate utility
line running straight across a person's property: they either run on the
road allowance, or they get an explicit lien (which goes on your
property deed). You'd be hard-pressed to be in violation otherwise. I
_have_ seen illegally (in the sense of not having permission from the
property owner, not service stolen from the cable co.) and improperly
installed shared cable lines, and whole blocks have lost their service
when someone cut it - but the Cable co is on the hook for repairs.

I work for a telephone company and have had to repair cables that were
cut when digging for a foundation for a house. The cables were placed
years ago in an easement. Someone bought 3 properties equaling 45 acres.
The easement was not readily identifiable and decided to put his house
where the cable was. He wasn't very happy to pay that bill.

On or about Fri, 25 Feb 2005 11:05:52 -0400, Derek Broughon
wrote something like:

On Fri, 2005-25-02 at 04:35 +0000, Crashj wrote:
On or about Thu, 24 Feb 2005 12:54:09 -0500, "jedi"
wrote something like:

Does anyone know what the
smallest excavator is

Caterpillar D-1

Be sure you call your
local 800 "Call Before You Dig" number.

Well, you know, I'd have to doubt that you could be forced to pay for
replacing everybody else's cable service if they've got lines running
through your land without an express right of way.

It is called an easement. They have the permission. You have to check
your land title and local and State laws to find them That is why you
call beforehand. This is not a time for the old saw about being easier
to ask forgiveness that to ask permission. Being wrong can be very
expensive.
--
Crashj

dave wrote:
I work for a telephone company and have had to repair cables that were
cut when digging for a foundation for a house. The cables were placed
years ago in an easement. Someone bought 3 properties equaling 45 acres.
The easement was not readily identifiable and decided to put his house
where the cable was. He wasn't very happy to pay that bill.

Yeah, but "not readily identifiable" still means it's on his deed and
puts the onus on him. I've got no sympathy for someone who should know
the lines are _somewhere_ but doesn't call. It's the idea that they
might actually be there and not recorded - and the homeowner might
_still_ be liable - that has me amazed.
--
derek

"jedi" wrote in message
...
Ok, I have decided that there is no way I am going to be able to dig out
the
pond I now have in mind on my own so I'm thinking of renting a digging
device.... It has to be small enough that I can get it in my back yard -
maybe I could take out one section of fence. Does anyone know what the
smallest excavator is that you can rent and how easy they are to use?

You can rent a small bobcat or similar sized compact excavator or or
loader/backhoe from any equipment rental agency. Hertz equipment rental
being a national company that comes to mind.
http://www.hertzequip.com/

As others have said it's often easier/cheaper to higher someone else to do
it, it takes a bit of practice to get good at using either a skid steer or a
tracked excavator Also if it's a skid steer say good bye to your lawn. Also
make sure you know where the utlity lines are, both your own, and the
pipelines.

Someone over here hit the high pressure gasoline pipeline recently. Sent
flames a few hundred feet into the air until they could shut it off,
needless to say most of the crew was killed.