COMMERCE FlV MAIZE GRAIN 589 



whole of the machinery is driven by electricity, each band and CHAP, 

 elevator being supplied from its own motor (JDownie, 1). XI1, 



The buildings are so constructed that the different grades 

 of grain are received into separate chambers. They are 

 equipped for expeditiously receiving and conditioning the grain 

 when necessary, and for loading train-loads of trucks, or a 

 large steamer, in a few hours. . 



543. Cost of Erection. — The cost of erecting, and equipping 

 with all necessary mechanical appliances, a small country 

 elevator warehouse of 10,000 bushels (2,800 muids) capacity, 

 and measuring 20 x 30 feet x' 50 feet high, is said to be about 

 £joo, in the United States. The Buenos Aires terminal 

 elevator silo cost over .£230,000 {Downie, 1). 



It is estimated that a transit elevator silo at Durban, of 

 8,000 tons capacity, would cost not less than £1 16,000. 



544. Firms of Elevator Engineers. — There are two large 

 British firms engaged in the construction of elevator and grain 

 handling and storage plants in different parts of the world — 

 Messrs. Spencer & Co., of Melksham, Wilts, and Messrs. 

 Henry Simon, Ltd., of Manchester. 



545. Elevator Systems. — There are two principal methods 

 of conveying bulk grain by elevators : the pneumatic or suction 

 and the bucket and belt-conveyor method. Sir Thomas Price 

 found that the Hamburg and Rotterdam authorities were in 

 favour of the pneumatic method, as by it the grain could be 

 worked out much more quickly than by the bucket elevator 

 system. They admitted, however, that a certain amount of 

 damage is caused by the grain becoming " floured " in passing 

 so rapidly through the suction pipes and into the elevator. 

 There was some disagreement as to the extent to which the 

 grain suffered from the suction operations. 



The testimony was uniform, however, that so far as South 

 Africa is concerned, the bucket and belt-conveyor system 

 would be found by far the best and cheapest to use, and 

 speaking generally (still remembering South Africa's require- 

 ments), it was agreed that it was the cheapest to maintain, and 

 was the most expeditious method of handling that had yet 

 been generally adopted, and that it had been in operation 

 sufficiently long to enable a definite and final opinion to be 

 formed. The question therefore reduces itself to the adapta- 



