TEE GRAIN ELEVATORS OF CHICAGO.

Western Star, Issue 833, 9 April 1884, Page 2

TEE GRAIN ELEVATORS OF CHICAGO.

The writer of a series of articles entitled A Urip to America,” appearing in the ‘‘ Morning Post,” savs: No visitor ought to L ave Chicago without seeing one of the large grain elevators in full operation. This is not easy unless you are lucky enough to time your- visit to the exact moment when the operation of unloading ears takes place. The work is very swiftly done, the elevator swallowing the grain like a hungry dog devours a mouthful of meat, and is ready for more before any more is ready for him. The train of cars usually runs inside what may be called the ground floor of the elevator, and their contents are shovelled out by into the cellars, from whence the grain is elevated many storeys high to the very top of the building bv means of scoopshaped buckets attached at intervals to an endless band running over drums. Having been “ elevated,” it finds its way in’o one of the vast receptacles, where it is weighed and awaits such further disposal as may be ordered. It is obvious that having been raised to this height, it is the simplest of operations to cause it to descend down any of the numerous wooden pipes in any direction that may be desired. All the arrangements are most systematic, and every kind and quality of grain is kept quite distinct—nay, it is almost impossible that there should be any admixture or confusion of the property of different consigners. There are 16 of these elevators, with a combined capacity of 18,500,000 bushels. The total receipts of grain of all kinds last year were about 165,000,000 bushels. The number of vessels clearing the port (on the lake, of course) was about 11;000, with a gross tonnage of millions.