Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-19
CENTRAL RAILROAD wHARvEs
The Grain EIevatOr-Driving the
PneS-A Great Invention.

visit to the Central Railroad whaFves at
present win give an excellent idea Of the
immense business being transacted by the
Central Railroad Company and Ocean
Steamship Company. The extensive
wharves are crowded with freight destined
for various points in the North and West
and South, the through business having
largely increased during the past season.
Among the freight Of the steam
ship City Of Augusta, which has Just been
discharged, are large quantities for Cincin-
natl, Louisville, st. Louis, Chicago, Omaha
and other points west. The snow blockade
on the large Northern roads has seriously
interfered with transportation, and 1t has
been found desirable to ship via Savannah.
The through trade to the West has been
steadily growing, and has received stimu-
lus from the causes named.
The heavy demand for fertilizers from all
parts OF this and adjoining States has re-
suited In large increase in this species OF
freight, and the commodious warehouses
are stocked to their capacity, rendering It
necessary to erect temporary sheds and to
bring into use tarpauliDs. Notwithstanding
that car loads are daily shipped to the in
terror, the arrivals Of fresh cargoes keep the
stock on hand large.
and independent of the shipments by the
Ocean steamships and the Boston steam
ships, there are steamships and vessels of
every character from coastwise and foreign
ports, loading and discharging, and from
early morn until late at night hustle and
activity reign on these wharves. No one
can form an idea of the magnitude of the
business done at the extreme western por-
ton of the city save by a visit
and personal observation. There are
now five electric lights placed in
convenient positions on the wharves, and
on the darkest night the entire space is
brilliantly Illuminated, rendering It posi-
BILE to prosecute work rapidly and to great
advantage. Many Improvements we note
on the wharVes in the way of increasing the
facilities for dispatch, but 1t is not of these
that we intend to speak.
The object of our visit yesterday after
noon was to witness the workings of the
steam pile-driver, which is engaged in driv-
ing the piles for the trestle over which the
cars will be conveyed to the grain elevator
at the river front. Owing to the fact that
the track has to be laid as the work of driy-
ing the piles progresses, the driver is only
In operation at certain hours during the day.
Notwithstanding this, considerable progress
has been made, and nearly half mile of
the trestle has been completed and the
track laid. The work is substan-
TALLY done, particular care being
given to its construction. The driver is
one OF the most wonderful inventions of the
age, and works rapidly, with beautiful
simplicity. The heavy piles are drawn up
by tackle, enclosed between two uprights,
and placed directly beneath q cap, which
fits over the top, of immense weight, the
bare pressure of which sends the pile ten or
twelve feet through the earth, with ap-
parentlY no greater effort than one would
puncture an apple with a sharp
knife, and the use of the trip ham
mer, over the cap, is only required when
very hard ground is reached. The entire
operation is by steam, and its rapid and
easy execution, as contrasted with the old
laborious way of driving piles,is marvellous.
| The top of the piles are not splintered in
the least, the iron cap preserving them, and
are driven perfectly straight, in any posi-
ton that may be desired. 1t is well worth
In operation. The trestle will be
extended to the river front, there
being two tracks, one going to the east of
| the warehouse, the other to the west of the
| elevator, thus enabling the transfer of corn
direct from the cars to the elevator, and its
removal from the warehouse, when required,
expeditions and easy. The construction of
| this trestle railroad is the most ificult por-
ton OF the work in connection with the ele-
vaior, and as soon as that is complete d,
very little time will be required for the
erection of the elevator and warehouse.
| We understand that on the completion
of this great Improvement a canal will be
opened through to the west of the present
road leading to the wharves, and the room
for vessels thus greatly enlarged. new
road will be opened direct from the draw
bridge over the Ogeechee canal along the
line of the present foot bridge. which will
virtually be an extension of River street.
ALI these vast Improvements will be COM
pleted ere the next commercial season, and
Savannah's commercial facilities will be
only second to New Orleans of any Southern
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