The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-06-10
Squeezing Cotton.

How to pack cotton and stow it away
on shipboard 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 transportation
company clears up the entire difficulty.
and cotton can be placed on board ship
in the smallest possible space. An ex-
hibition of the new plan Of slowing cot
ton by hydraulic jacks was given Monday
afternoon, in the presence of q number
Of Underwriters and shipping men, on
board the ship Monarch, lying at the
dock of the company at Hoboken- The
exhibition was a complete success, and
many of the insurance representatives
expressed their appreciation of the method
employed. It was thought at first that.
the great pressure used would have
a straining effect on the ship, but this
was shown to be an error, as the force
was equally diffused,; and it was also
claimed that there was less danger Of fire
than under the old system. Formerly
the most cotton that could be slowed IN
a 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 deck has been
provided with the necessary piping on all
sides, 80 rthat 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 frstforced from the tank into
jack or accumulation in the engine-room,
and bya mechanical device pressure of
about 800 pounds per square inch is at
tanned. 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 cyl
indrical in shape. At one end are slight
projections, and at the other a fork with
short horns, called dag or dagger, by
means of which the jack may be used at
any angle. The flexible hose is attached
to the jack by q coupling or fange, at
which point is also connected valve
worked by a strong handle or lever,
which being moved one-eight of circle
or turn, allows the pressure to commence
and the dag to be forced out with pres
sure Of from to 10 tons per each jack as
| desired, thus pushing the bales into a
space considerably smaller than is possible
| by any method hitherto employed. By
| moving the lever back the pressure is ar
rested, and by reversing the same the
dag comes back to its original position.
The jack has pressure or pushing
power of q, GIG pounds, or more than ten
tons toeach. The engine for compress
ing the cotton is situated in the middle
of the deck and has two boilers Of 300
horse power and carries 130 pounds Of
steam It has cylinder of 72 inches,
with an eight-foot stroke. The pressure
exerted on each bale is equal to .50t
tons, bringing the bale down to eight
inches in depth. The company's docl
is shielded one, $50 feet long, with {
width of 70 feet, well lighted with gas
and capable of affording facilities for tht
loading of four vessels at one time. I
has telephone communications with the
maritime exchange, produce exchange
and the freight centers.-NeaU YorI
Commercial Bulletin. .aa ~ gla,