CrRANE.| Prospecting, Mining and Milling Machinery. 258 
ing and hauling purposes. Fiber ropes are, however, in 
more general use. Iron and steel wire ropes or cables are 
largely used on steam hoisters and are generally taking the 
place of fiber ropes. 
Fig. 39. Semiautomatic dumping water bucket. 
The size of fiber rope used on horse hoists is one and one- 
eighth inches; on steam hoist, one and one-fourth inches. 
Manila rope is the kind preferred. 
Iron or steel wire ropes vary from one-half to three-fourths 
of aninch. Fiber rope is used in preference to iron for the 
reason that acid waters destroy the iron very rapidly, unless 
protected, while fiber rope is not so subject to the deteriorating 
action and lasts considerably longer, although it, too, is af- 
fected in time. Iron and steel ropes are usually coated with 
tar and lime, which is thoroughly rubbed in, thus keeping 
the acid water from the inside. The action upon the parts 
