American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-07-17
From the Wells6arg HerGid.l
MOVING MATCH.


The Moving Match on Saturday
last, being tho 9TH, came off according
to appointment aud was well att ndedby
the substantial farmers of this and the
neighboring counties who seemed much
interested in the performance ofthe ma
chimes. The number of machines was
less than was anticipated. Only Man
ny's Combined Reaper and Mower, in
charge of r. II. Wilson, of Ohio county,
and Ball 81 Aultmans Mower in charge
OF Howard Merryman,of Brooke. being
in competition. A. Mccormick Reaper
and Mower, came to hand SO late that
tho gentleman in whose charge it was
not having sufficient time to become &C.
quainted with its management, declined
entering the field; and the agents of
ketchum's Mower. also, for some rea-
| sou, declined the competition. Between
the Two first named Machines, the con-
test was quite animated and close
They were first tried in clover field,
the ground uneven, aud the clover short,
tangled and irregular, about as hard a
trial as the Machines could well be sub
Jected TO and the best possible test of
their capacity under difficulties. In
this contest public opinion seemed to
favor the Ball Machine on the ground
that it was of easier draoght and also
that it did its work somewhat cleaner
than its competitor. The contest occu-
pied the forepart oftho day. In the
mean time committee of Judges had
! been appointed and sett ofrules agreed
upon, preparatory to the final trial in
the afternoon. A substantial dinner
was served up by the ho.pitable propri
etor ofthe grounds, Mr.. VIM. l.. Miller,
of which largo number partook, and
after satisfying the wants of inner
man, The crowd proceeded to the fine
timothy meadow, where the ground was
marked off, little over two acres, and
the real contest of speed and quality
commenced. AS the contest proceeded
the excitement increased and towards
the last became quite interesting. Both
| Machines worked admirably, and il was
| impossible almost to detect any differ
ence in the quality Of the work, which,
! although done at the highest rate of
+ speed was as wei! and moothly done as
/ the most accomplished mower cod have
! done with a scythe. When nearly out,
! a nut came off a screw in some part of
The Ball Machine, which deranged it
/ slightly, causing delay of perhaps two
! minutes, which gave the other Machine
/ the advantage and it came out about
that much in advance. The accident
was unavoidable and such as might hap.
| pen to any piece OF Machinery howev.
er we'll coutrived; and had it not oc-
CURED there would scarcely have been
the two, The time occupied in cutting
| q little over an acre was 81 minutes
The trial throughout was highly cred
: table TO both; and so far as we could
| gather the public verdict was that for
Moving exclusively, tho Ball Machine
was the best, but insomuch as the 9th.
or did very nearly as good moving
and was capable Of reaping in addition
at an extra coat of only SIS, it was
! the cheapest and mot economical Ma
| chine. A number Of sales were effect
ed on tho ground. Below we append
the report of the committee Of decision
from the wording of which, it will be
gathered, that they were in somewhat
of quandary, as TO whom to award
the merit of having the Best Machine.
Between the two it was very nearly q
draw game and the report is about as
non committal as could have been well
devised To be just, it could not well
have been otherwise, though the phras-
col ogy might have been less ambigu-
| Gus.
Report IF Com. on Mo0eng MacAines
We, d. Letter, A. Wilson, John Gar
dner. David M'Cready, Robert Pogue.
Committee appointed to judge the
Moving Match, on this day, al the farm
Of VIM. l.. Miller, do make the follow
ing report: That the Manny's Machine,
cut the grass as well, if not better than
Balls Machine, and did its work quick
81; and although we could not see the
difference in the draught, we think the
Ball Machine has the advantage.
Given under my hand, July 18th, '57,
DAVID LEFLER,