The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-30
GRAIN DRYING.

Learning that an establishment for drying grain
had just gone into operation at No. 100 New
Levee street, and judging that any facts pertain.
ing to the Inauguration of grain trade with the
West cannot but be of interest to our readers, we
yesterday repaired to the locality mentioned. and
found the machinery in full operation. Entering
the doorway, and, seeing man actively engaged
in handling grain sacks, busting about here and
there with remarkable alscrity apd spirit, we
inquired of him for Mr.. Mason, the inventor and
proprietor of the grain dryer. That is my
name, ;" he answered, vhereupon after stating the
objects of the visit, we were invited to inspect
the process and the premises. The ideas sug-
gested by this inspection were manifold, and told
of the new era just dawning upon the commerce
of New Orleans. Mr.. Mason is practical man,
and can not only invent but can follow up his
invention with good solid work. He first showed
US a sample of corn swept from the hold of
barges-moist, musty and valueless-and by its
side some Of the same corn which had gone
through the drying process, and thereby regained
seventy five per cent. of its original value.
During our visit quantity of corn (sixty-seven
sacks, injured by moisture on the steamer Lo1isi-
anal was going through the machinery, and we
took occasion to watch 1t closely during the pro-
cess. The sacks were raised by rope and pully
the third floor. and there emptied into the hop
per, from which the grain falls into a receiver,
lying directly under the floor, or, in other words,
next to the ceiling Of the story below. From
this receiver it falls into what is
called charge chest, and from this
in turn into the heater. an iron cylinder four feet
| in diameter. The quantity that falls is regulated
by slides worked by the machinery, aud allowing
| only certain amount at a time to enter the
| heater and undergo the process. Inside this
heater, hot air, conducted from the floor below :,
| meets the moist grain and causes an evaporation,
| The heat escaping by pipe leading out through
| the hopper above. crank with arms attached
revolves within the cylinder. keeping each grain
| constantly in motion. There is between the
outer and inner surface Of the cylinder space Of
| few inches into which hot steam is conducted,
and the heat produced by this conformity with the
| hot air, reaches from 500 TO 400 degrees Far
enheit
The corn having in this heater been thoroughly
| freed from all its moisture. IN period varying
| from five to twenty minutes according TO
| degree of that moisture. escapes by another
| slide similar to those before mentioned, and
falls into another charge chest. whence again by
a slide it is delivered into cooler. Here II meets
/ a stream of cold air thrown in from powerful
| blower. revolved by the machinery, and thence
| il is delivered into bin or box ready for use.
| But Mr.. Mason proposes to Obviate any necessity
| for handling the corn, by small elevator which
will carry it back TO the second story and pass II
/ thence TO a trough through which il falls to the
| ground floor again. where open sacks are ready
/ for IT'S reception.
| We have thus in an imperfect sketch followed
| the damaged corn, as it undergOes a process:
| which increases its value from nothing to from
twenty-five to seyentyfye per cent. of its original
| market price.
Did not time and space limit we could detail al
| great length the advantages TO result from the
| general adoption and use of machinery of thi:
| description. We must, however, at present be
| content with stating that Mr.. Alfred W. ]. Mason
| the inventor of the steam and calorc grail
| drying kiln and cooler" is an old resident o.
New Orleans, takes a pride and interest in wha
| he has undertaken, and proposes by erecting thu
machinery, IN connection with the grain elevators
to do his full share toward bringing about tina
commercisl prosperity which the Western grair
| trade promises.