king strain of 27-1/2 tons. The power absorbed by a
ropeway is relatively moderate, and under special conditions may be nil.
The only demand it makes on the superficial area of the ground traversed
is the small emplacements of the standards, which in modern ropeways are
few and far between. Wayleaves, or the permission to erect standards and
run the line over private land, may of course mean an item in the
capital outlay. This circumstance may have checked ropeway construction
in Great Britain, but it must also be borne in mind that a large portion
of that country is comparatively level and well provided with railways.
In building a ropeway it is essential to take as straight a line as
possible, because curves generally necessitate angle stations, which
mean extra capital and working cost. On the other hand, ground that
would be difficult for the railway engineer, such as steep hills, deep
valleys and turbulent streams, has no terror for the ropeway erector.
There is a case of a ropeway of a total length of 5400 ft. with a total
difference in altitude of 2000 ft.; it is claimed this ground could not
be covered by a railway with less than 15 m. of line graded at 1 in 40.

Perhaps the simplest type of a single rope system is an endless
running rope from which the carriers are suspended, and with which
they move by frictional contact. Or the carriers may be fixed to this
rope and move with it. The ropeway itself would consist of an endless
rope running between two drums, one, known as the driving drum, being
provided with power receiving and transmitting gear, while the drum at
the opposite terminal would be fitted with tightening gear. The
endless rope is carried on suitable pulleys which themselves are
supported on standards or trestles spaced at intervals varying with
the nature of the ground. The rope runs at an average speed of 4 m.
per hour, a speed at which the bucket or skip can automatically unload
itself. In the double ropeway the carrier runs on a fixed rope, which
takes the place of the rails of a railway. The carrier is fitted with
running heads furnished with grooved steel wheels. The load is borne
by a hanger pivoted from the carrier, and is conveyed along the rail
rope by an endless hauling rope at an average speed of 4 to 6 m. per
hour. The hauling is operated by driving gear at one end, and
controlled by tightening gear at the other end just as in the single
rope syste