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GASOLINE LIFT TRUCKS—3-TON CAPACITY—USED BY SOUTHERN PACIFIC STEAMSHIP LINES AT NEW ORLEANS side by a lift truck and there hoisted into the ship. The average skid load is about one ton. The full capacity cannot be utilized because of the bulky nature of the cargo. While costs can be re- duced by keeping freight on skids while on the dock awaiting delivery to consignee or loading into the ship, this is not done on the New Orleans terminal because of the limited wharf area which makes tiering of freight necessary. Self-Contained Power Unit An important factor in the manage- ment’s decision to buy the gasoline lift trucks was the self-contained power unit of these trucks, which eliminates the necessity of a charging set and spare batteries, making it convenient to use the trucks in load- ing and discharging ships at docks distant from the regular terminal. Another important factor in their decision was the sturdy construction of the truck which made them best suited to the heavy service required. The three-point suspension of the steering axle enables the truck to operate over uneven floors, ramps or roadways without subjecting the frame and platform to any distortion. The rubber-tired wheels are a further aid to keeping the maintenance charges low. The power is supplied by a four-cylinder water-cooled en- gine. The hydraulic lifting mechan- ism elevates the lifting platform with a capacity load of three tons, in eight seconds. A survey of the use of lift trucks at the New Orleans terminal of the Southern Pacific Co. by the A. C. Nielsen Co., a firm of neutral engi- neers, provided the following informa- tion of the cost of operating the gaso- line truck: Hourly Truck Operating Costs Fixed charges—Depreciation 7 year basis 6% interest—(2860 hours of operation WISE PV.CAN) so seloseuicrppecss sence teansvcass -tlsascaceeccxscomuebncs .143 Repair and maintenance costs: $110 al- lowance/2860 hours (Records not avail- able) 0.38 Gasoline esses Why! Lubrication and tending service...............00+ .130 Total hourly operating COSt ............::sseeeeeeee $.415 The eight gasoline lift trucks which saved enough, as compared with hand trucks, to pay for themselves in 14 weeks accomplished this result be- cause with a low hourly cost they earried a larger unit of cargo at a faster speed. After paying for the investment, the trucks cleared $2300 every 14 weeks, an annual return on the investment of over 270 per cent. Board Sells Waterbury Sale of the S. S. WATERBURY to the Export Steamship Corp. was ap- proved by the shipping board Feb. 12. The price, including repairs which the purchaser agrees to perform on the vessel is $67,656. The vessel is to be completely reconditioned within six months and will be used as a reserve ship for the Export line fleet. The WATERBURY is a_ steel cargo ship of 8727 deadweight tons, equipped with Westinghouse turbines and B. & W. oil burning boilers. GASOLINE LIFT TRUCKS CARRYING LIVE SKIDS, SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES AT NEW ORLEANS 44 MARINE REVIEW—March, 1929