AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 27

AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT

SALVAGING WOOL ] An interesting piece o£ salvage work i has been undertaken at Rockhampto [ The flood waters of the Fitzroy River ] submerged 940 bales of wool, valued at £25,000, and these lay for nearly a fortnight under 10ft. to 15ft. of water i It was determined to raise the wool, and to avert the risk of spontaneous combustion, which is to be feared when wet wool in its compressed state meets fresh air, it was arranged that the fire brigade should pour water continuously on the wool until it could be j removed to the drying paddocks. Practically every bale had a coating l of upwards of an in'ch of silt, and brands were in many cases obliterated. The bales were stripped and the wool was unpacked and laid out to dry on canvas sheets. The wool when laid out covered 15 acres to a depth of 6in. to Ift. Boys and men were employed continuously turning it over to let in air and sun to dry it and prevent any risk of fire. It is stated that although the wool has lost some of its bloom and attractiveness it is otherwise in perfect condition. When it is dried sufficiently it will be repacked and sent to the scour