The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

66o THE MECHANICAL HANDLING OF MATERLAL capacity of 13,000 tons, and provides against coal shortage due to strikes at the mines or on the railways, and to car shortage. The plant consists of a concrete pit 300 ft. long by 100 ft. wide and 28 ft. deep. It is 18 ft. below ground level, having a 10-ft. wall rising above the ground. Below the ground the wall slopes at an angle of 45°, this being done only to reduce the cost of construction. This makes the pit 72 ft. wide by 272 ft. long at the bottom. The Fig. 933. Coal Storage Plant of the Indianapolis Light and Heat Co. concrete is from 12 to 18 in. thick, and is reinforced throughout with twisted |-in; square rods to withstand any pressure from water that may rise in the gravel aiound the pit. Through the middle of the pit lengthways there is a row of concrete piers placed 15 ft. centres. These piers support a trestle on which runs a standard gauge track. A 15-ton Brownhoist locomotive crane travels back and forth on this trestle, handling the coal on both sides with a Brownhoist 2 yd. coal grab bucket, suspended on a 40-ft. boom. The crane and bucket are operated by one man from his stand in the cab ; the crane doing the switching of the cars off and on the trestle. Ihe coal cars are run out on the trestle with the crane and dumped, and when the coal is required in the powei house, it