Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-01
ELEVATOR
Memphis Grain and Package FL
eVaiOr Nearly Ready for
Business.
The Largest aud Most Complete
Structure of Its Kind in
America.

One year ago plans We're drawn up fol
the construction Of the Memphis Grain
and Package Elevator, the grandest enter
prise Memphis has ever known, and tho
most extensive and complete affair of Is
kind in America. The construction Of
the building was at once begun under the
supervision Of Mr.. VIM. Watson, q skill
ed architect, who is nov engaged in put
ting on the finishing touches and will
have II ready for business by the 10Th of
the present month. The Board of Direc-
tors are j. {. Nicely, President Napoleon
Hill, Louis Hananer and II. Galloway,
Superintendent. The capital stock *
$4,000 all paid up. The building is well
located on the river bank between Poplar
n Washington streets, and some idea
ofits enormous capacity may be gained by
the statement that It's floors contain some
thing more than five acres of space. The
first floor is 800 by 1916 feet; the second. 1856
by S75 feet the third, l09 by 375 feet. and
the fourth, 50 by 375 feet. The distance
from low water to the top Of the building
Is 100 feet. Two and one half million feet
of lumber was used in its construction.
The immense beams are of yellow pine
while the floors are made of two inch oak.
the whole rendered iire-proOf by a sheath
ing Of heavy corrugated iron. The pack
age elevator is rooted with gravel and the
grain elevator with slate. Extra large
water pipes thread every part Of the enor-
nous structure and supply water for thir.
fire plugs. The pipes are connect
ed with those of the Water Company and
also with the largest engine of the ele-
yator. This is Of one hundred horse
power, and there are others Of less force.
With these appliances in the construction
Of which the greatest ingenuity has been
exercised, Il fire originating in any part Of
the building, however remote, could be
quickly suppressed. There are six pack
age legs for transferring packages Of all
kinds from boats besides three dock legs
for elevating bulk grain from barges. TIC
enormous doors opening on the land side
are balanced by Il peculiar a~ppliance
which renders them easily managed by
any II possessing the strength of Il child.
An elevated gangway for passengers has
been constructed from onesidet to The other
80 that they may not be compelled 10 pick
their way through the piles of freight a.
they are usually obliged to do. Upon A
half floor between the second and third
floors u number Of offices have been ar-
ranged which are reached by an elegant
double staircase leading up from the seq
ond floor. They will be occupied by
Superintendent Galloway, and by Che
agents Ofthe Anchor Lineand Cincinnati
Packet Companies, while one has been set
apart for the general office. The incest
taste has been exercised in their arrange
ment and decoration. The Elevator Is
connected with all.tlle railroads by lis own
tracks, a great advantage in itself whom
it is necessary 10 load and unload cifs
with expedition. Tho reader Is by This
time fully prepared for the statement that
six steamers can be handled at one aid
the same time. II is impossible to crowd
into the columns Ola newspaper a full de-
scripti0n Of this vast enterprise. IL must
be seen that It's grandeur may be appre-
ciated. He who would form an intelligent
idea of is mammoth dimensions must
tread is spreading eXpanse of0aken floors
climb is broad stairways and study its Ill
gantic timbers, In order to estimate IA.
wonderful capacity and power he must
il at work, lighted by day through M
and nc night by tho glgro oil
powerful electric lights IL mighty engines
belching forth clouds of smoke andtsteam
is powerful machinery moving upon oil.
wheels its army Of employees busy A.
bees in a hive, every part moving easily
IN is proper time, the whole appear.
Ike some gigantic uutonmton, the cui.
mination OF skill aud the DIRE IN u The
architect,