Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-10-10

substance, and how long it may be expect
ed to last Let him examine its construc-1
ton, and inspect its liability to get out of
repair, and ascertain his means. in case of
its arrangement or injury, of putting it a
gain into repair; and especially let him
settle the point, how well, at what expense,
in what time, with how much more or
how much less difficulty the same work
could be effected by the usual process, or
by means already in his possession. We
have seen so much waste of money, and
so mach vexation growing ont Of mistakes
in this matter, that we cannot too strongly
urge 1t upon the farmers "to look before
they leap and tc weigh the case most
thoroughly before they involve themselves
in needless expense. LAbor-saving ma
chimes are in some measure like patent
medicines. In reading the advertisements
OF these nostrums and catholicons in the
public papers, what they can do, what they
haze done, the cures already effected and
the threatened lives which they have saw.
ed, one is almost induced to conclude that
sickness may be banished at our pleasure,
and that man need never die. So likewise
IN booking at many of the labor-saving
machines which are offered to the public,
one would be led to infer from what they
profess themselves able to accomplish, that
there would be scarcely any longer occa-
sion for bending the back or soiling the
hands. But while we admit that many of
these machines are of decided and admira.
Bile utility, yet in some other cases, it
costs more time and labor and trouble to
put and keep the machine in operation
THAN it would do to perform the work it.
Sself with our own hands.
Suppose that in this case, BY wav of
illustrating these positions, we relate the
experience ofaA intelligent farmer, friend
OF ours, as we received it from his own
mouth. A threshing-maehine of an i'm
proved construction and of great promise
was offered for his purchase. A horse
tpower and thresher composed the ma
chimes He saw it operated, and it work
cd to admiration. The other farmers,
iwho witnessed its operation, were loud in
its praises; and promised in case he would
purchase the machine and the right of use
:, for the town and vicinity. they wouldshire
1t for their work, and thus alleviate the
expense. 1t was warranted to thresh one
hundred bushels of wheat and one hun.
dred and fifty of oats per day; and in the
cleanness with which it performed the
work to make saving of nearly one
bushel in ten over the ordinary mode oil
using the fail. With these bright and
! flattering visions floating before his mind
he was induced to purchase the machine
and the right of using it in his own town
and several towns in the county. Now
!, mark the result. The machine was heavy
and difficult of transportation. 1t requir
; ed ordinarily FIVE persons and horse t.
: operate and tend it 10 advantage 1t was
: difficult to find horse that would 90 ir
it; and 1t was certain to injure his gait o.
: his temper. Then it was constantly get
: ting out Of order; the band would slip off
: the chain would break THE teeth woulc
be bent or forced out of their places. Ac
I cidents, as they were called, would hap
> pen continually, and the men employed
; would feel pleasure in such delays ant
misfortunes, and frequently through theil
: own willing or designed mismanagemen
. or carelessness produce them, first, be
: cause there is among the ignorant an al
! most universal and inhexibIe prejudice a
gainst all Improvements, and second, oe
) cause such delays favored their Incidence
> Then again. in the best cases. it AWAY.
Z came out that not more than half was done
that was usual y promised to be DONE
/ the specimen of an hours work was founc
g TO be no rule for the dav. Then wha
/ was the warranty worth Of wandering
: vender, who, like Yankee pedlar. wa!
; born at sea, and had neither fixed resi-
4 dence. nor character, nor responsibility
/ 10 complete his modification, not farm
$ er in the vicinity, earnest as they were il
IS recommending its purchase, would use
y after it was purchased, unless they coulc
n have the use of it without charge; & thel
a they would show their gratitude for tn,
1 kindness of the loan by abusing the ma
chine and sneering at the folly of the pur
} chaser. To complete the whole series o
s. vexations comes the agreeable discovery O
IS the invention of some new machine, whicI
r is sure to supegsede it, because it will d.
le much more work in the same time, and a
s. half the expense
& Now this is faithful picture of VIVA
10 wedo not say always, but what often hap
H. Epens-a picture drawn from real life, an
IS fact; and which we have been at pains t
a. delneate for the special benefit of WHOM
Il. 1t may concern. We are far from passin
10 any sweeping condemnation upon all Ia
q oor-saving machinery. We know ths
90 great improvements are yet to be mad
nj s. many are TO be desired Webelieve th,
lg agriculture is as likely to be benefited b
ne the invention of labor saving machiner