artificially dried grain for shipment, and as the machinery for drying grain has been perfected to such an extent that it is both effective and profitable to the user, the adoption of definite and uniform rules regarding their use is deemed necessary in order to obtain the greatest degree of safety in the arrangement and application of drying plants of this character.

Several kinds of dryers are now on the market, varying in detail, but all involving the use of certain features which may be enumerated as follows:

I. A receptacle containing the grain while drying, and which is traversed by air passages.

2.

A system of steam coils or radiators to heat the air used for drying.

3. A blower or fan to force the air over the steam pipes, thence through the grain.

4. An air trunk or chamber confining the heated air after it leaves the coils and to direct and distribute it through the grain. 5. An exhaust space or conduit receiving the moisture-laden air from the grain and conducting it to the outer air.

6. Spouts or carriers of grain from the elevator to the dryer and from the dryer to the elevating buckets of the elevator.

7. Some form of enclosure containing the apparatus which may be independent of or form part of the apparatus.

8. Some form of power for operating the apparatus which may or may not be independent from the elevator.

HAZARDS.-The several elements of fire hazard attending the use of grain dryers are as follows:

1. The use of blowers, increasing the danger of fire in a greater or less degree, according to the speed at which they are driven.

The form of the air passages and the thickness of the grain layers determine the air pressures necessary to accomplish the desired results. The higher air pressures are accompanied by the higher fan speeds, increasing the probability of hot bearings with their attendant dangers.

Small air passages to the grain may produce high velocity of the hot air at these points, concentrating it in a jet upon any substance in its path and increasing the carbonizing effect.

2. The presence of a forced-air draught, causing the circula

tion and accumulation of dirt and grain dust and increasing the danger of possible dust explosion.

The closed construction of most all dryers renders it difficult to extinguish a fire, and in case of explosion this construction insures the maximum of the destructive force.

The rapid spread of fan-driven fires, particularly in vertical shafts, makes it almost impossible to successfully contend with them.

3. The use of steam coils, usually under pressure of live steam.

The accumulation of dirt and the careless disposition of oily waste in the enclosure containing the coils have been the cause of fires in apparatus of this nature in the past.

4. The drying out and preparation of the surrounding woodwork for the rapid spread of fire, if the apparatus is inside of the building.

The constant movement of the building due to the loading and unloading renders it almost impossible to keep the apparatus tight and in perfect order if placed inside the building.

5. The use of a system of lighting, in the dryer, for the use of the operator.

6. The hazard attending the use of a steam engine or the motive power necessary to operate the apparatus.

DESIRABLE FEATURES.-The following features in the design and construction of grain dryers are desirable and tend to reduce the danger of fire to a minimum:

I. The dryer should be accessible and as open in construction as possible so as to afford access for the attendant and so that all portions may be reached by fire streams.

2. The layers of grain through which the hot air is forced should be as thin as practicable so as to permit the use of air under low pressure, and therefore a comparatively slow speed at the fan.

The area of grain through which the air passes should be as large as possible for the same reason.

Cases are on record where temporary wood parts of a grain dryer have been charred in one day by concentrated air jets of comparatively high velocity, and where the temperatures at the fan were less than 200 degrees Fahrenheit. It would appear

from this that small air passages so arranged that the velocity of air is materially increased would have a tendency to overheat the grain and increase the fire hazard.

3. The dryer should be self-cleaning and free from all parts liable to fill with dust and dirt. Wire netting is more or less objectionable on account of its liability to clog with dust and chaff.

4. The air spaces should communicate freely with the outer air by window and ventilator openings so as to afford vent în case of explosion.

RULES AND REQUIREMENTS.—The hazards incident to the use of grain dryers can not be eliminated or safeguarded to such an extent that their introduction inside the elevator would not cause à material increase in the fire hazard. duction inside the elevator is prohibited.

Their intro

The following rules and requirements for the proper installation of grain dryers outside of elevators are applicable to both portable and stationary dryers.

THE BUILDING.-I. The shaft or enclosure containing the apparatus to be constructed entirely of brick and non-combustible material, and located at least 6 feet away from the elevator. The distance of 6 feet between the elevator and the dryer building is sufficient for the elevating machinery, but a greater distance is advised in all cases where the yard room will permit. Enclosures containing dryers of doubtful safety and not fulfilling the requirements of this standard must also be located at a greater distance from the elevator.

A brick structure detached and without openings to expose the elevator is considered the best method of enclosing apparatus of this kind. The building could be more cheaply constructed of sheet iron on a steel frame work, but this rusts badly from the condensation of moisture given off by the grain, and is not proof against a hot fire. Sheet metal construction would necessitate the removal of the structure to a much greater distance from the elevator.

2.

The roof should be of tile on steel supports, so constructed as to afford vent in case of explosion.

3. The openings in the side walls of the structure above the first floor to open away from the elevator. This is not meant to include the necessary openings for shaft, rope-drive or spouts.

4. The spouts between the elevator and dryer building to be of metal, on metal supports and provided with tight self-closing dampers so arranged as to remain closed except when the grain is passing through them.

5. The windows to be protected by wire netting.

6. The structure not to be lighted artificially except by incandescent electric lights or other approved method.

THE DRYER.-1. All parts of the apparatus to be constructed of metal or non-combustible material, including the garner, supports, spouts, etc. All parts to be smooth, so as to afford no chance for the lodgement of dust and dirt.

2. Elevating machinery for reconveying the grain to the elevator to be located outside the dryer building.

3. When the dryer is constructed to operate independently of the machinery in the elevator the enclosure containing the cables and elevating machinery operating the dryer must be entirely of non-combustible material and must not communicate with either the main building or the dryer building except by spout and cable openings.

4. The spout leading from the dryer to the machinery for reconveying the grain into storage to be provided with a cut-off slide so that the flow of grain from the dryer can be controlled.

5. The dryer to be provided with a spout for draining the grain into the lower or ground floor or with a receiving hopper of sufficient size to contain all the grain in the apparatus.

In case of fire the burning grain may be drawn into the hopper and smothered or into the ground floor where the fire can be more easily extinguished.

6. The blower or fan to be entirely of metal and provided with self-oiling bearings.

7. The blower and steam coils to be located within the walls of the dryer building.

8. The steam supply and power to be so arranged that they can be independently controlled from outside the dryer building. 9. No other heat except steam to be used.

SAFEGUARDS. RECOMMENDED.-Notwithstanding the fact that the grain and foreign matter mixed therewith are the only materials of a combustible nature contained in a structure constructed in accordance with the above regulations, it is be

lieved that a fan-driven fire in this dust and grain would result in considerable damage to the apparatus and possibly to the structure. For this reason the following recommendations for safeguards are appended:

I. An adequate system of automatic steam jets should be provided for extinguishing fire in the apparatus. High degree automatic sprinklers can be arranged so as to automatically fill the apparatus with steam in case of fire.

The steam pipes for sprinklers and all other parts of the apparatus should be so arranged that all condensation can be removed during cold weather and when the dryer is not in use.

2. If the fan is driven by an independent engine a system of fusible links should be so arranged that the fusing of any link would close a shut-off valve on the steam connection supplying the engine. Attachments for automatically stopping the fan when the power is from other sources should be provided if practicable.

3. An automatic fire alarm system should be installed, placing alarms in the engine room and at other points if desirable.

4. A thorough system of automatic sprinklers should be installed when the dryer is used in connection with a sprinklered elevator. When installed outside the elevator and in accordance with the above rules and requirements, grain dryers even of approved construction are considered as adding to the fire hazard of the elevators in connection with which they are used, according to the construction of the dryer building, and the distance which they are removed from the elevator.

STANDARD COTTON WAREHOUSE. Sixteen-inch partition walls, 3-foot parapet and not less than 12 inches in thickness above the roof, and extending 3 feet beyond the front and rear faces of the warehouses; frame front and rear of clapboards, nailed to posts; floors of concrete or planking; roofs of standard, "slow-burning," "mill construction;" capacity should not exceed 600 bales of cotton standing on ends one bale high.

Where extra hazardous processes are carried on in any room where other processes are also carried on, the portion of the room occupied for the extra hazardous processes should be cut off from the remainder of the room by a partition of fireprooi brick or tiles, wrought iron frame work, finished with wire