Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-10-21
STEAM PLOUGHS.

The State Board of Agriculture of Illinois Of
fered premium Of $4,000 for steam ploughs
Only one was on the ground-that of Fawke's
locomotive steam plough of Lancaster, Pa
and it successfully stood the test at the late
State Fair, as is stated by the New York TIL
1usse. Il is said to be easily managed, and to
equally suit soft soil, and hard smooth ground
Its performances are thus graphically described
by the Chicago Press:
at draws six ploughs, cutting foot each,
attached in a frame, and so regulated by spiral
springs that they yield to any extraordinary OBJ
struction. As there was no stubble field near,
it was concluded to make trial on the unbroken
prairie. This was now baked so hard by drought
that the prairie breaking ploughs would not run
in it, and the trial of the sod ploughs was aban-
doncd III consequence. Notwithstanding this
fact, the inventor was so confident Of success
that he gave the order to put the ploughs to work
in this almost impervious soil. After little de-
lay in regulating to this brick like surface, the
engine moved forward, when six burrows were
turned side by side in the most Workman-like
manner The excitement of the crowd was be-
You'd control, and their shouts and wild huzzas
echoed far over the prairie as there, beneath the
smiling Autumn sun, lay the first furrow turn
ell by steam on the broad prairies 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 nutritious elements for the growth of
the cereal and pomonal products moving,
and containing power unequaled to turn Up the
lower strata of soil, so rich in potash, in phos-
pilates, 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 a line of silver wove in the
gray setting of the prairie. Amid the excite
ment the inventor remained calnn-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 his iron steed Of the prairie
"Mr. Fawkes and others were called out by
the crowd and made brief speeches. Mr.. Cole
man. a member, of the Board, spoke of the Sue
cess of the steam plough now witnessed as mark
ing new era in the worlds progress, and de-
clared that the great enterprise of Fawkes may
be placed side by side with the steam engine
the steamboat, the locomotive, the cotton gin
and the telegraph" After the speaking, The
Press says:
''The engine again moved forward, when the
ploughs turned up the loose mad drift of Egypt,
laying six furrows side by side, with the most
perfect ease and in the most workmanlike man
ner. The consumption of fuel and water was
very moderate. That the engine is a complete
success there can be no doubt, and all that is
now wanting is to demonstrate that, taking the
whole expenses into consideration, it is cheaper
than horse power. If that is answered in the
affirmative, it will produce the greatest revolu-
ton in agricultural progress that we have yet
scent will take another wrinkle from the brow
of labor, and give to the toilng millions lighter
tasks to perform"