Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1904-08-23
IN BIN n.
pY ALBERT W. roLMAN.

almost half as much in width, the
elevator rose a hundred and fifty
feet in the air. Through two large
doors in the ends ran railroad
tracks, leading through the base
of the building. Near the wooden
one story office, smuggling close to
its immense neighbour, a dizzy lad
der of steel rounds, riyeted to the
side of the elevator, led straight
up TO the roof.
To the north stretched the bust
ness portion of the city; to the
south the glittering harbOr un-
rolled it's broad eXpanse. Hun
dreds of ears stood in the adjOin.
ing freight yard and at the docks
below three long, black ocean lin
ers. with tunnels banded red and
white. snOred drowsily through
their steam-pipes, while into
their yawning holds the grain was
poured by exhaustless spOuts.
Archie Braithwaitwas a student
at a business college in the city.
His spare time was largely spent
in getting an idea of the different
industries of the place.
On Wednesday and Saturday
afternoons he had recitations,
and TO these half-days he looked
forward with much pleasure. He
had already visited the electric
light plants, the potteries, a shoe
factory and the rolling-mills.
The elevator came next on his
schedule. Every morning when
he went down to his work, he saw
across half-mile of lower roofs
the colossal structure against the
eastern sky.
Suggestive of great transac-
tons it fascinated the young man,
and it was with considerable sat
isfacti0n that at last, one SatUr-
day afternoon, he found himself
in the shadow of the building,
with a pass from its superintend
ent giving him the freedom of the
plant.
Before entering the elevator he
stood for a few minutes, taking in
the details outside. The huge steel
ships. stretching their pOnderous
length so peacefully in the muddy
docks; the high, sharp bows, with
their columns of white draft
marks; the sailors swung on dang
ling stages. painting the iron
sides; the shouts of the stevedores
all combined to make the scene
fascinating.
But time was passing. Braith-
wait turned reluctantly from the
wharycs. and passing through
fearless nocks of pigeons and Eng
fish sparrows. plump from feast
ing on the spilled kernels, entered
the door of the elevator.
The next two hours were Of alb
sorbing interest. lie explored the
place from top to bottom, until he
understood what was done to the
grain from the time it was taken
from the cars until it was loaded
on the steamers.
Few men were in sight, and no
one asked him for his pass. Every
body was too busy TO be curious,
and apparently took it for granted
that any stranger in the building
had good reason for being there.
1t was cold binding. Sudden
drafts swoopcd down from uneX-
pectpd quarters. The air was
filled with fine powder, which
StreWpd the iiO0rS. Dusty electric
bulbs lighted the semi-darkness.
Speaking tubes ran here and
there.
There was a sound of rushing
grain; the floors shook with tho
rumble Of machinery BY press
ing q button or pulling lever all
those gigantic processes could be-
modified or checked.
In the course of his explora
tions Braithwait came to the
"spoutAoor," pierced with numer
Gus large, round holes. Here
great movable spouts of iron con
ycycd the grain from the gamers
above into the bins beneath these
holes. which were fitted witt