Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-09-25

The State Board of Agriculture of Illinois
offered premium of $1,000 for Steam Plows.
It was expected that three different inventions
wouB he exhibited and tested at the State Fair,
Int only one was on the ground. That was
Favke's Locomotive Steam Plow, from Lancas-
Ter. Pa. which excited great interest among the
prairie farmers, and performed well. The ma
chine and apparatus, with fuel and water, weighs
onlv about seven tons, and by the use of drum
or barrel shaped driver for PrOpeIling the loco
motive, the difficulty of miring in soft soil, and
5 ipping on hard smooth ground, Is overcome
The steam plOw Is easily managed, and is de-
seribed as a cross between locomotive and a
tender. combining the essential elements OF
botb. mounted on two guiding wheels and a
huge roller. The Chicago Press correspondent
thus describes the Steam PlOw performances;
It draws six plows, cutting foot each, attach
eJi = frame. and so regulated by spiral springs
thst they Weld TO any extraordinary obstruction.
As there was no stubblo field near, 1t was con-
cludsd to make trial on the unbrOken Pralrie.-
This was now baked so hard by drought that
the prairie bresking plOws would not run IN 1t,
and the trial of sod PlOws was abandoned IN
CONSEQUENCE Notwithstanding this fact, the
/ inventor was so confident ofsuccess that he gave
the order TO put the plOws to work IN TINS most
! imnervious soil. After little delay in regula-
ting 70 this brick-iike surface, the engine moved
! forward, when six burrows were turned side BY
side. in the most workmanlike manner. The
| excitement of the crowd WIS beyond control,
and their shouts and wild huzzas echoed far over
the prairie, as there beneath the smiling autumn
sun Law the first furrow turned by steam on the
broad prairies of the mighty West.
The goal was won. Steam had conquered
the face of nature, and the steam plOw had be-
come fact; it was working over the rich, roll
ing prairies of Egypt" and turning up Its
wealth of nutritious elements for the growth o.
cereal and pomonal Products-seif-moylng anl
containing power unequaled to turn up the
lower strata of soil, so rich in potash, IN Phos
pilates, in silica aud other essential elements o.
vegetable growth The long line of matches
furrows parted the crowd, and lay between The
MOVING masses like line of silver wOve in the
gray setting of the prairie. Amidst the excite
| meDt the inventor remained calm; 1t was enough
for him to hear the glad shouts Of victory which
rent the air; for this he had toiled; for this hI
hands had become hardened and his face mad
7 swarthy over the glowing iron out of which h'
forged the muscles Of his iron steed Of the prai
mes.
Mr.. Fawkes and others were called out oy IN
crowd, and made brief speeches Mr.. Coleman
member Of the Board, spoke Of the success o
the steam pIow now witnessed as marking
new era in the worlds progress, and declare'
that the great enterprise of Fawkes may b
placed side by side with the steam engise, tn
steamboat, the locomotive, the cotton gin' an
the telegraph After the speaking, the Pres
says:
The engine again moved forward, when tn
plows turned up the loose mud drift OF Egypt
LAYING six furrows side by side with the mos
perfect ease and in the most worsmanlke man
ner. The consumption Of fuel and water wa
yery moderate That the engine is eomplet
success there can be no doubt, and all that /
now wanting is to demonstrate that taking tn
whole expense INTO consideration, 1t IS cheape
than hor-c power. If this is answered IN th
affirmative, il viii produce the greatest revo
luton in agricultural progress that we hav
vet seen, it will take another wrinkle from tn
brow of labor, and give to the toiling milllol
lighter tasks to perform