224 THE SUGAR BEET. 



teurs and 30 civieres ; 15 of the latter are immedi- 

 ately filled with beets, after which the train is hauled 

 in the direction of the silos. During their absence 

 the 15 remaining civieres are being prepared for the 

 train B, which returns immediately whilst A. is being 

 unloaded by the two men at the silos; in this man- 

 ner no time is lost. But 15 minutes are required to 

 place the 300 yards of this movable track, 30 yards 

 further to one side than it had previously been. 



What is most remarkable in this system is the 

 economy of the first cost and the rapidity with which 

 the work can be executed. Mr. Decauville says from 

 his experience he is able to gather 40,000 kilog. ot 

 beets in 10 hours, place these in silos for the moderate 

 sum of 0.50 franc |0.10 per 1000 kilog. The above 

 material is sold for about flOOO a kilometre; as for the 

 porteurs, they are woi'th $7.00, and each civiere $3.00. 

 As shown, w^ith a small outlay, marvellous results can 

 be obtained. 



3. LinarcVs Idea. — At the sugar factory of Goum- 

 and, Linard & Co., at Origny, St. Benoit, the fuel, 

 etc., utilized in the establishment arrives by a canal, 

 which is situated some three kilometres from the cen- 

 tre. A permanent ballasted track has here been estab- 

 lished, on which is a small locomotive ; the curves on 

 which this can turn have a I'adius of 8.00 m. (26 feet) ; 

 the gauge is 0.75 m. (2.46 feet), and the rail here also is 

 a Vignol, weighing 6| to 7 kilog. (15.4 lbs) the linear 

 metre. The first cost of this track was $9000, with 



