St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-04-26
The Reading Railroad Coat Depot

TRANSFORMATION, WEIGHING AND SHIP
MENT OF COAL.
Few cities on this continent possess a
greater variety Of objects of interest to
the traveller or sojourner than Philadel-
phia, and none excel it in the onward
march of improvements, either of public
or private character. The evidences OF
an enlarged public spirit and personal ell
tcrprlSc are of so manifest character
that volumes could be written in describ-
ing them.
Among other important features which
contribute in a great degree 10 the wealth
and prosperity Of Philadelphia we must
not lose sight Of the fact that it possesses
the most extensive coal shipping depot in
the United States. The millions of tons
of the indispensable mineral which are
annually unearthed from the in2xhaust-
ible coal fields Of the interior of the state
find their outlet to different parts of the
world from the terminus of the Reading
railroad company at Port Richmond, on
the Delaware river, at the northern cx-
tremlty Of the built up portion OF the
city.
Those who have never paid visit to
the locality in question, can form but lit
tie idea Of the immense amount of bust
ness transacted there, or the extensive and
costly preparations connected with the
shipment of coal from that point.
1t will be the province Of the follow
ing few words to furnish to the reader
an imperfect sketch Of this celebrated coal
depot.
Standing at the corner of Richmond
street and the Reading railroad, the eye
encounters nothing in an easterly dircr-
ton but a large open space Of several
acres in extent, completely gridironed
with railroad tracks and black with coal
dust These tracks all divergc towards
the coal wharves, which stretch for hall
a mile along the river front. There are
twenty-one main wharvcs and five extra
ones-twenty-siX in all-extending fol
a considerable distance into the river.
The lengthy coal trains that come thun-
dering down the Reading railroad, arC
all run out on these wharveS, and the
coal after being correctly weighed i:
transferred to the vessels in waiting.
This weighing process is a curiosity III
itself, and OF course is of vital importance
to both owner and purchaser of coal
The Railroad company, desiring to in
crease their facilities for weighing coal,
entered into a contract several month.
since with Messrs. Fairbanks & Ewing,
the celebrated manufacturers, for thirty
four Of their Iron Frame Track Scales
The contract has been completed anC
each wharf is supplied with one Or moro
Of these finely constructed scales.
These track scales weigh twenty-five
tons each, and are twenty-four feet il
length. The cars containing the coal are
run on them, one after another, and the
coal is weighed with the greatest exact
ness and most astonishing rapidity anG
despatch. These scales work to a charm
and after being thoroughly tested for some
months past, they give unlimited salts
faction to the company. III answer to ;
question propounded by the writer to
one of the company's wcighers, who wa:
standing near one Of the scales, on Goa
wharf, he replied, rather more pointed
ly than gracefully, "WelI, they are us
the biggest things out; no discount OIL
them scales"
An examination showed that largc
''poise" on nrollers running along the bean
marks the number OF tons, while a small
''poise," sliding on brass beam attached
to the large ''poise," accurately Indicate
the pounds so that :hc exact number 0
tons and pounds of coal on freighted ca
Is indicated with remarkable rapidity. 4
person may walk directly over one Of thes,
scales without being aware of the fact. S,
solidly are they constructed and hiddel
from view. They are destined to super
sede all track scales now in vogue.
After being weighed the coal is rul
down nicely-constructed 'shutes," directl
into the holds Of vessels. Each whar
contains some six or eight "shutes" an
400 tons Of coal can be shipped per dier
| from each one. 1t will therefore be see
that over thirty thousand tons Of coal ca
be weighed and shipped from the Readin
Railroad Coal depot in single day. I'm
provements are continually going on a
the coal depot. Three new wharyes wer
built last year, namely, Nos. 10, 20 an
| p, and Nos. l3 and Is have been extend