The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-08
GREAT GRANARIES
FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Government Decides Upon
Chain Of Elevators Reaching
All Important Points.

ve.opment IN the history of South
foodstuffs. is the great grain elevator
scheme which has now been finally APP
pi owed and adopted by the Union OF
South Africa Government It mears
nothing short OF revolution in ths
country's rapidly growing grain trade
and will place South Africa on "a leve4
with the principal granaries of the
world in regard to equipment. whic
means also that the road is open to al
eqral expansion of production and ship
ments.
The scheme for the Union provides for
two port elevators at Cape Town and
Durham of 10000 tons and $4,000 tons
capacity respectively, with seventy-one
up-country elevators possessing an ag
gregate capacity of 10000 tons The
annual turnover of the port elevators ia
estimated at $4,000 tons and Of the
inland elevators $4,000 tons. making
the huge total of 1,377,000 tons.
The total cost will be f1.799.0oo
| (SS.754,S00 at normal exchange) but on
thf recommendation of the general mar
ager of the South African Railways AMI
Harbors only thirty-four OF the inland
elevators will be provided as begin
ming. thus reducing the cost to 81 ,4f2,700
tS1,O2O,s0o). In addition 1000 spa
cially designed railway cars of box
type and forty tons capacity will De
required for service as soon as the ele-
vators are complete.
Same Plan for RhOdesia.
That, in brief. is the scheme for the
Union. But that is not ell. A similar
scheme for Rhodesia, involving the CO.
operation of the authorities in Portu-
guese East Africa. has been prepared
and the decision in regard to this may
be made public at any moment. Thus
the whole of South Africa will be COW
cred and the Union and Rhodesia are
placed In a fair way of becoming Jointly
one Of the great granaries Of the world.
So far as the Union scheme is con-
cerned, while complete in itself. II is
understood that it, is designed as a
basis on which still greater extensions
can be made as required. During re-
cent years the highest output touched
was in 1918, when the Union prov
inces produced and required railway
transport for &5.644 tons OF maize,
1853 tons OF wheat and 39,1l3 tons of
oats. On this basis the two port ele-
vators and thirty-four inland elevators
local consumption is by no means keep
ing pace with the rate of production.
and II Is certain that the export trade
will consequently grow rapidly every
year. Therefore n further elevator at
East London is certain to be an event.
ual development. though probably not
for some years to come. And 1t is even
considered possible that before that con-
tingency Is realized conditions may have
IL Ea nrxa n
Union ports more suitable than EAST
London.
With regard to the cost of construc-
ton and the value of the contracts
which will shortly be on offer, II Is In
teresting to note that the estimates Tor
Cape Town and Durham elevators re-
spectively are f157 100 and 9325,0C0 Gie4,-
525 and sl,5Si 500 for foundations and
buildings. e91.700 and 91l6,0o0 (s446,250
and $50. 500 for machinery, E6o'2oO and
s4e. goo (s292, s75 and s23s. 450) for galleries
and ship loading plant. and $500
$50, 500 in each case for drying plant.
The average cost of the inland elevators
is less easy to arrive at, but viii be ap-
proximately between 10000 and fA,0Oo
$4,000 and Sill. COO each.
To Use UP to Date Equipment.
The mechanical equipment of the ele-
vators, apart from the necessary intake
hoppers bins, &C., Is to include efficient
cleaning plant at the country instaila-
tons and drying plant at the ports.
Another interesting item Is the up to
date dormant hopper weighing machine
to be provided at the inland elevators.
apable of showing the net weight of
full wagon load. and eliminating all dis
putcs about tare, &C., in weighbridge
,..hf
posed 10 ton railway cars hydraulically
operated tippers are to be installed,
with a capacity of 1000 tons per hour.
Four sets of these tippers for dealing
with different grades viii be required
at each elevator. and will make II pos
sible TO load or unload full trains within
an hour.
Details OF this character are sufficient
to indicate the value and variety OF the
contracts for equipment which will DO
on offer, but the commercial opportuni-
ties are not limited to these. Mil owners
are to be encouraged 10 put up private
elevators of their own all over the coun-
try, and farmers VIII find II more than
ever worth while to use better in1ple-
rnents and to Increase their equipment
of steam ploughs, tractors. cultivators,
maize cleaners and shelters. sc. Incl
dentaliy the supremacy OF the OK wagon
may at last be threatened and aagrow-
ing demand for box carts become appa-
rent in the grain districts. a certain
amount OF railway construction in pro-
viding sidlngs for the elevators and IN
some cases new branch lines VIII also
have TO be undertaken.
or the enormous advantages and econ
ornies that will be brought about by
bulk handling and storage II Is urneces-
sary here to speak in detail. but the
whole scheme appears 10 us to have been
admirably designed TO meet South
Africa's needs.