Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-10-31
From the Charleston Courier.


Lebby,s Pumping Machine for Draining and Irri-
eating Rice Lands.
Mess.s. Editors: A short time since. visited DR.. f.
Wtse's Plantation, in the negnborhood of Ashepoo,
and saw the operation of the machine above named,
which he had lately procured and works by steam
power. The result of the experiment was enough 10
attest its eminent usefulness in the draining of in.
land swamps. DR.. Wnses engine is capable of rails
ing 100 pounds of steam. In the experiment, howey-
er, before he only put up twenty pounds. but Under
the operation of that small quantity the way the water
was made 10 run out wasn't Slow 1t has already
been stated in the newspapers and no doubt correctly
that when set in motion by a steam engine of five
horse power, Lehby's machine pump is capable of
raising FIVE or six thousand gallons of water per min
ue Just think of draining two hundred acres of rice
covered with water foot deep "cean dry in "a hours
What a valuable piece of machinery it must be to q
vast body of rich inland swamp, which is now entirely
unproductye and useless except perhaps for pasuIage
The great and most disconraging difficulty with such
lands has been TO get Rice crop we'll set in the Spring
How many, in attempting TO cultivate them, after hav-
ing planted, by heavy dash of rain, while the Rice
in the Grhite sp cut. have been overfowed and
their Rice drowned killed: more than once perhaps in
the same Spring season. Mr.. Lebby's Machine con-
tans remedial answer to this question, for is safe
and certain preventive against any such loss. have
not doubt as It's usefulness shall have be-
come generally known and appreciated, that it will
give him an abundance of hard work t. furnish the
number that will Immediately call into active and pro-
ftabIe culture (either of Rice, Cotton, Provisions
perhaps alD an immense body of low lands, moi
now probably worth dollar &c in market
overt"
1t should be added. that Lebbys Machine can be a:
well applied to flowing rrigatingas to draining; on
the same spot. it can be made with slight change
capable of being effected in short tme) TO pump ii
a well as out. There goodIy number of Panta
lions along the vicinity of seaboard, situated like
those upon the head waters of Chessey Creek.
branch of Ashepoo River, to which the tides regularly
flow but not 10 a height or with power suf1icen
to flow much. Upon such Plantations look again up
on the incaIculabe value of Lebhys pump, in
droughty season. AS soon the flood tide approach
es, the engine and Machinery can be pu, in motion
and in few hours, (prohab!y from the absorption 0
the parched earth it would require time to cove
land with water than to get ii cff,) if not in twenty
doubtless in thirty forty hours, two hundred acre.
of Rice could be flowed 10 the depth desired Let b
bore in mind also, that such localities are Liable
to salts-no inconsiderabIe advantage in view OF thu
seasons have had of late.
i DR. Wse's Engine stands upon four wheels, AM
can be moved easily enough. Alter crop made,
might be hauled up and attached TO a threshng ma
chine, corn mill, cotton gin, mill, as tn
enterprise of its proprietor might prompt 1t is hope
that public attention will be directed specially tn
consideration and importance of Mr. Lebhy's Pump.
ST. RARTHOLOMEWS