The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-02

re>ponieaee CT the Chicago Pres. .as rreuas.

DEcArrR, ILL.,, Nov. 10, 1858.
The weather to-day has been of the most
untavorable character for the trial OF the
"Steam Piow." Raining and showing at
turns, it kept up a continuous drizzle. wet,
ting the spectators and making the ground
50 slippery that il was difficult 10 move the
steam plow over the ground 10 say nothing
abou. blowing. The plows expected were
from Dayton, Ohio said to weigh seventeen
TONS one from Toy, New York one
from Delaware, and one from Pennsylvania;
but with tho exception Of the latter. they
failed 10 come to come 20 time. The one at
Dayton was reported failure not being
capable Of moving itself on paved streets
The one at Troy was not ready, and Of the
other we could not obtain even flying re
port.
"rAwgE's STEAM FLOW"
Being the one exhibited at Centrala. was
on the ground, and ut o'clock. A, NJ.
was fired up. The ground first selected
was near the depot; 1t had been corn
field, but the demand for paper city lots was
too great to allow OF its being put to use
iul purposes, and it WAS Autographed aud
turned out TO the commons, and Is now very
well sc, with white clover, blue and herds
grass, which Is close grazed, presenting an
uneven surface Of corn hills, but otherwise
in IN excellent condition for breaking up
with the usual teams, but the constant rain
had made the ground too soft and slippery
for the heavy engine to readily pass over il,
its motion, therefore, being slow, showing TO
disadvantage. The surface is somewhat
rolling aud ut the south end presented a
rather sharp grade, yet the engine drew six
pows, cutting foot each, through the sod,
while at the same time they would not
scour, no, being adapted To this soil, having
been made 10 Boston shop. more for the
purpose OF selling than OF breaking up an
Illinois pasture. In justice 10 these plows,
they had given good satlshcision ut Cen.
tralia on the iime and DIN OF that section,
but nothing short Of our own steel clippers
will answer the arg,fo caIcareoS SOIL of
Central Illinois
Had set OF Mr.. Decrcss' Moline steam
plows been attached, we cannot doubt but
this blowing would have been done with
perfect ease and to the entire satisfaction Of
ALL In addition TO this no cutters were pro.
vidcd, Sh.ch -ss!eod n .+sa difficulty, Ne
farmer would have put his plow in this sod
without good wheel cutter AMI we were
surprised at the oversight, But Mr.
FaWkes was not acquainted with the several
varieties Of our Illinois lands aud very ma
turalIy concluded that the prairie at Contra
Iia was a fair sample of The whole. he too
late discovered has error, very much TO his
regret.
The iarrows powed were one fourth Of u
mile in length. three bouts making an acre.
The bouts were done IN ten aud a hall min
utes each, but the constant slipping Of the
large drum on The We, snd. materially less.
cucd biz speed, added TO which the wood
was soaked with water. and j, ws with
some difficulty steam could be kept up.
With dry bottom, suitable plows and good
fuel, two acres per hour may not be coDsid-
cred nm ov,r estimate al fair average work
IN prairie breaking, with eighty pounds Of
steam, but with these plows which dragged
BIKE 80 many anchors, one hundred pounds
we're used
Ia the afternoon bis plowshIp was driven
10 u stubble field, nearly II mile distant.
This was very soft from the long rainy spell
Of the pat three weeks, aud besides was
blessed with heavy growth Of tickle or
fazl grass and other autumn weeds. which
the plowmen hold in such dc'ctti,i0n.
These were now wet with the melting snow
aud ready TO wind up and clog The plows.
The engine proved its ability 10 travel over
this field, by going nearly hall a mile md
returning. AZ this time the snow had
changed to dreaded rain, and the spccta
tors broke for shelter, and thus ended thr
days trial.