Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-10-20
Triumph Of the Steam plow.

The State board OF Agriculture Of Iii
nois offered premium OF 81, 900 for steam
plows, It was expected that three differ
ent inventions would be exhibited aud tes.
ted at the State fair, but only one was on
the ground. That was Fswkes's locomo,
tive steam plow, Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
which excited great interest among the
prairie farmers and performed well. The
machine and apparatus, with fuel and
water, weighs only about seven tons, and
by the use Of drum or barrel shaped dri-
yer, fol propelling the locomotive, the
difficulty Of miring in soft soil, and slip
ping on had smooth ground, is overcome.
The steam plow is easily managed, and
is described as a cross between a locomo
tive and a tender combining the essential
elements of botf, m, unted on two guiding
wheels and a huge roller. The Chicago
Press correspondent thus describes the
steam plow performances:
ut draws six plows, cutting foot, each
attached ib a frame, and so regulated by
spiral springs that they yield to any ex-
traordirary obstruction. As there was no
stubble field near, it was concluded to
make trial on the unbrokeu prairie. This
was now baked so hard by drought that
the prairie breaking pIows would not run
in it, and the trial Of sod plows was aban.
doned in consequence. Notwithstanding
this fact, the inventor was so confident
Of success that lie gave the order to put
the piows to wsrk in this almost impervi.
GUS soil, After little delay in regula-.
ting 70 this brick. like surface, the engine
moved forward, when six furows were
turned side by side in the most workman
like manner. The excitement Of the crowd
was beyond control, and their shouts and
wild huzzas echoed far over the prairie, as
there, beneath the smiling autumn sun,
lay the first furrow turned BY steam on the
broad prairies Of the mighty West. o I.r
"The goal was won. Steam had con.
quered the face Of nature, and the steam
plow had become fact; it was working
over the rich, rolling prairies of Egypt,
and turning up its wealth of nutritious
elements for the growth of The cereal and
pomonel products-selfmovihg, and con-
taiuinga power unequalled to turn up tue
lower stratatof soil, so rich in potash, in
phosphates, in silica and other essential
elements Of vegetable growth. The long
line Of matchless furrows parted the crowd
and lay between the moving masses like
line of silver wove in the gray setting
Of the prairie. Amid the excitement, the
inventor remained calm; It was enough
for him to hear The glad shouts of victory
whiehRrent the sir; for this heshads dstoiled;
for this bis hands had become hardened
and his face made swarthy over the glow
ing iron out OF which he forged the mus.
cles Of bis iron steed Of The prairies. bdH
!, "Mr. Fawkes and Others were called out
oy the crowd, and made brief speeches.
Mr.. Coleman, a member of tie board,
spoke Of the success of the steam plow now
witnessed, as marking an era in The worlds
progress, and declared that the great en-
Ierprise of Fawkes may be placed side by |
side with the steam engine the steamboat
Ehe locomotive, the cotton gin, and the
telegraph, After speaking, the Press
'ayt: ? i# 0ah = 3p''Tsa' peog a's
1.-THE engine again moved forward, /
when the plOys turned up the loose mud
drift of Egypt, laying six furrows side by |
'ide, with the most perfect ease and in the
nostworkmsnllke manner The consump.
ion Of fuel and water was very moderate.
That the engineis complete success there
can be no doubt, and all that is now want
ing is to demonstrate that, taking the
whole expenses into consideration, it Is
cheaper than horse power If this is an
Swered in the affirmative, i will produce
he greatest revolution in agricultural. pro;
yrsss that we have yet seen; It will take
luother wrinkle from the brow Of labor, and
ylvc TO the toiliug million lighteraasks to
,erform." t- -