1 Sepr., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 143 
The grain is generally cleaned and graded on one of the lower floors of the 
elevator by means of machines having a capacity of 1,000 to 2,000 bushels per 
hour ; prominent among which I may mention the “ Monitor’? Wheat-cleaner, 
made at Silver Creek, N.Y. Wherever, in a large elevator, the grain is carried 
in a horizontal direction it is emptied on to a belt—flat, and about 3 feet wide 
—which runs horizontally, and is animated by means of pulleys run by an end- 
less cable. This cable system runs in all directions throughout the elevator, 
and sometimes for a good fraction of a mile outside. Wherever it goes, its main 
object is to animate a series of wide, grain-carrying, horizontal belts. Sometimes, 
by means of an elevated outdoor system of this kind, grain is carried several 
hundred yards over the tops of buildings and warehouses to the ship’s docks. 
(See Fig. 4,-Elevators at Galveston, Tex.) 
Whenever it becomes necessary to transfer the grain from a belt to a spout 
(as at a ship’s side), a device is introduced by means of which the belt is zig- 
zagged and the grain is caught in a hopper and so spouted. Fig. 5is a diagram 
showing the nature of one of these zig-zags. The zig-zags are a permanent 
feature of all large belts from which grain is spouted; and the best of them are 
on ways, and adjustable along the belt by means of hand-cranks. 
The bins of wooden elevators are made of timber, 2 inches by 4 inches to 
2 inches by 8 inches, spiked flatwise. The large terminal elevators, having bins 
often upwards of 75 feet deep, require 8-inch timber for the lower parts of the 
bins where the thrust is greatest; and this, among other reasons, adds to the 
relative cost of such elevators when compared with those of smaller size. ‘The 
number of bins per elevator varies widely, according to the class of business, 
sometimes reaching 200 or 300. Large elevators often have bins of 
50,000 bushels’ capacity and upwards. These hold grains of various grades, 
various kinds, various seasons, various owners, &c., &c. 
These are, in general terms, the features of the most recently-built 
terminal elevators in the United States. The exterior appearance of some of 
these elevators is very well shown in the accompanying photographs, which I 
have taken, as opportunity offered, in my various visits to the great wheat- 
handling centres of the world. Of such elevators there are some 200 in the 
United States, located principally at Chicago, Minneapolis, Duluth, and 
Buffalo. A one-million bushel elevator requires engines giving 125 to 200 
horse-power, according to circumstances. 
Fig. 6.—Typical up-to-date 
American country elevator built 
of wood. a, Power-house, con- 
taining gasoline engine; b, Re- 
ceiving office; ¢, Entrance ; 
d, Exit; ¢, Top of elevating 
belt ; jf, Grain-cars receiving 
grain. 
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