130 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



mile. The upper terminal (Plate XI. Fig. i) was so placed that 

 timber could be easily conveyed to it from all parts of the forest. 

 The cost of conveyance by the ropeway to the railway is lod. per 

 ton, whereas by cartage it is 2s. 9d. per ton. Not only is there 

 this saving in expense, but the expedition by which the wood can 

 be sent to market is a very material consideration. A ton is 

 conveyed by the ropeway in ten minutes ; by road it would 

 take two hours. All questions of excessive damage to roads 

 are also avoided. The saving effected in money and time has 

 more than compensated for the initial outlay entailed in the 

 erection of the ropeway. 



TAe working of the ropeway. — The principle is quite a simple 

 one. Loaded and empty carriers travel down and up on two 

 main fixed steel ropes, partly by steam and partly by gravitation. 

 The carriers are controlled by an endless hauling rope f inch in 

 diameter, which runs on pulleys below the fixed ropes, and is 

 kept in check by the sawmill engine, a powerful brake strap, and 

 a large grooved wheel at the top terminal. The fixed ropes are 

 i| inch in diameter, and are kept taut by an immense concrete 

 anchorage at the top, and by concrete blocks weighing 9 tons 

 each at the foot. The hauling rope is kept reasonably tight by 

 means of a winch and concrete blocks weighing 2 tons. 

 These also keep the rope taut, as it stretches from time to time 

 by change of temperature or usage. The ropeway between the 

 top and lower terminal (Fig. 2) is about 1770 yards in length, the 

 distance actually travelled by the carriers being about 10 yards 

 less. The ropes are supported by fourteen trestles, exclusive 

 of the two terminals, to which are attached pulleys for the 

 hauling rope and the saddles for the fixed rope. 



The trestles vary, according to the configuration of the ground, 

 from 25 to 60 feet in height, and occur at intervals of from 140 

 to 200 yards. 



The unreeling of the ropes commenced from the bottom of the 

 line, the hauling rope weighing 3 tons first, and the fixed ropes 

 weighing each 5 tons last. The ropes are hauled by the aid of 

 horses ; block and tackle were utilised in the case of the heavy 

 ropes. 



The carriers (Plate XII. Fig. 3) consist of two curved wrought- 

 iron hangers, on which a timber floor or bottom is laid. Four 

 sides can be attached, forming a box for the conveyance of 

 smaller timber, or for the transport of coal and other materials 



