The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

16 ELECTRIC UNLOADING CRANES FOR PANAMA. The accompanying _ illustrations show one of a lot of eight cranes now under construction by the Shaw Elec- tric Crane Co., of Muskegon, Mich., for the Panama Railroad Co. They are for use in handling miscellaneous freight at the Laboca wharf which is the Pacific terminus of the railroad. The cranes were designed to meet the peculiar conditions existing at the THE Marine REVIEW opening through it 10 feet wide, in which the boom is suspended and through which the loads are carried. The base is so constructed that the crane can travel over freight piled to a height of 6 feet between the tracks, and so that goods may be trucked directly from under the crane to the warehouse. front of the warehouse and the edge of the wharf was sufficient for a track of only 11 feet gage. This, together FIG, 1.--ELECTRIC UNLOADING: CRANE: AT PANAMA--WORKING. POSITION. * wharf, among which may be men- ioned a tidal variation of about 20 feet. The boom, 80 feet long, is shown in Fig. 1 in its working position, stand- ing at an angle a little over 30 de- grees from the horizontal. It is re- quired that the outer end should stand at sufficient height to carry loads over the decks of the largest vessels at high tide, while the other end must be low enough to project inside of the ware- house door. - The boom may be raised to the posi- tion shown in Fig. 2, carrying the outer end clear of all parts of vessels and withdrawing the inner. end from the warehouse. With it in this posi- tion, vessels may be docked and the cranes placed opposite the various hatchways in proper position for load- ing or discharging cargoes. The main frame, or tower, is of Steel construction and stands 62 feet above the track. There is a clear with the necessary height and reach, made the question of stability a seri- ous one. Although the weight of the frame and machinery has been so dis-- posed that the crane will be stable with a load 25 per cent above norn-al capacity in the extreme position, clamps have been provided which are always in engagement with the rear rail, to prevent the crane from tipping if a load should become fouled on a hatchway or other part of the vessel. The crane is mounted on six wheels, four under the front and two under the rear. Anticipating the possibility of uneven settling of the wooden wharf, the wheels are carried in equal- izers, so arranged as to compensate for any probable irregularities of track without straining the structure. The machinery for the various movements, is placed in the base of the tower, adding to the stability of the crane, and giving easy access for The space between the. inspection. For convenience in ship- ping and erecting, each set of machin- ery is mounted upon a separate frame, which is easily handled and put in place. " The crane has a 'regular working capacity of four tons, and a reach of 40 feet from the center line between rails to the extreme outer position of load. The total height of hoist is 70 feet, and the speed of hoisting with full load is 150 feet per minute. The load can also be racked out and up at a speed of 150 feet per minute. The other two movements, ttavel and boom hoist, are relatively slow, being re- quired only in setting the crane in po- sition for service. : The hoist is operated by a 65-horse- power motor, the rack motion by a 40-horsepower and the travel and boom hoist by 24-horsepower and 8-horse- power motors respectively. Automa- tic switches are provided to prevent overtravel in hoisting and racking out, also an overload switch for the hoist machinery. All movements are under the control of one operator, whose cab is so located as to give him the best view of his work. The crane weighs nearly 50 tons, and with the boom in the raised posi- tion as shown in Fig. 2, it stands 90 feet above the wharf. The motors and controllers, as well as all structural work and machinery, are the product of the Shaw Electric Co.'s plant at Muskegon. INTERNATIONAL MERCANTILE MARINE. Voting trustees of the International Mercarttile Marine Co., including J. Pierpont Morgan, J. Bruce Ismay, W. J. Pirrie,< P- A. Be Widener "and Charles Steele, have issued to all holders of voting trust certificates for stock of that corporation a circular requesting authority for an extension of the company's voting trust for an- other five years,-to Oct. 1, 1912. The trustees make the statement that the holders of large amounts of the preferred and common stock. vot- ing trust certificates believe that it is of great importance to the share- holders that the policy of the present Management be continued until plans now under way for improving the company's fleet and permanently es- tablishing its strength are completed. As the present voting trustees, who were elected in 1902, have done much toward making the company so _ pros- perous, it is believed that the holders of the voting trust certificates will consent to the proposed extension.