The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-10-01

tested st Power Hall. where, after lacking up her
rear-end that the main drum turned clear of the
ground, by applying the power direct to the drum
roller, 100 revolutions of it were obtained per
/ minute By passing the belt of q 50-foot line of
shafting over the drum, the engine propelled one
horse tirasher. one corn and cob mill at work at
! the rate OF p bushels per hour. two small iron
wood mouldiag machiues one re-sawing circular
saw of 2 feet diameter, and sInut-machine of
high speed; all simultaneously, and with only 10
| lbs of steam. From experience with circular
saws, we estimate il as capable of running two of
the largest size at time. 1t is perfectly
petent to go into the timber, haul logs where the
ordinary log wagons would be employed, and in
one hour be lacked up and furnish power to
those of large size. :
| Ninth: The fire box being within fourteen inch
es of the ground, the machine would run without,
injury through water twelve inches deep; 1T was
run by US over ground where by hand pressure
| lath was forced downward fifteen inches, and on
examination we were of the impression that the
| actual compactlon Of the surface by the machine
was not more than inch. Horses crossing this
slough sank to their fetlocks, but as with the
CINE the actual surface pressing upon the ground
IS at all tunes SIX square feet the ability to sustain
weight is N uch greater than with the wagon and
team where the weight rests narrow bases
The four wagon wheels present surface width of
seven inches in all, but the engine, with its drum
and guiding wheels, surface of l02 inches The
weight of the engine is ten tuns, that of wagon
load of grain, one and a-half tuns, or something
more than one-sixth much; butthe engine with
drum six feet in diameter and guide wheels
three and a-half feet in diameter, gives much
greater proportional contact with the ground, and
its load is proportionably less liable to miring in
sloughs, - So eaa taFEE ass
Tenth: The difference of power between; run
ming. the engine plank or hard road, and COM
mon prairie, would be great; but, that between
running on ordinary ground and ground SO soft
that the drum would sink four inches. We have no
means Of knowing. 1t Is eyidentj however, from
the explanations in the preceding answer, that
ground in such condition that drum, six feet in
diameter and six feet long, would to that
depth, would be entirely unfit to pillow land could
not be even crossed by horses = - sFa5z ~
Having thus in detail answered the interrogato-
ries propounded to us by the Executive Commit
tee, we desire to make some general remarks with
reference to the practcability of employing steam
| for blowing, and other farm purposes. The ex-
| periments with Fawke's steam blowing engine
have demonstrated to our satisfaction that it is
practicable that in few years, large portion of
| the labor now performed by animal power on the
1 farm will pc superseded by steam, especially in
prairie countries, and on well improved farms,
where but few stones or other distractions exist.
The engine here exhibited is in tended only for
! large operations, being capable If breaking from
1 % to 40 acres per day; but see reason why
! its size may not be reduced very considerably
(say to one-fourth) and still successfully compete
with animal power. skilled engineer, sent to
witness this trial by the largest machinist in
r Ohio has reported favorably to his employer,
Il and contract has already been made by him
: with Mr.. Fawkes to build small engine for his
farm of 800 acres.
i We estimate the cost of blowing by it from the
following very liberal data:
USED PER DIEM.
One tun of coal : - SIS 90
Labor of three men, engineer, fireman. an assis-
/ tant 90
Oil, DC. 90
Ordinary wear and tear - -s- 2 90
Interest 10 pr cent 81 900, (cost of engine) IL
with Sd the most liberal allowance for hauling T
water and coal one mile, for stoppages and turn
ings, the machine should pillow 25 acres per day.
At present'contract prices of $3.50 per acre for
prairie breaking, this would cost $62 so, while
4 by the above estimate it is seen that Fawke S
! plows for Ga = cents per acre.
II Your Committee, IN view of the result of their
experiments, unanimously recommend that the
First Prize of three thousand dollars be award
ed to Joseph W. Fawlxes of Christiana, Lancas
ter Co., Pa, for this Steam Pillow.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
4 ISAAC A. HEDGES, Cincinnati.
P. W. GATES, Chicago.
A. B. LATTA. Cincinnati.
: If this opinion and verdict has weight
3 and we do not see why it should not, we
g have at last got a practical steamer zine
f for blowing, and the size of a mans farm
g need no longer be his excuse for poor cul-
e. tivation, nor need he or his smaller neigh
r Dor farmer be longer dependent upon pro-
curing large force OF men, teams and
: plows, to break his land within an unusu-
ally brief period. The all-powerful agent
f that now waits his Kidding can be made to
e do more or less work, in a given time; and
7 it remains with him to decide how that pow
er shall be applied.