The daily gazette., 1880-06-03
Squeezing Cotton.
80 AS TO BRING A BALE DOWN TO
ABOUT EIGHT INCHES, AND INCREASE
THE CAPACITY FOR FREIGHTAGE.

80 AS TO BRING A BALE DOWN TO
ABOUT EIGHT INCHES, AND INCREASE
THE CAPACITY FOR PERCENTAGE.
New York Commercial Bulletin:
"How 10 pack cotton and stow it away
on shlpbOard in the smallest possible
space is problem the solution Of which
has long been a puzzle. 1t is claimed
that the method now brought forward by
the newly organized ocean transporta-
tion company clears up the entire diff
Guilty, and cotton can be placed on board
ship in the smallest possible space. An
exhibition of the new plIn of slowing
cotton by hydraulic jacks was given
Monday afternoon, in the presence of
number of underwriters and shipping
men, on board the ship Monarch, lying
at the dock of the company at Hoboken.
The exhibition was complete success,
and many of the insurance representa-
tives expressed their appreciation of the
method employed. 1t was thought at
first that the great pressure used would
have straining effect on the ship, but
this was shown to be an error, as the
force was equally difiused, and 1t was
also claimed that there was less danger
of fire than under the old system. Form
erly the most cotton that could be slowed
in ship was three bales to the register
ton, but now from four to five bales to
the ton can be readily put on board. For
slowing the cotton the dock has been
provided with the necessary piping on
all sides, so that the water may be
forced from the engine room TO vessels
at any berth alongside.
The power is conveyed to the vessels
by flexible double hose. The water is
first forced from the tank into jack
or accumulator in the engine-room,
and by a mechanical device pressure
of about 800 pounds per square inch is
attained. The hose is then connected
with the ship and inside Of the ship by
means of a series of couplings with
each jack. The jacks used are about
the same weight as the ordinary screw,
but are cylindrical in shape. At one
end are slight projections, and at the
other fork with short horns, called a
dag or dagger, by means of which the
jack may be used at any angle. The
flexible hose is attached to the jack by
coupling or fiange, at which point is
also connected a valve worked by a
strong handle or lever, which being
moved one-eighth of circle or turn,
allows the pressure to commence and
the dag to be forced out with pres
sure of from 8 to 10 tons per each jack
as desired, thus pushing the bales into
space considerably smaller than is
possible any method hitherto employ
ed. By moving the lever back the
pressure is arrested, and by reversing
the same the dag comes back to its
original position. The jack has pres
sure or pushing power of %, 616 pounds
or more than ten tons to each. The
engine for COMPRISING the cotton is
situated in the middle of the dock and
has two boilers of 300 horsepower and
carries 1870 pounds of steam. 1t has a
cylinder of 70 inches, with an eight
foot stroke. The pressure exerted on
each bale is equal to 1900 tons, bring
ing the bale down to eight inches in
depth. The company's dock is she'd
ded one, 750 feet long, with width of
70 feet, well lighted with gas, and ca
pablo of affording facilities for the
loading of four vessels at one time. 1t
has telephone communications with
the maritime exchange, produce ex-
change and the freight centers."