New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-09
woNDERS or THE WoRLDs GRAN4EE.

RAlLhOADS.
IFROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
On LAKE. ERIE Sept. 21.--The man who has
NOT ourneved westward from HewYOrk knows little Of
the resources of the country About "A years ago made
a Winter stage trip from New York TO Ohio, through
Buffalo 1t was probably safer Notwithstanding its re-
naated unses than the lightning limo" the rails it
certainly was expeditions Who in 1925 could have
foretod that would ride easily and cOmorta.
bly by the light of single day, from New-York to
Bnfalo3 Who that saw Buffalo then. small, struggling
village muddy creek, could have seen, even with
scottish second sight" the present city, with streets
fonr miles long OF which, for half that length, Is
among the handsomest streets in Amereaa street hand
some houses gardens lawns trees grass and flowers
But the wonder of Buffalo lies in its enormous power OF
handling grain Yesterday 1 went the Niagara
elevator" which is capable of storing EIGHT HUNDRED
bushels and Of handling 2OO0 bushels an hour
taking 1t In from vessel and dscharsng IL into train
of and canal boats; and new track Is now Dudg
TO load two trains at the time. This although the
largest only one of 25 others which line the river upon
both sides for mile from the harbors mouth Buffalo
has often been called the worlds granary;" view of
these elevators at work proves It, But few years ago
all the grain handled in the bushel measures many
will be glad how 1t is handled now. IprOpose to
give as minute a description q of the great eleva-
tors by which this is accomplished my memory will
enable me. The produce the Great West is enor
nous that it requires steam power TO handle
the millions bushels Of grain which passing through
this port.
After several destructive fires, which consumed vast
amounts Of grain "a party OF gentlemen determined to
build elevator that should be fire proof the Niagara
the result. 1t is almost wholly composed OF stone.
brick and iron inside and out The tall structure upon
all elevators known the tower is extremely liable TO
take fire. OF the accumulation OF dust. which
is dry and highly nfsmmabe. This tower has eghtiron
floors reached by iron. spiral stairway The side walls
are without openings. The foundations are stone ana
by 1870 feet the walls resting upon piles driven to the solid
rock. The bins, which contain an enormous weight
when full upon independent foundations There are
32 solid cut stone piers each upon nine piles Upon eacA
pier three solid oak timbers braced together when
support the floor Of the bins 20 feet above the pavement
This for spoutng the grain from any one OF
the IA bins, upon endless TO the DOT
tom of elevators which raise 1t TO the top of the build
ing flows by It's gravity into boats or cars
other bins. Grain keeps best III wood 40 the BINS are
made of planks to ten inches wide, LAID up like
blockhouse atwse. The center bins are % feet deep
and those under the lowest part oil the ro3 ~ lee AN
iron ladder built into corner Of each TO enable
man to examine the grain or sweep Gus the dnst Wbeh
empty, for other purpose. Tho valves Tor ds-
charging the grain are plainly marked by registered mum
bers and opened shut in the lower story nforma
ton being conveyed by speaking TUBES throughout the
building TO those in charge of the various departments
The boiler and engine which set IN motion the pondcrous
machinery are In separate hie-prOoi bu!idhg, away
from any danger from sparks Some OF the gram IS
shamefuy dsty-a disgrace to the growers sometimes
the owners OF such gram contract TO nave ~ run
the cleaner, with which every perfect elevator IS ur
through sheet iron pipe two feet in diameter and ais
charged into the river. Tuns Of good mannria sub
stance and some grain thus wasted, though many
weed seeds got rid Of There should he law requr
ing all grain passed through public elevator 10 be sent
through the cleaner not already clean, before being
offered for sale.
Now let US suppose that q vessel full OF grain has
rived. The steamer upon which am sailing up
Lake Erie the Dean Richmond, is capable Of carrying
$500 bushels fwheat Imagine II yon can the labor
of transferring such cargo, by the old process with
pals tubs half bushe measures bags hands, shoulders
carts and horses Now, the matches are OF
signal gwen TO the engineer, and directly the
cinery Of the tower begins to rumble, and pOnderOus
iron case rises unt high enough to swing IT'S foot out
latClWuy. Another
into the pile Of grain. This is the eg and contains
If into the first story Of the towef There it is poured
into the hopper OF weighing machine. gagged exactly
for 100 bushels The moment the scale turns man in
charge stops the supply and opens valve at the bottom
which lets out the grain while no Is making his 10
should be sefregisterDgperh 1t Is Then he closes
the lower valve and opens the upper repeating the ope
ration often that 900 bushels hour thus weighed
As fast 1t falls from the scale hopper 1t Is taken by
another eevatng belt aud empucd into receiver ~ the
top the tower whence 1t to any part Of the build
ing. III II has TO DO cleaned 1t Is reweighed and loss
charged, well as small charge for cleaning. The
quantity quality, and owners name Of the wheatin each
bin registered the elevator prOpretors being response
BILE for the contents The grain sold by sample but
be readily Inspected ana quantity a'ceralned by visiting
the bins IL the grain heats ~ Is Immediately transferred
other bins the operation giving IL thorough airing
AS the floor Of the bins 20 feet above the ground II Will
readily be how easily canal boats be
loaded while the unloading and eleyatiDg 30 on stimuli
Here let me stop moment to say that cars VIII soon do
the whole carrying business as they already have the
the facilities for transfer afforded by the elevator moth
ing but low freghts and low tolls can Keep the grain on
York The destination OF boat Load OF gram must be
NewYOrk City, some other town upon the water side
that Of a load OF grain is just likely to be Balt
more Philadelphia, Providence, Boston. or Portland To
any toll whatever upon the immense grain business
prove the canal transportation and reduce the tolls 10
extreme low point II this is not done the great rail
way kings will construct road from Buffalo eastward
devoted almost exclusively TO the business Of carrying
grain aud the RAPID increase IN this agricultural product
will warrant the outlay. Both the Central and Erie
Roads have already elevators OF their own and both will
be connected with the great elevator have de-
"A
fact that while insurance is per cent in wooden eeva
tors 1t is only u in the Niagara But thls is not tho only
nducement
Suppose cargo Of wet grain arrives at this elevator
Inc same dachhery Is applied 10 lts dschaIge DIt IN
1t in the air. il is sent into spout which conducts 1t into
for model malt house, with all tho modern improve.
ments Here upon drying klns, each 90 feet square,
1900 bushels OF wet grain be dried daily. At the
cargo Of OatsfrOm suuken canal boat and wondered
whether this damaged grain when dry, would be put
the be ground for human fOodi Or, having their
other trash mixed with Norway oats" and sold as pure
improved This malt house is feet long and "a
feet WIDE Of solid blue limestone, with slate roof iron
CUTTERS and eproOf floors where the barley sprOuted
after having been stepped 500 bushels at charge The
RlDs heated by anthracite Tires the basement and
the ues conducted 10 and form the bottom OF the
hns which of perforated iron 80 that all the AR or
gas OF the furnaces may pass out through the grain The
finished malt dried gram be delivered directly
from the store of the to the cars which
run between the building and inc elevator.
THIS whole system OF handling grain should be ex-
amlned into In detail by all visitors 10 Buffalo nave
chosen the Niagara COmpanys establishment because IT
49, believe tile largest and most perfect, as IL Is one OF
the newest clnbodyiDg all recent improvements,
irrespective OF cost surprised at one thng-hat
tho gTaspng Fisk or the monopolizng Vanderbilt has
not seized tins property muchneeded attachment,
either the Erie 10 the Central Road. Probably Is
better for the public that 1t should continue In the hands
of the present owne Messrs Thomas and Cyrus CLARK,
George w. Townsend A. j. Holt, John White, and other
prominent merchants OF Buffalo.
The Of business along the busy wharyes OF this
busy town another OF the wonders that must strike
stranger with surprise. The " Union Navigation Com
pany" which only alias for the Erie Railway OWNS
20 propelers. Other companies and individuals own