St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-09-29

The third machine is Van Dovcn &
Glovcr's rotary steam plow, of Chi
cago, much cheaper and less preten-
tious machine, which cuts up the land
by series Of revolving knives. This
machine was in operation on small
scale, and from the manner of its
working, VIC do not hesitate to saw
that for any of the purposes for which
plow is required it will be Of little
practical use, except for ditching
The great desidcratum to be aimed
at by inventors who would benefit the
cause of agriculture is to furnish a
cheap and practical substitute for ami
NAL power. The expense of these
machines, allowing that they will per-
form all that is claimed for them places
them beyond the reach of the majority
Of farmers, and hence only in the
hands of heavy capitalists will they
prove of practical benefit 1t was
suggested that one steam plow, of
either Fawkcs' or Waters patent,
would be sufficient for county, and
we are inclined to think it would, in
asmuch as they can plow from seven
ty-tive to hundred acres per day.
Waters plow seemed to be the most
favored 10y the people. 1t is a ponder
GUS looking machine, with its wheels
ten or twelve feet in diameter but as
they are made of boiler iron, and are
not solid, their weight is much less
than would at first be supposed.
Since writing the above | have had
a conversation with Mr.. Waters, who
informs me that his principle can be
applied to plows Of any number, from
one to fifteen or more, and that the
cost will be i'll proportion to the ca
pacity Of the plows. He assured me
that he was ready to receive and fill
orders for plows costing from one hun
drCd to several thousand dollars, lust
as customers may want, and that the
expense Of working a machine, say of
four plows, would not be more than
the cost Of working a team of four
horses, while the amount of work
done would far exceed that performed
by the horses.
Waters was formerly of Milwau-
kcc, being connected with the locomo-
tive works on the Mcnom0nee River.
His steam plow only weighs seven
tons, while Fawkcs' weighs ten tons
the former can carry a gang of thirteen
plows, turning Il furrow from two to
twelve inches deep the latter has on
y Six plows, and does not cut so deep
but rams faster. The success of these
piows is of incalculabIc Importance to
the welfare and prosperity of the West.
The number and variety Of agricul-
tural implements and machines on the
ground is astonishing. The large
open area at the west end of the
grounds is literally covered with har-
vcstcrs, rcapcrs, mowers, thrcshcrs,
cleaners, harrows, straw cutters,
plows-in short, every kind and pat
tern Of machine for the use Of farmers,
which the ingenuity of man can de-
wise, from a steam Touring mill in full
operation down to an old-fashioned
spinningwheel, whcreon our old fash
ioncd grandmothers began the pro-
cess of manufacturing garments for
the family. The greatest display, nu-
mcrically, is made in rcapers, of which
there are over thirty different varieties.
The military parade and drill for
the stand of colors took place late in
the afternoon. The following compa-
nies competed for premiums The
Light Guard, Highland Guard, Emmet
Guard, Shields Guard, and Zouayc
Cadets. The latter took the prize.
a number of persons have met with
small losses on account Of the light |
fingered gentry who hang about the
Fair ground seeking whom they may
rob. w. G. Cannon, of Westville,
missed his pocket book evening be-
fore last In it were bank bills and
promissory notes to the amount of
some 5000, but only about forty dol
lars Of the latter. Captain Layiield,
connected with the |. c. Il. Il. lost S25.
\ lady had her pocket picked while i'll
the Floral Hall, but fortunately it on
ly contained 81 Less fortunate was
a gentleman, who was relieved of two
$50 bank notes, while coming to the
city in one of the crowded cars of the
horse railroad Tuesday evening.
\ number of arrests were made on
the grounds and about the gateways
yesterday, among which were john
Hayes for gambling with a five cent
piece on a stick 5. lIoyt, +. \. Dan
icls and Frank Brown for a mounte-
bank exhibition of some kind, and X.
Bolan for showing five legged calf
and white niGger at ten cents a
sight.
Another fellow was caught who
had dug hole under the fence, and
was putting small boys through at
five cents head.
Chicago was splendidly, but sadly,
illuminated last night. 4 great fire