Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-10-01
TrIumph OF The steam pIoyr.

luz toldOo DOatu Ol Agriculture OF ILL
nois offered premium Of s., 900 for Steam
Plows. 1t was expected that three differ
inventions would DO exhibited and testod
at the State Fair, but only ono was on the
ground. That was Fawke's Locomotive
Steam plow, from Lancaster, Pa, which
excited great interest among the prairie far
mers and performed well. The machine
and apparatus, with fuel and water weighs
only about seven tons, and by tho use of
drum or barrel shaped driver, for propolIing
the locomotive, the dilliulty Of miring in
soft soil and slipping on bard smooth ground,
is overcome. The steam plow is easily
managed, and is described as a cross be-
tween a locomotive and tender, combining
the essential elements Of both, mounted on
two guiding wheels and a hugo roller
The Chicago Press correspondent thus de-
scrbcs the Steam Plow performances:
1t draws six plows, cutting foot each,
attached in frame, and SO regulated by
spiral springs that they yield to any oxtraor-
dinary obstruction. AS there was no stub
| ble field near, it was concluded to mako trial
OH the unbroken prairie. This was now
baked so hard by drought that tho prairie
breaking plows would not run in it, and the
trial Of sod breaking plows was abandoned
in consequence Notwithstanding this fact
the inventor was so confident of success that
he gavo tho order to put the plows to work
in this most impervious soil. After lit
tie delay in regulating TO this brick ike sur
face, tho engine moved forward when six
burrows were turned sidc by side, in the
most workmanlIke manner. The excite
ment Of tho crowd was beyond control, and
thoir shouts and wild huzzas ochood far over
the prairie, as there beneath the smiling
autumn sun lay tho first furrow turned by
steam on tho broad prairie of the mighty
West.
The goal WAS won. Stoam had conquer
ed the face of nature, and the steam pow
had become fact; it was working over tho
rieh rolling prairies of Egypt" and turn.
ing up its wealth of nutritious clements for
the growth of cereal and pomonal products
--self-moviug and containing power un-
equalled to turn up the lower strata of soil,
so rich in potash, in phosphates, in silica
and other essential elements of vegetable
growth. The long lines of matchloss fur
rows parted the crowd, and lay between the
moving masses like a limo of silvor wovc in
the gray setting of the prairie. Amidst
the excitement the inventor remained calm;
it was enough for him to hear tho glad
shouts of victory which rent the air; for this
he had toiled; for this his hands had be-
come hardened and his face made swarthy
over the glowing iren out Of which he forg-
cd the muscles of his iron steed of the prai.
ries.
! Mr. Fawkes and others were called out
by the crowd, and made briof speeches. Mr..
Coleman, member of the Board, spoke of
the success Of tho steam plow now witness
cd as marking new ora in the worlds pro-
gross and declared that the great enterprise
of Fawkes may be placed side BY side with
the stcam engine, the steam boat, the loco
motive the cotton gin, and the telegraph
After the speaking, the Press says:
Tho engine again moved forward,
when the plows turned up tho loose mud
dryt Of Egypt, laying six furrows side by
sido with the most perfect case and in the
most workmanlikc manner. The consump-
ton Of fuel and water was very moderate.
That tho engine is complete success there
can bc no doubt, and all that is now want
ing is to demonstrate that taking the whole
expense iAto consideration, it is cheaper
than horse power. If this is answered in
the affirmative, it will produce the greatest
revolution in agricultural progress that we
have yet seen, it will tako another wrinkle
from the brow of labor, and give to the
toiling million lighter tasks to perform.