The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

ROPE WA YS 289 As soon as it is ascertained that all is ready below, that is to say, that the previous load has been removed and the haulage rope clipped on to the empty carriage for the ascent, the hauling rope is detached from the left-hand side of the loaded carriage and lowered on to the rollers below, and the carriage is started, descending at high speed, some 20 miles an hour, to the central station, being kept under control by the brake drum. The two carriages meet here and are stopped at a distance of about 10 ft. from each other, according to the length of the scantlings. The trolley and lever are then brought opposite to the empty carriage, and the cross-bar engages it; the outer end of the lever is pressed down to raise the grooved wheels off the rope and then pushed forward for a few inches to clear it. The lever is then raised at the end, and the empty carriage, with the hauling rope attached to it, falls downwards slowly, till it is low enough to clear the loaded carriage. The latter is then advanced slowly, and the trolley with the empty carriage comes forward on the rail a corresponding distance, and by means of the lever the carriage is raised and replaced on the rope. The slow forward movement of the loaded carriage is obtained by means of the brake drum, which is provided with gearing, while the drum is slowly revolved by hand. The carriages are again started, and the arrival of the empty carriage at the starting platform indicates that the load has reached the foot. The supporting chains are provided with a hook and ring always placed on the outside, so that they can be released at once when the load becomes detached. The hauling rope is then removed from the clips on the right-hand side, and the up-rope placed on those of the opposite side of the carriage, the same procedure being followed at the starting platform, and the new load is immediately attached, after taking the precaution above mentioned to prevent the premature slipping of the carriage. The line is kept clear of growth, and the starting platform is so arranged that the central platform is easily visible from it. Flag signalling is found to be the quickest, easiest, and safest method, and the brakeman is kept in communication with the look-out man on the platform. This method of transferring appears to be somewhat primitive, involving the use of superfluous manual labour, but in the opinion of Mr H. H. Gass it is the best means of working, and is preferable to an automatic arrangement, which, he thinks, would be certain to come to grief continually, and cause both carriages to fall off the rope. 1 he lever arrangement works well and expeditiously. The loads can be run down at the rate of about two an hour, and the saving is very . considerable, so that if it were possible to work throughout the year with sufficient material, this ropeway would show a handsome profit. Its output of work is far in excess of that of the saw-mill, and it can be worked in all weathers. It was at one time feared that damage might be done to the ropeway by wild elephants, as the hauling rope is within their reach in many places, but though they are often on the line, no damage has been done hitherto. The ropeway has been a great success, but its construction in such a part of the country was beset with difficulties, because of the heavy weight to be moved, and the absence of skilled labour, the only available labour being that of the aboriginal tribes. The single rope was adopted in order to save expense, and as the working season is short, and a single rope can easily cope with the quantity to be dealt with, the addition of a second rope may well be deferred for some years until the present rope is so worn as to be unsafe for heavy loads, when it can be used for the upgoing empty carriages.1 1 II. H. Gass in Page's Magazine, August 1903, 19