Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-10-21
THE STEAM PLOUGH.

A brief paragraph, transferred to our col
umns day or two ago, alluded to the sue.
cess of steam plough, the invention Of Mr..
Fawkes of Lancaster (Pa.), at the late State
Fair in Illinois.
This plough is described as a cross be-
tween a locomotive and tender. 1t is
mounted on two guiding wheels and huge
propelling wheel in the shape of drum,
which overcomes the difficulties of miring on
soft soil, and and slipping on hard smooth
ground. 1t is said to be easily managed,
and to require but modente amount of
fuel. 1t draws six plouehs, so regulated
by spiral springs as to yield to any extraor.
dinary obstruction. The machine was tried
on the most difficult soil, the unbroken prairie
and its performance is thus described in
the Chicago Tribune:
"The prairie was baked so hard by drouth
that the prairie breaking ploughs would not
run in it, and the trial Of sod ploughs was
abandoned in consequence. Notwithstand.
ing this fact, the inventor was 80 confident
Of success that he gave order to put the
ploughs to work in this almost impervious
soil. After little delay in regulating to
this brick.like surface, the engine moved
forward, when six furrows were turned side
by side in the most workman like manner
The excitement of the crowd was beyond
control, and their shouts and wild huzzus
echoed far over the prairie, as there, beneath
the smiling autumn sun, lay the first furrow
turned by steam on the broad parties of the
mighty West. The goal was won. Steam
had conquered the face of Nature, and the
steam plough had become fact; it was
working over the rich rolling prairies OF
Egypt and turning up its wealth of nutri
tious elements, for the growth of the cereal
and pomonal products-self.moving, and
containing power uuequalled to turn W
the lower strata Of soil, so rich in potash, in
phosphates, in SILICA, and other essential
elements of vegetable growth. The long
line Of matchless burrows parted the crowd,
and lay between the moving masses like
line of silver wove iu the gray setting of
the prairie. Amid the excitement the in.
ventor remained calm it was enough for
him to hear the glad shouts of victory which
rent the air. For this he had toiled; for
this his hands had become hardened and his
face made swarthy over the glowing iron out
of which he forged the muscles of the iron
steed of the prairies.
"Mr. Fawkes and others were called out
by the crowd, and made brief speeches. Mr..
Coleman, a member OF the Board, spoke OF
the success of the steam plough now witness.
ed as marking new era in the worlds pro
gress, and declared that the great enterprise
of Fawkes may be placed side by side with
the steam engine, the steamboat, the locomo
tive, the cotton gin, and the telegraph. AZ
ter the speaking, the engine again moved for
ward, when the ploughs turned up the loose
mud drift of Egypt, laying six furrows side
by side with the most perfect case and in
most workman.like manner. The consump.
tion of fuel and water was very moderate
That the engine is complete success there
can be no doubt, and all that is now wanting
is to demonstrate that, taking the whole ex.
pense into consideration, it is cheaper than
horse power If this is answered in the af-
firmative, it will produce the greatest revolu.
tion in agricultural progress that we have
yet seen it will take another wrinkle from
the brow Of labor, and give to the toilipg
millions lighter tasks to perform"