The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-09-15
AmerIean HoIster il Eaypt

Tie following is from a recent consular
report:
Il have 10 report another trade invasion
Of Egypt by Americans, no less import
ant than the securing Of the Atabara
bridge contract, which attracted so much
attention on both sides of the Atlantic
few years ago.
The greatest work ever undertaken in
Egypt in regard to discharging coal from
steamers has Just been completed ip Alex
andria. The huge mass of MAI 3nery
that towers above the surrounding ships
owes its origin to Alexander Il. Brown,
an American engineer. who has invented
a system Of suspended bridge tramways,
whereby colliers could be unloaded auto
matieally IN about one-Quarter Of the
time taken by manual labor and the use
Of steam winehes. The Egyptian Railway
Administration decided 10 adopt the sys-
TEN. The present apparatus is the first
that has been installed In Africa.
The holsters here are alleged to be ca
pable OF unloading 2,120 tons Of coal in
a working day of ten hours. A boat that
now takes a week TO discharge viii. IL is
stated, by the help Of these coal holsters,
be discharged within forty-eight hours of
10 work on two or three ships at a time,
and the saving OF labor is apparent There
viii result sn enormous decrease in the
small as there win be no coal dust
flying about. Every Bit Of coal viii be
put into buckets and carefully unloaded
again. none being wasted.
These suspended bridge tramways. or,
as they are popularity called coal holsters,
are each 353 feet i-2 inches in length.
They have the appearance Of an aerial
bridge with a cantalever arm extension
az either END The method of working is
as follows On asuspended track on the
bridge. 14-ineh gauge. runs a trolley car
ryinr buckets. each having a capacity Of
one ton. On arriving over the hold Of the
ship the bucket is automatically lowered.
The buckets can be unlocked so that
three or four can be flled az the same
time. When the bucket Is 6lled, ii is
raised again TO the trolley and run back
and discharged at any point on the quay
or into railway trucks. A bucket can be
raised from the hold Of the ship. put on
the trolley, carried to the farther end OF
the bridge. discharged. and returned to
the hold again in the space Of one min
ute. The bridge is % feet clear 10 the
lowest part. and the highest part is Y
feet. Each bridge is supported on a pier
at the sea end and shear legs on the
other side
The pier allows for two railway
trucks beneath or inside. The bridges
are divided into three sets Of two
in a set. one Of which contains a boiler
snd two engines These engines operate
the trolley and raise and lower the buck
cts by uSre ropes. The engines are Of
about twSaty-fxe horse power. Steam is
USED instesd Of electricity. as Is II more
econcnicni the work not being contsnu-
ous. Each bridge stands on thre tracks.
two cnder the pier and one under the
shear legs. and each set OF bridges NAY
be moved the entire length Of the quay
independently. 50 as TO be available in
any one of the berths. The operation
Of each bridge is controlled By one man,
and is effected hy steam power from the
sane engine that works the buckets
Zach bri&Fe is hinged over the pier ard
piroted On shear legs. 80 thar i nay be
swung to q distance Of q feet On eithe'
side of the center. The object Of this
Is 70 allow a greater ana Of the quay
70 be covered. and ig Is also useful in
prercnfing the twisting 81 she bridge IN
csse of slipping ef the wheels. There IS
anather autenatic arranEement BY which
The cosl below the bridges nay Be Ecooped
ap snd loaded inea trucks or barres. This
& done hy 4 scoop shovel. and is absolute
u independenf of manual labor. The
weight Of the entire plant IS abaat 500
tons. All The material Is soff steel. CON-
bining the greatest strength with light
ness