COMMERCE IN MAIZE GRAIN 613 



shipping blocks next to No. 2 clock amounts to 25,000 tons CHAP, 

 in bags. The main silo tower has a storage capacity of XIL 

 19,500 tons, and grain is received into the silos at the rate 

 of 780 tons per hour. The hourly quantity that can be re- 

 ceived into the whole block of warehouses is 2,400 tons. The 

 total bulk capacity of the silos is 29,100 tons. The whole of 

 the machinery is driven by electricity, each band and elevator 

 being supplied from its own motor (Downie, 1). 



At Bahia Blanca there are two pontoon elevators, each of 

 75 tons capacity per hour, for loading grain from lighters 

 into ships; these were constructed by Messrs. Spencer & Co., 

 of Melksham, Wilts, England. 



567. Silos and Grain-handling Plant at Puerto Galvan, 

 Argentina. — Four silos and grain-handling plants have been 

 erected at Puerto Galvan, for the Buenos Aires and Pacific 

 Railway Co., by Messrs. Henry Simon, Ltd. 



Grain elevator, No. 1 , is built on the docks at Bahia 

 Blanca, and is a typical example of silos constructed in re- 

 inforced brick. There is accommodation for storing grain 

 either in bulk or in sacks, the grain arriving in bulk being put 

 into one of the eight large circular bins, while that arriving in 

 sacks is stored in the spacious warehouse at the back. The 

 holding capacity of the bins is 1 ,000 tons each, or a total capacity 

 of 8,000 tons, while the warehouse has accommodation for 

 12,000 tons of grain in sacks. The machinery for handling 

 the grain consists of band-conveyors, elevators, weighers, etc., 

 for receiving, weighing, and delivering the grain to ocean- 

 going vessels at the rate of 2,000 tons per hour. 



The facilities for discharging railway trucks are good ; 

 there are five separate sidings on which thirty-five wagons, 

 each of 40 tons capacity, can be discharged simultaneously. 

 The bands for receiving the grain run in subways below the 

 railway lines, so that the grain is delivered on to the bands 

 direct from the trucks, thus effecting a considerable saving in 

 time and labour. 



When the grain arrives at the silo, in bulk or in sacks, it 

 can either be stored in the bins or warehouse, or, on the other 

 hand, it can be weighed and delivered direct to vessels without 

 entering the silos. Grain stored in the silos is delivered to 

 vessels by gravity, while that stored in sacks is delivered by 

 means of band-conveyors and shoots. The equipment includes 



