A Modern Granary

Abstract

WHAT is described as the largest granary in South America, and in equipment, probably the most complete in the world, is described in Engineering for February 10 and 24 and March 10. The granary has recently been erected by the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway at the port of Bahia Blanca, Argentina, at a cost of about £1,000,000. The plant consists of an unloading station for the discharge of grain from the railway wagons, a ferroconcrete granary of 80,000 tons capacity, a loading jetty and shipping galleries. For the transport of the grain there are no fewer than 120 conveyors having more than twelve miles of conveyor and elevator belting. The whole plant is driven electrically, current being supplied from a sub-station to some 240 electric motors of an aggregate horse power of about 10,000. Some idea of the capacity of the plant can be obtained from the statement that, while grain can be unloaded continuously at the rate of 1,000 tons an hour, on the outgoing side six ocean-going ships can each be loaded simultaneously at the same rate. Each year Great Britain imports about 1,000,000 tons of wheat from the Argentine, and it is a matter for satisfaction that the main contract for the buildings, plant and equipment of this notable granary amounting to about £800,000 has been carried out by Messrs, Henry Simon Ltd., of Manchester, at which place the machinery and equipment were assembled before shipment to South America.