The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-24
LABoR.sAvINa DEVICE.
A River Steamboat Mates Remarkable

Invention.
From the St. Louis Republic
Ancient eNperimenters with the power
OF steam never dreamed OF the multiplicity
OF uses to which it would be put when
fully developed. 1t has, in great meas
ure, supplanted the pack mule, the draft
horse, the hod-carrier, the miner and the
shoveler, but it remained for St. Louis
steamboatman to develop plan by which
it could be made to supplant the steamboat
roustabout. I. IL. Ross, q mate OF the
steamer City OF Baton Rouge, has a device
in successful operation by which on Sun
day he, with the aid OF small force of
roustabouts, put one Of the Target cargoes
that had been brought up from New Or
leans and other Southern river points.
Mr.. Ross has been steamboat hand
nearly all his life, having run away from
his home in this city when thirteen years OF
TO accept q situation as deck sweeper on
age steamer. lie is now nearly forty
years Of age.
1--WE carry large lots OF heavy freight 10
Bayou Sara and other lower river points
where there are aigh banks upon which
We have to deposit the freight said Mr.
Ross, ''and the process is very laborious
work, as well as expensive rs to time. On
one trip last fall we had an unusually
large amount OF freight for Bayou Sara,
and began to study how TO put il up the
hill within reasonable time. adopted
the theory that whatever can be 'skidded
down on to a steamboat can be 'skidded
up on the banks, il the power is properly
applied. On modern steamboat the
capstan can be used for all pulling and
dragging purposes. With this theory |
went into the locker, where | spent whole
watch in studying out plans which
/ thought | could make available TO
the work, and in a measure / succeeded.
At that time, however, used small rope
for tying around the barrels and boxes,
which fastened in knot, and which was
held automatically by the tension OF the
rope while 1t was in motion, but was easily
loosened. | used IL instead OF the grip
that | am using now. | aflerward spent
considerable time studying on devices for
grip, and finally hit upon one that was
simple and eilectual. | don't care SO much
about 1t Tor steamboating, rs, perhaps, but
few steamboat lines would adopt il, but |
think il could he made available in levco
building along the rivers. by rigging up
sort OF shovel TO carry the dirt that II
gathers the device can be fixed so as 10
carry the dirt up and dump it at any point
where il is wanted"
The invention has been used frequently
at some OF the lower river points, but Sun
day was the first time that il was put 10
work at the St. Louis wharf, The power
is applied to the packages OF freight by
means OF an endless rope that is propelled
by being wrapped several times around the
capstan. IL passes around Rever pulleys,
or blocks, to bring il into whatever posi-.
ton is required, and the shore end OF the
loop passes around a pulley which is
fastened TO q ring bolt on the shore. This
forms power distributor similar 10 a cable
on a street railroad. The grip consists OF
wooden block, with short handle at one
end, and a notch cut obliquely about bali
way through the block, near the middle,
which grips the rope. The package is
caught by pair OF hooked tongs, similar
TO ice tongs and the tension when pulling
serves 10 give secure hold on the
package and tight grip on the rope at the
same time. The rope furnishing the
power Is elevated above a track formed Of
skids, Just high enough 10 allow the pack
ayes TO be rolled under II on the skids.
The tongs are fastened to the package aud
the grip placed on the rope, which moves
continually fast or slowly. according TO the
speed at which the capslan is run. The
package can be stopped at any point along
the track simply by a vigorous Jerk on the
handle OF the grip. A rouster lie stationed
at the point whore the packages are 10
stop, who seizes the grip, which falls loose
from the rope, and hangs II across the re-
tuning line. which carries IL back 10 the
boat. A grip is required for each package
and twenty-five or thirty grips are neces.
sary TO keep long line going The device
was tried upon bale OF cotton and moss
for the first time, and Il worked success
fully. IL is very simple throughout and
comnarativpiv inexngnsivo