The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-03-07
From the CileinnsE Gazette.
The great Corn and Cob Mil Contest THE
$3.50 Silver Service awarded to the Little
Alan,

The committee appointed TO preside ai
this contest, convened al the Spencer House
on Friday morning, when it was found that
but four OF the originally appointed commit,
tee were present, namely: Gov. Wright ana
Hon. II. l.. Ellsworth, of Indiana VIM
Duane Wilson, Of the Iowa Farmer, and
| Col. 5. Harris, Of the Ohio Cultivator.-
| They were met by four contestants for the
I prize; and Capt Orion Smith, Of Galena
/ was added 10 the committee; and by agree.
meni among the parties. Mr.. Moore. of Ken
lucky, and Mr.. Barwise, of Missouri. were
| added to complete the quorum of seven.
The preliminary agreements and order oil
arrangements being completed and signed
by the contestants, the committee adjourned
to meet upon the Public Landing at g
O'Clock; and soon after 8 o'clock commenced
one OF the most bUsiness-like contests that
has ever taken place in this city, upon any
like occasion. The committee a.owinp 10
the competitors that their duty to the coun-
try required that nothing short o. the most
scru,inizng tests should suffice.
The con,es, commenced between the
Excelsior Mill and the Little Giant, for the
silver cup offered by Charles Leavit,, ESQ,
10 the Little Giant or any other mill, that
should grind finer and faster than the Ey-
celsior mill OF the same size
Each party had corn selected for the &C.
casion, and urged that the parcels to be
ground should be taken from their own
heap, bu, the committee prompt ruled
that one bushel Of 10 I6s should be taken
from each lot and ground separately upon
each mill.
The Excelsior mill then led off and the
committee carefully noted the revolut ions
OF the mill, as well as the scale OF the diam
ter testing the power The quality Of the
meal was then tested by the seiye.
The Little Giant Of the same size was
then required TO grind it's two parcels of
corn under precisely the same circumstan-
ces, and by :h- time il was completed and
all the tests made, il was near night, and the
committee adjourned the contest until 6
o'clock Saturday morning.
In consequence OF the rain. il was then
adjourned TO the Black Bear Stables. on
Ninth ST., and was resumed ct II O'Clock.
Each OF the four contestants were found /
10 be ready, each having provided corn for |
themselves. The committee ruled, how
ever, that one bushel OF 10 Ms. each should |
be taken from the pile of each party, and
one bushel Of each ground upon each mill.
Thus lot OF four bushels was assigned TO /
each, and the contest now fairly opened for
he $3.50 silver service offered by Messrs
Scott & Hodges to the mill that should ex-
Eel the Little Giant
At this moment three Of the competitors
protested against competing with the i'm
proved Little Giant, contending that the
Little Giant improved was not the Little
iisnt The committee, however, utter
Questioning the parties, and a moments de.
Iteration, ruled that they must compete
with the improved Little Giant or the
round, or nothing
The Little Giant, No. 4, OF "a inch diam.
ter, was then put to work with two horses,
md atihis moment commenced probably
title the taliest grinding, taking quality
nd quantity into consideration, ever WIN.
essed in this country by atwo-horse mill.
The committee was exceedingly yigilant,
s on Friday, in noticing the revolutions and
over required as each mill went through
ne contest.
The committee required that two selves
hould be used on this occasion in testing
ne relative degrees Of fineness of each par
ell ground By the various contestant, and,
hen through, each mill was taken apart
nd lis merits explained and argued by each
al length, before the committee !
'hus terminated, about dusk, quietly, this
ruly spirited contest, and the committee ad-
burned to their room at the Spencer House,
nd after due delbe.ation awarded the silver ,,
eryice TO the Little Giant as the best mill {
pom the ground.
Mch. 7-dwlt.