The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-10
BARGES OUT AT SEA.
A Revolution Said to Be at Hand in
Loading Steamships.

Loading Steamships.
Boston Transcript.
An elevator barge has been invented by
MT. Z. Stewart Schenck Of New York,
which, although remarkably simple, is des-
tined to revolutionize the present method
OF transportation by water Of all bulk car
goes such as coal, grain, gravel, sand,
broken stone, ore, phosph ate rocks, the
accumulation OF ashes and the sweepngs of
our large cities. The public is well aware
OF the enormous amount of coal that
Is annually consumed, but probably
would be surprised to know that IL is
ll0,OOOOOO of tons per annum in
the United States, and in this coun-
try and in Great Britain together,
some 440. .o00,0 900; this is without reference
to any OF the other bulk material that can
easily rs we'll be handled by this system.
Now our great ocean greyh0unds are COM
peting with each other, both In speed and
comfort for their passengers, in order to
make them more attractive TO the travelling
pubic. The shorter The number of DAYS Oe-
cupied in crossing the Atlantic the more
attractive that steamer and also much more
economy ior the owners of the line; but
TO accomplish this most improved machin-
cry Is necessary to gather an enormous
force power, Which naturally REQUIRES
large consumption of coal to generate the
steam TO supply the same. Most of these
large Atlantic steamers consume from 2500
10 30o0 tons per trip; now the labor of put
ting this coal on board is very costly and a
tedious and laborous work, and is done en-
tirelv by hand labor at a great expense
occupying the entire time and the space
alongside the ship while she is in rort,
whereas the new eleyator-barges reoufre
only tile labor Of three or four men To put
the coal aboard the ship at the rate of 500
tons per hour. This is said to have been
practically demonstrated in New York re-
Gently.
We read of the wonderful speed with
which the new vessels of the navy ara pro-
PEELED. but We seldom, if ever. think Of the
enormous amount Of coal consumed to per-
form the service, and the difficulties attend
ing getting these supplies of fuel on board
ana Inc frequency with which they have to
be replenished. What would our great and
grand navy that we read SO much about
amount to in case of war, without fuel /?
The great speed at which they are supposed
to be propelled consumes the coal
very rapidly, and they cannot be
constantly returning 10 coaling sta
tons to procure supplies. Aside from
this. coal that is usually kept in stock AT
such stations is comparatively worthless,
as It's steam-ralSlnG powers have all been
exhausted 10y exposure to the air. Fresh
mined Goals would be far more desirable.
and this 1t IS proposed to have supplied by
strnct these barges so as to be sea-goinE
and have their own propelling power, and in
time Of war they are pref ared TO go to sea
and repleDish and supply the requirement
OF naval vessels, and do it in most econom-
ical and rapid manner. They will run
alongside OF vessel and III quite seaway
deliver Its cargo OF coal in most satistac-
tory manner.
ARRANGEMENTS have been made whereby
the elevator barge is breasted uff from The
side of the man Of-war so that they do not
come in contact with each other while the
cargo is being delivered. This, of course, is
absolutely necessary, as it would cause great
damage and be impractieable were it not so.
The present method of coaling vessels is a
very crude and absurd system, and this i'm
pTOyement must most certainly be one of
vital importance to the Navy Department.
There are many other ways that these
barges can be brought 10 advantageous use,
as contractors carrying quantities Of build
ing or dumping material. II the rapiGity Of
the discharge Is so great that it is done in
0ne tenth the time that at present is required
Tor given load, it viii only take one-tenth
the number OF barges OF equal tonnage to
perform the same seryice-a great relief to
the berth room of commercial cities.