THE WAREHOUSINa OF GRAIN. 131 



then discharged by openings in the granary wall into a 

 tunnel which runs parallel to the quay. The elevators raise 

 it to the top of the building, and it is distributed by bands 

 and shoots. The bands are 22 inches wide. The best work 

 is done by the cranes when grain has to be discharged out 

 of barges. The greatest amount done has been the raising 

 of 600 quarters of wheat, or 133 tons per hour, by means of 

 one crane. The 22-inch band carried that amount easily, 

 and it is considered that 150 tons could be carried with 

 safety. Three sizes of buckets are used, which, in the case 

 of wheat, hold 13, 17, and 20 cwt. respectively. On one 

 occasion, when the 17 cwt. bucket was used, it was found 

 that the crane made 125 lifts in one hour, the average lift 

 being about 30 feet, and the range of slewing being about 

 90 degrees. In working from a ship the ordinary speed 

 may be taken at from 70 to 90 lifts per hour ; but the 

 amount of grain discharged varies, a good deal depending 

 on size of hatchway, the trouble there may be with shifting 

 boards, etc. The average may be taken at from 60 to 80 

 tons per hour to each crane. 



Floating elevators are also used, more especially at 

 Liverpool, for getting grain out of vessels. The driving 

 machinery is placed upon a barge, and the elevator is 

 movable ; but when in position for working, it is fixed over 

 the hatchway of the vessel. The grain is raised ; and, by 

 means of lengths of travelling bands, which are usually 

 suspended from the roof of the shed, it is conveyed to the 

 shed or warehouse within a distance of from 70 to 80 feet 

 from the vessel. One great advantage of this system is 

 that no machinery is required in the sheds to which it is 

 applied. It is best adapted for buildings with one or at 

 most two floors. 



Various types of floating elevators are in use. One, 



