THE HARVESTING OF THE CANE. 



Coal burned per ton mile 4' 70 Ibs. 



Maintenance of line and rolling stock per ton mile . . '772 pence, 



Fuel per ton mile 1-536 



Stores per ton mile '160 ,, 



Labour per ton mile *740 ,, 



Total cost of transport per ton mile 3*208 



On all the larger plantations in the Hawaiian islands 30-ton locomotives 

 are used, capable of drawing a load of 300 tons of cane ; a typical cane train 

 is shown in Fig. 92 (PLATE XII.). 



Transport on Public Railroads. In districts where the cane 

 forms an essential staple of commerce the tracks of the public railroads are 

 frequently utilized to transport large quantities of cane, and this method is 

 very efficient ; it is used very successfully in cane-farming districts, the farmers 

 bringing their produce in carts to a siding where the cane is weighed and then 

 transferred to the wagons running on the main line tracks. 



This system is used extensively in Mauritius ; the wagons used are 

 similar to those seen in Fig. 96, and hold from 15 to 30 tons of cane. 



The rates charged there for transport are 10 cents of a rupee per ton per 

 mile for the first, 8 cents for the second, and 6 for the third and following miles, 



Aerial Ropeways. As a means of transport in hilly or broken 

 districts, notably in Mauritius, ropeways find some use. The following des- 

 cription of the ropeways often used in Mauritius is after Wallis Taylor : 



"The arrangement consists of a driving gear at one end or terminal of 

 the line fitted with a driving drum suitably geared to receive rotary motion 

 which, in this instance, is provided by the power of the cane mill, and a 

 similar wheel at the other end fitted with tightening gear, an endless band of 

 wire rope being mounted on these wheels. At intervals of about 200 ft, 

 intermediately between these terminals the rope is supported on pulleys- 

 mounted on posts at a suitable height to enable the carriers to clear all inter- 

 vening obstacles, and to a certain extent also to regulate the general level of 

 the line. The carriers hang from the rope and are enabled to pass the 

 supporting pulleys by means of curved hangers. These curved hangers axe 

 pivoted on V-shaped saddles resting on the rope, the saddles having malleable 

 cast-iron frames fitted with friction blocks to enable the requisite friction on 

 the rope to be obtained, and allow the carriers to pass with the rope up steep 

 inclines and over the pulleys, wings at each end of the saddle frames embracing 

 and passing over the pulley rims. The saddle frames are besides each fitted 

 with two small wheels mounted on pins which admit of the carrier being 

 removed from the rope at the terminals, and at curves, on to shunt rails held 

 in such a position that when the carrier approaches the terminal the small 

 wheels will engage on it, and running up a slight incline lift the friction clip 

 saddle from the rope and enable it to pass to the loading or unloading station 



163 



