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steam was dispensed with tind the pan operated as a continuous flow 

 settling tank, giving better satisfaction and suggesting a possible man- 

 ner of constructing a rapid system of continuous How settling tanks. 

 To prepare exhausted chips for use as fuel were provided two sets of 

 heavy iron rollers, each set composed of two rollers 12 inches in diam- 

 eter and 37 inches long, placed one above the other, the upper one having 

 a covering of llexible rubber 1 inch thick. 



One lire drier consisting of a sheet-iron cylinder 12 feet long and 4 

 feet in diameter open at both ends. Three sets of arms connected the 

 shell to a 3-inch shaft passing through the center. The shaft was sup- 

 ported by suitable boxes and cross-pieces beyond the end of the cylin- 

 der. The whole placed in brick-work, with one end 1 foot higher than 

 the other, and heated with direct lire underneath the lower end. Six 

 narrow shelves upon inside of cylinder served to elevate the chips to 

 fall through an air space as the cylinder was slowly turned by means of 

 a link belt. This carried the chips from the upper to lower end of 

 cylinder where they were discharged. 



This apparatus was operated parts of two days. The two sets of 

 double rolls were placed about 3 feet apart; wire netting 36 inches 

 wide of No. 20 steel wire, 8 mesh ends, lapped and wired together, passed 

 between the rolls of both sets, returning underneath and passing around 

 a wooden roll underneath the discharge of the drag returning the chips 

 from underneath the battery. This netting solved the question of feed- 

 ing these chips to rolls, and I believe would work equally well upon iron 

 rolls; the water readily escapes through the netting. 



The high speed at which this wire carrier and rolls must necessarily 

 be operated, the uneven feed from chip drag, the difficulty in distribut- 

 ing the chips evenly upon the netting, the failure to remove more than 

 about 40 per cent, of the w r ater, and the inability of the drier through 

 which the chips afterwards passed to more than warm them were con- 

 sidered sufficient reason for their speedy removal. There is a possible 

 hope for better success with these rolls if the chips are taken into a 

 large chute from which a constant, even, well distributed feed may be 

 furnished them ; even then artificial heat would be required to remove 

 an additional amount of moisture before good combustion is obtained. 

 The pieces of rind or shell cross each other, forming small spaces to bo 

 iilled with pith and moisture, and the spongy nature of this pith 

 makes it tenacious of water during the process of rolling. 



The chip elevator gave some trouble when permitted to get out of 

 repair. The wagon, turn-table, cano shed, outside drags, engines, 

 pumps, dynamo, and strike pan gave entire satisfaction. 



The centrifugals did excellent work even upon the worst nielados. 

 The process of work is as follows : 



The cane is received from the farmer upon specially constructed 

 racks. The wagon is driven on a turn-table by which it w r as squared 

 about, then backed a few feet against an ordinary wagon scales on 

 14050 Bull 20 5 



