The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-27
A,n.ospher.c Grain rssaeyator.

RgaARkABtE DISCOVERY. by 4 ToIEpo IN
" vgNToR--A CoSTRIFAgGE 10 RAISE GRAIN
al MlTgoUTTHg AID OF BUCKETS. s.
From ,le Toledo Binde.l h III Il
Que OF The most remarkable inventions OF
The times Ia now being perfected aud eX-
perimented upon by Alfred Wilkin. OF this
CITY. For several months. Mr.. Wilkin has
been trying TO study out some more
speedy and economical method OF seie-
waiting grain ia bulk Than anyhow in use.
The results, as already shown by his yet i'm
perfect model, are astonishing, and promise
10 work almost a revolution in the grain
carrying trade. The principle made use OF
lin this curious little machine Is simply that
of atmospheric pressure, Or the exhaust
process, which has lately been applied with
such wonderful success in the great West
inphouse atmosphere brakes. The model
which Mr.. Wiikin has used SO far is small
ar-pumr, rather -udely constructed, yet
answering fora practical purposes at pres
cnt. Connected with the pump is one
inch tin pipe, syphon.shaped, and at the
elbow or top (Some three feet above the
Epump}4is . cylinder somewhat larger than
the pipe, and connecting both parts OF il.
der, while at the lower end Of il is n valve
other arm Of the isyphon is extended down
into the grain.pile. ,ts.2 M 'l's..'i
~ When the n,achine was first ready TO be
started some wheat was put into acommon
euvelope-boyy to represent the car or YES
sci, and the grain was sucked up at rate
that was perfectly astonishing. AS some
one remarked, at this rate the complete ma
chine would g draw the iDsides out OF a
vessel in less than no time.' This was
making an elevation OF about five feet, and
some who viewed the, remarkable effects OF
the crude air-pump reasoned that it would
be possible to raise grain only about thirty
two feet, or as high us the air will sustain
q column Of wafer. But, without pr%ll-
ing the case, Mr. Wilbin quietly had
al additional lot OF pipe made, and plant
ing his machine in the third story OF the
cuStom.house, forty feet from the ground,
had the satisfaction of seeing 1t take up the
wheat and corn ont Of the box placed on
the ground rs easily as whiriwind would
tuke up the dust from the road. The next
step was to place the air-pump in the fourth
story. over fifty feet from the ground,
where the result was similar. The only
draw backs were the mechanical defects in
his appliances. This settles the question
about ruising grain to great heights by at
mospheric pressure.
The reciprocating pump will he supT'ant-
ed in practice by powerful blowers, which,
with their continuous action, will exhaust
the air so rapidly, the manufacturers think,
that an eight-inch pipe will give all the
pressure asked for by the inventor.
The economy OF power and the ripidity
OF transit of the gram are, OF course, prob
lematical. But many of the great advan.
tases OF the arrangement are apparent.
Among these is the capacity for dscharSlng
several ears or vessels at the same time. BY
making the supply-pipc fork into several
pipes leading to the different lots or grain.
Then the expense OF shovelling the grain up
TO the leg Of the elevator, as under the pre-
sent system, is saved. This amounted to
$3.50 per LOCO bushels in Buffalo last sea-
son-S150 to $500, say, for 4 large schooner.
When held at the surface of the grain, the
pipe, while in one position. would draw up
nearly il not quite all the wheat or corn in
the envelope box, so that by q little moving,
as fireman would move the nozzle OF his
hose, it would quickly take up all the grain
in vessel. ..- .a-. ....... ..~-.tt
There would be saving OF about one
half in insurance rates on grain in store, as
there would be ho machinery in the build
ing-hPnce no friction and no danger from
fire in the building. Notthe least among the
desirable features OF this method would be
the cooling of the grain by passing it from one
bin to another, and cleaning it OF dust and
dirt at the same time. The immense bene-
fits such system would confer upon port
like Toledo can be readily seen. BY making
Il large reduction in the cost OF transferring
and storing grain, not only here, but at ter
minal lake points,, supremacy would be
oiN
be successfully challenged by any railroad
combination on earth p.a. ..-.., ......,