The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-11-27
The Great Northern Elevator.
Inter-ocean. West superior. 10Th

AS the completion or the "Great
Northern elevator is so near at hand
Il review of its proportions and mode
of operation might not be amiss. Next
week they will commence taking in
wheat and will probably have the
elevator filled within three weeks from
the commencement of Operations,
having the facilities for unloading be-
tween four and five hundred cars per
day, equal, if not greater than the
number that can be handled by
all of the elevators combined in Du-
luth. The inability to do more over
there is due partly to the inconveni-
enee of the yards, a fault which has
been remedied by the construction of
the Manitoba yards in this city, be-
ing model of convenience, consisting
of twenty tracks and having a yard
capacity OF 500 ears.
On the start it might be we'll to state
that this elevator is the largest aud
finest constructed one in the world.
not having peer anywhere. Its di
mansions are 3S5x90 feet, with a
height of 100 feet and bin capacity
of 10000 bushels, bailt on the most
improved plans of re contractor, Mr..
J. A. Mcl4ennan, of Chicago, who
bears a worldwide reputation i'll this
line, as being ut the head.
The foundation of this mammoth
structure well deserves notice and de-
scriptlon. In its construction piles
were driven as far rs they would 90,
Il few feet apart, placing thereon heavy
planking, upon which mammoth stone
piers were erected, covering the entire
area of the foundation, which was fill
ed in with dirt, the top of the founda-
ton being on a level with the bank
and but little above the waters edge.
Engineer Thomas, who has the work
in charge for the Manitoba Company,
and whose opinion should be authority
on this matter, informs us that no bet
ter foundation could have been put in
anywhere else The construction of
the elevator from the foundation up is
comparatively the same as others, ex-
cept in the arrangements for machln-
cry, which excels anything of the kind
vet constructed. The whole outside
has been shceted over with galvanized
iron.
A row of huge tanks are placed be-
meath the first floor in the basement,
ten in all, for receiving the grain from
the cars, on each side of which tracks
are laid the entire length of the build
ing, receiving grain from both sides
enabling them to unload twenty cars
at one time. Each of these tanks is
provided with a double set of elevators
one for unloading and the other for
transferring and shipping purposes.
There are ten shipping bins on the side
next to the slip, into which grain is
elevated when prepared to ship. On
receiving grain from the cars, it is ell
yated directly to the scale floor, which
is very near the top, where there are
ten Of Fairbanks scales capable of
weighing 5000 bushels, and after be-
ing weighed is transferred by means of
spouts to the several bins. The ele
vator belts are of 4 ply rubber and
represent oyer one mile in length.
Grain is kept moving all the time
The machinery throug bout the entire
length of the building is Of the latest
pattern, some parts of which are late
inventions Of the contractor, and can
be found in no other elevator IN the
world. One of the principle features
of the entire work is is simplicity in
all departments. and the ease with
which grain can be handled, with less
human aid than is usually required in
other structures Of this kind.
The engines, boilers, etc. are manu-
features of the Southwark Foundry u
Machine Co., Philadelphia, and we
are indebted to their representative,
/ for ii brief description of it.
They have placed in the building
one Porter & Allen high speed, auto.
matte engine, with a cylinder Is inch
es in diameter and 42-inch stroke
making 100 revolutions per minute
capable Of 750-horse power, abou
three times the power needed to drive
this one elevator. There are four stee
boilers, Is feet long and six feet il
! diameter, of the horizontal tubula
pattern, the best manufactured. L
is possible to get more power out o
these engines, with less fuel, than an,
Others manufactured. The main shat
is Is inches IN diameter and "A fee
long. The engine room is supplied
with feed pump for the boilers and
fire pump, also an engine for the dirty
ing dynomo of $50 32-candle powe
incande>cent electric lights, placed i
the building by the United States FL
ectric Light Co., of Chicago. The en-
CINE room is an addition to the mai
building and built of white brick, wit
smock stack 155 feet high, five fee
higher than the elevator, out of tn
same quality of brick used for the ell
CINE room.
The work of eXcavatlng was con
InPlCcu dDOul hdiCi iolt W o.
d CO., of Duluth, after which the wor
was resumed by the head contractor
J.. A. McLennan, of Chicago, an
would have been completed by tn
first of October, ready to take in whes
tad there been no delay i'll the arriv;
Of machinery. OF course to accompiis
all this a vast army of men were en-
pToyed and work was rushed to con
pIetion. We are informed by con
petent authority that the complete
ness Of this structure places Mr.. Nj
Lehman foremost in the rank Of elev;
tor architects.
Howard Thomas, engineer of tn
division of the Manitoba, superinten,
ed the construction of the elevate
and yards, and fully illustrated h
capability in the efficiency OF the wor
now about completed.