REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 305 



ous mechanical engineer familiar witli elevating apparatus to _ bnild 

 the machinery which will elevate the cnttings to the battery without 

 any difficulty. By tlie Gm])loyraent of tlie centrifugal cutter already 

 described, wliich can be jjlaced directly over the battery, the eleva- 

 tors will only have to carry the short pieces of cane — a very easy task. 



MACHINERY FOR HANDLING THE CANE. 



The apparatus for taking the cane from the carts and delivering it 

 to the cutters Avas designed Ijy Mr. W. L. Parkinson. The carts for 

 bringing the cane from the fields are provided with a rack of peculiar 

 construction. On this rack are placed ropes in such a manner that 

 when the cart arrives at the unloading station the ropes can be brought 

 together, inclosing the vmolo load of cane. By means of a power 

 drum the entire load is drawn from the cart onto a weighing-truck, 

 running on a tramway. 



As soon as the weighing is completed the truck is moved along the 

 way until it comes opposite the cane-carrier. It is drawn from the 

 truck by means of a power drum, and is dragged down an inclined 

 plane in large armf uls to the carrier. The carrier runs at right angles 

 to the length of the cane and to the elevators which deliver the canes 

 to the cutters. As the cane is carried along this feed-table the heads 

 are cut off by a circular saw running at a high rate of speed. The 

 heads which escape the saw are afterwards cut off by hand. The 

 canes then pass to a point midway over the three elevators leading to 

 the cutters. Thence, by means of an ingenious contrivance, it can 

 be dropped into either carrier at will. The ajiparatus worked well, 

 but aside from the removal of the tops I doubt whether so compli- 

 cated a piece of machinery is necessary. 



CARBONATATION APPARATUS. 



This apparatus consists of a lime-kiln, washer for the gas, carbonic- 

 acid pump, and carbonatation tanks. 



LIME-KILN. 



The lime-kiln was built by Mr. G. L. Spencer, with castings and 

 plans from the Hallesche Maschinenfabrik. Tlie pump was built by 

 the same firm, but was purchased, as well as the castings just men- 

 tioned, from the Portland Beet Sugar Compa^ny. After the workmen 

 learned how to conduct the operations at the kiln we had no trouble 

 with its manipulation. It furnished an abundant supply of gas, and 

 an amount of lime in large excess of the quantity required. 



The limestone at first furnished contained a large quantity of ce- 

 ment, and was unfit for use. In all, several days' delay was caused 

 by this imperfection. 



After reasonably good limestone was obtained all worked well. 

 The analyses of the limestones employed will be found among the 

 analytical data. The drawings and detailed description of the lime- 

 kiln are found in Bulletin No. 8. 



THE PUMP. 



The pump was delivered to us in that state of imperfection which 

 three months of very hard usage and six years of disuse produce. 

 Nevertheless, after a proper adjustment it worked with perfect satis- 

 faction. In all not more than half a day's delay was caused by the 

 adjustment of this apparatus. 

 30 AG— '86 



