Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-09-04
Mower an dReaper. and Croskilps Bell

started beautifully and down came the oats
IN showers The machine not being well
balanced. cut crooked rows, and the dis
charge board forming an inclined nlsin
made the delivery Difficult. and less regular
than binders would like. The machincrv
worked heavily, and the two large Norma n.
dy horses did their utmost to cut the alIot.
ted piece OF 10 90 acres in twenty minutes
The work compared with its competitors
was declared superior, and Manney would
have carried the day, as to time, il the old
racer of the New World had not been in
the field.
lncredulous farmers began to be con.
vinced that the Americans understood
something about taking off a crop in short
order; yet they wanted still more regular
cut clear field, less loss of grain, and
nicer fixed sheaves. They criticised Man.
ney.s reel descrvingly, beating the grain too
hard, and causing considerable loss
The third machine was Bells of English
construction [Croskilll 1t was exactly
like the other one made in France, and wa.
looked upon with some misgivines. A stout
! pair Of French horses, equal to Iiyerpools
best Brewer heata, started the machine with
all their power, and drove the Formidable
engine into the slender oats, like an ancient
war car, into the ranks of the enemy II
only made one round, when sometime oave
way, and there stopped the trial of the sec.
ond Bells machine
| This was the first time that we ever saw
Bells REAPER in operation Ii has two
principal objections in the first place, the
horses are placed behind the machine, re-
curing an extra man 10 guide the unwieldly
contrivance Cat one time three men were
engaged steering the machine) and afford
ing the horses less chance for their exertion
OF power; secondly. the use Of a high clumsy
endless apron for side delivery, liable To
continual arrangement, especially in we,
weather or dew. II needs too much peerinp
to move the asron, making the machine
complicated and heavy. 1t has been dem
onstratcd to the satisfaction of all, that
Bells Reaper works badly.
The English present were sati fed that
it could not compete with Brother Jonathan
and its great advocates gave it up.
There were yet in the field, two machines
of great repute; that sf Hussey and MeCor-
mick One of Mr.. Cnrmiek's Mover and
Reaners had already operated in the neigh
barhood, ana It's perfect work IN clover III.
zern, sanfain, meadow grass, oats and rye.
was known among the farmers, and much
talked Of, hut many had not seen lis work,
and therefore a great deal was expected
oft
Hussey'3 compact Reaper stood along
side. with number Of men ready To clear
the track, hay NJ n1 apparatus for side de-
livery. At last the drum gave the signal,
and both started
Hu-sey went on, md tie raiherers had
to jump and run 10 keep pace with the lee
horses Mccormick gained an incl upon
Hussev every second and when tn y were
half down the field, Mccormi k ell, and
in feM minutes, it outran and outwurk ed
Iiusscy and all.
glg-sec had p acres 70 cut, for which it
required 25 minutes VI Carmick's lot
measures - 81, nearly 20 acres, which i
cut in Is minutes AMI 3 by the watch.
The old racer made more than an acre IN
minute But that is not the least Of its
merits II did more, 1t worked very easy,
and cut rs close and regalnr as could be d.
sired: there vas not straw TO be seen on
the whole track over which il went; The
sheavcs were all beautifully ranged in line
with their butt end nicely together, rs uire
w as il done by hand with care. II cut so
perfectly straight that il took the last row at
one cut, and made clean sweep, not leay-
ing single straw to tell the tale.
When i, came round the last time, and
had done It's work, three cheers were given
hy the crowds at both ends of the field, md
every one of the spectators congratulated
NJ Mccormick able agent, Mr.. NJ eKenzic,
on hiS undoubted success.
Whilst all tina. was going on, HuSsey
worked up and dawn with legion OF buy
CATERERS following the Reaper at quick
step, having large quantity yet to cut
The poor horses although Young and power
full driven al great speed, were complete
ly exhausted. This machine works heavily,
il requires too much power to drive us pom
derous knife. Having no side delivery,
number of men must Immediately remove
the grain in order 70 clear the track for the
next cut; the men not having time to make
neat work, have the first s.rewcd with grain,
In countries where manual labor is scarce,
which is the case everywhere during hir-
yesting, this machine could not be employed
a, all. except with great loss OF grain, tram
pied out by the horse5.
MCCORMICK WON THE LAuRELs IN CUTTING
GRAIN.
tn, Great Worlds Fair in London, who got
the Council medai in spite of all opp sitlon;
nut on his circulars and hand bills, Mower
and Reaper. This caused another new
challenge. His two country men, Nancy
and Wright, called him into Il field OF lu-
zern of doubtful character; the luzern be-
ing exceedingly young and thin, and rather
difficult to be cut,--but Mccormick nobiy
accepted the challenge. Manney, the prln-
cipal challenger, seemed TO be sure OF sue
cess: his Mower looked rs if i, would do The
thing beyond doubt.
The drum gave the first signal, gems
darmes cheval gal!oppei up and down 20
drive the excited spectators into line, Inc
soldiers levoled their muskets and pushed
the curious intruders beyond the field. Ihe
Jurors collected together and down came
the drum stick, off went Manney and Nc,
Cormick One cut up and back, SATISFIED
the Jurors that Mccormick cut this drhcate
forage better in every respect than the cha'-
iengers.
Wright came up little later; he worked
the machine without an autonaton, ana CUT