Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-10-25
RAILROAD BEST
WAY OF MOVING
CANE TO MILLS
f. r. Bechert Reports to HaW-
allan Engineering Assn. on
Field Machinery

Two important reports were placed
before the Hawaiian Engineering As
sociation today, one by F. r. Bechert
on field machinery and one by Charles
Cowan on evaporation. This was the
first day of the serious work OF the
convention. Mr.. Bechert's report was
in part as follows:
"The means utilized in Hawaii for
transporting cane from fields TO mills
named IN the order OF their import
ance, are: railroads portable and per-
manent), fumes. traction engines and
wagons, animals and wagons, and
overhead gravity cables.
THE use OF these methods Is APP
portioned as follows among the ~
plantations of the islands in 1914:
Railroads exclusively, % plantations
or over so per cent, representing 81
per cent OF the total tonnage Of 617,-
I03S; IL, in addition to these planta-
tons, those which use railroads and
other methods are considered. then
there are SO railroad users. or 81 per
cent of the whole. representing so per
cent Of the total tonnage: fumes are
used by is plantations, or 90 per cent.
representing only 80 per cent OF the
total tonnage; traction engines pull
ing wagons are tised BY three planta-
lions and, with other methods. repre-
sent only comparatively very small:
tonnages
Railroads Take Lead.
1T wilf be readily seen by the fore
going that railroads are by far the
most generally used transportation
system from every viewpoint.
Among the chief problems in thn
efficient and economical bdilding and
operation Of 4 plantation railroad are:
Track gauge. rail weight. type of port
able track tie; size. types. weights of
cars: the use Of car irons OF suffi-
cienf strength but economical in
weight and price. prevention of rust,
rigid or elastic draft gear, couplers or
drawheais: uniformity and simplicity.
of car parts, use OF
eguipment suited to individual needs,
avoidance of repairs
Fumes form D cheaD form of trans
portation and can be made portable to
q limited extent. The cost Of main
tenance Is proportionately high, and
water supply is often sub
iect to unexpected SHORTAGES. Their
operation requires constant observa,
ton at all times.
aOther methods are useful mainly
under peculiar conditions, particularly
where small tonnaees have to be
hauled from various isolated localities
Cheapest, Most Reliable.
The railroad system seems after |
many years Of experience with vari- |
Jus methods on the part Of plantations |
lot only here but in all cane coun-
ries, to be the most reliable AMI
.heapest per ton Of sugar.
The report Of Charles Cowan OF the
committee on evaporation was equally |
Probably the most I'm
,ortant point he brought out was his
discussion of the new evaporator for
he Eva mill.
The new standard dnadrupln effect I
for the Eva mill is to have
! total heating surface OF 20a0f I
quare feet. The cells are cylindrical
n shape the usual bottle neck con
truction not being used in this case.
he single vapor pipes lead from the
Ieriphery of the cells at the ton. ar
trap being incorporated
d the upper part OF each cell. In
tead Of boiling the bottom covers Of
be cells to the tube sheets and fianges
f the calandria belts, special cast iron
ings or helts are provided which bolt
. the tube sheets and to which the
ottom covers. are attached. This per-
tits the removal OF the bottom covers
lithout disturbing the joint of the
nhe sheets
Tonight a big block of tickets to
he Bijou have been reserved for the
isiting engineers, chemists and SUGAR
It has been arranged that
he performers shall get on numerous
zeal .'hits'. during the performance. Il
his Afternoon the automatic tele-
hone equipment at the central sta
lon ON Adams lane was inspected by
ne convention members
The discussion tomorrow morning i