CARGO TRANSFERENCE AT STEAMSHIP TERMINALS. 163 
loading only, but for conveying goods to and from the ship’s side as quickly 
as possible.’’ Referring to the usual methods employed, he says ‘‘ Whatever 
description of crane is used, delay will be generally caused * * * in 
getting the sling loads into the shed * * * . Where the distance is 
over 100 feet, it will probably be found much cheaper and quicker to use an 
overhead runway, lifting and carrying the whole sling load to the pile. This 
not only saves labor, but clears the way for the next sling deposited by the 
crane.” 
This is quoted to show the trend of the papers before the English civil 
engineers. 
It may be asked why are the overhead runways not more generally 
installed? The answer is instructive. Many visit the Tilbury Docks, and 
the West India and Royal Albert Docks at London, and suggest similar 
installations for the ports of the United States, forgetting that the Tilbury 
Docks were finished in the early eighties and the other docks mentioned even 
earlier and that additions usually conform to the existing methods. That 
the installations are ancient, is true of Continental ports such as Hamburg 
and Antwerp, and at the latter port they are still installing hydraulic instead 
of the better electric cranes. The reason is given that as the hydraulic 
cranes have given good service they have been adopted for later installations. 
This does not mean that there are not many electric cranes in use at the port 
of Antwerp. Hydraulic cranes have not, however, been recommended for 
American ports. 
Some steamship companies prefer to use the ship or dock winch and in 
such a case, the long-distance conveying machinery can take from the ship’s 
side and then convey. Preferably the freight should be taken directly from 
the ship’s hold by the far transferring mechanism. 
The space most available for conveying is overhead, thereby utilizing 
space largely unoccupied. The overhead runway system of conveying in 
connection with hoists fulfills more essential requirements than any other. 
It is the equivalent of an overhead traveling winch. In some cases, where 
there is an extensive floor space, three or four-wheeled power surface trucks 
with derricks can be used successfully in connection with overhead runways 
and give good results. ‘This combination will often be installed. 
This overhead hoisting and conveying machinery consists in fixed and 
movable tracks, overhead travelers of different types such as the transfer- 
tractors and transfer-hoists. The overhead tracks consist of T-rails upon 
the top or upon the lower flanges of steel girders. 
Movable Tracks ——Where tracks are movable they are attached to the 
traveling crane of the various types such as the gantry and traveling-shop 
