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drying of rubber electrically is claimed to be both practical and eco-
nomical, 40 kilowatts being sufficient to dry 3,000 pounds of rubber
per day to an extent which reduces the total drying time from 18 to
LO days.
As the public-utility companies extend their transmission lines
rubber estates will probably turn more and more to the use of elec-
tric power. The prospect of such extensions, however, may have the
affect of reducing the tendency to install private generating equip-
ment except on sites where water power is convenient.
TEA INDUSTRY
Although one of the largest power companies operating in Java,
G. E. B. E. O,, is generating current in the Preanger district, which
is the center of the tea industry, the majority of the tea estates are
generating their own power. This is chiefly due to the fact that at
present hydroelectric and Diesel installations on the estates are pro-
ducing current cheaper than it could be bought from the G. E. B. E. O.
The location of the tea estates, which are in the mountainous districts
of west Java, enables them to utilize the many waterfalls in the
Preanger district and generate their own hydroelectric power. Some
estates have no water power available, and are using Diesel motors
to generate current for lighting and power purposes. The majority
of the estates have plants with a capacity of from 150 to 200 kilovolt-
amperes,
Electric current is used chiefly by the tea industry to operate the
various machines such as tea rollers, ball breakers, driers, and
sifters, connected with the preparation of tea in the factories. For-
merly the majority of the machines were operated by one large motor
which was connected to a shaft running the length of the factory.
During the last few years, however, there has been a tendency to use
individual motors for each machine. In some of the larger tea fac-
tories between 30 and 40 small motors, from 2 to 25 horsepower
capacity, are operating the machines.
The majority of tea factories are equipped with from 10 to 15 fans
of from 4 to 6 feet in diameter, of which about 50 per cent are elec-
trically driven. The “wilting” rooms of the tea factories are usually
equipped with from 6 to 8 of these fans for ventilating purposes,
and the remainder are put in the sorting rooms, where the native
workers use them for blowing away the tea dust. These fans or
blowers are as a rule direct coupled and are operated by motors of
from 2 to 15 horsepower.
Two tea factories have recently installed locally manufactured
electrical equipment for drying the tea. Although the results have
been favorable, the practice is not considered economically sound,
since the use of oil or wood burners for this process is cheaper.
Electric current is also employed for lighting purposes on the tea
estates. It is now the policy of the estates to equip the native
workers’ quarters with electric lights in order to make them more
satisfied with their surroundings.
There is room for considerable extension of the use of electricity in
the tea industry, but it is retarded at the present time by low prices
for tea, which have the effect of reducing the number of new estates
opened up, as well as cutting down expenditures for new equipment.