The New York herald., 1879-02-28
ANOTHER REMARKABLE INVENTION.
A MACHINE FOR MOVING GRAIN AS IF IT WERE
WATER.

MACHINE FOR MOVING GRAIN AS IF 1T WERE
WATER.
IFrom the Toledo Blade.1
One Of the most remarkable inventions Of the
times is now being perfected and experimental upon
by Alfred Wilkin. of this CITY, For several months
Mr.. wilkin has been trying to study out more
speedy and economical method OF elevating grain in
bulk than any now in The results already
shown by his yet imperfect model astonishing,
and promise to work almost revolution in the grain
carrying trade. The principle made of in 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 Westing house atmosp heric brakes The model
which Mr.. Wilkin has used far is small air pump
rather ruey constructed yet answering for all
tical purposes at present. Connected with the pump
IL one-inch tin pipe, syphon shaped, and vt the
elbow or top sone three Feet above the pump In q
cylinder somewhat larger than the pipe and con-
Meeting both parts of 1t. Inside of this Is u
smaller perforated cylinder, while ut the lower end
of Il is valve through which the grain drops out.
The other arm OF the syphon is extended down into
the grain pile
When the machine first ready to. be started
some wheat was put into common envelope box to
represent the car vessel and the grain sucked
up at rate that perfectly astonishing. As
one remarked, ut this rate the complete machine
would draw the insdes out of a vessel in less than
no tlnie This was making an elevation of about
ve feet, and some who viewed the remarkable effects
of the crude air pump reasoned that 1t would be
high as the air will sustain u column of water.
But, without arguing the case. Mr.. Wilkin quietly
had an additional lot OF pipe made, and planting his
machine in the third story of the custom House,
forty feet from the grounu, had the satisfaction of
seeing IL take up the wheat and Out Of the box
placed on the ground as easily whirlwind would
take up the dust from the road The next step was
to place the air pump in the fourth story, fifty
feet from the ground. where the result similar
The only drswbacks the defects in his
appliances This settles the question about raising
grain to great heights by atmospheric pressure.
The reciprocatlng pump Will be suppanted In prac-
tice by powerful blowers, which, with their con-
tnuous action will exhaust the air rapidly, the
manufActtr RS think that eightinch pine will
give all the pressure asked for by the inventor.
The economy of power and the rapidity OF transit
OF the grain are OF course probematical. But many
OF the great advantages OF the arrangement are ar
parent Among these is the capacity for dischargng
several cars or vessels at the time, by making
the supply pipe fork into several pipes leading to the
different lots OF grain. Then the expense of sboycl
ing the grain up the leg of the elevator as under
the present SYSTEM, saved. This amounted to 40 80
per 1000 bushels In Buffalo last scasonSi5 10 S2OO
say for large schooner. When held AZ the surfare
OF the grain the pipe. while In one position would
draw mp nearly IL not quite, all the wheat or corn in
the envelope box. SO that by little moving, as a
fireman would move the nozzle of his hose, IL would
quickly take up all the grain IN q vessel.
There would be saving Of about ope-half in in
surance rates on grain In store there would be no
machinery In the building-hence no friction anaso
danger from fire in the building. Not the least among
the desirable features OF this method would be the
cooling of the grain by passing Il from bin to
another and cleaning II Of dust and dirt the
time. The immense benefits such system would
confer upon port Like Toledo can be readily
Bv making large reduction In the cost OF transfer
ring and storing grain, not only here but ut terminal
lake points. supremacy would be given our great
water route which could not be succcssfuly chal-
lenged by any railroad combination earth.