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Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

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THE ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT 503stories, except that portion occupied by the staircase andelevator, is devoted to the storage of old books. The spaceis filled with book-stacks, the shelves of which are constructedof iron piping, and divided into <strong>com</strong>partments. There aretwelve rows of shelving, one above the other, and altogetherthis part of the building contains 2,200 <strong>com</strong>partments, whichare assigned to the branches in proportion to the probablecontribution of each to the records. To reach the upperrows of shelves, two steel floors have been installed, which<strong>com</strong>plete the five stories in the building, and give easy accessto any part of the metal book-stacks. The iron piping ofwhich the shelving is constructed is at once light and strong.This form of construction prevents the accumulation of duston the shelves and permits the free circulation of air, withoutwhich the books would soon be<strong>com</strong>e musty. Any dust thataccumulates on the books is removed periodically by a powerfulvacuum cleaner. These precautions keep the air of thevault fresh and wholesome, an important consideration forthose who are constantly working in the building. Thevarious floors are connected by an elevator, so that the liftingof boxes or books is reduced to a minimum.In preparation for the process of destruction the vouchersare rapidly but carefully examined, and all pins, brass fastenersand rubber bands are removed. The covers of books havealso to be taken off, and then books and vouchers are throwninto large boxes. When a sufficient quantity is ready, theboxes are taken into the cutting room, in which is installed a"Williams Shredder" operated by a forty horse-power electricmotor, working at 1400 revolutions a minute. The cuttingpart of the shredding machine consists of a series of movablesteel hammer-like knives, pivoted loosely and arranged spirallyon a revolving shaft, and working against a long knife in thebase of the machine. To prevent the paper from cloggingthe machine, there is an exhaust fan at the end of the shaft,which draws the cut paper through the machine and deliversitthrough a pipe to a "cyclone receiver" in an adjoining room.

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