The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-10-03
A New steam Plow'


A New steam Plow'
We were observers Of the movements in tho
streets of Ct. Louis, on Saturday last, OF
piees Of machinery Just from the workshop
which may prove to bs an important rival !"
BAvxns's steam plow. Aswerods on 1t andsaw
its working, backward or forward, In the streets
about the Planters House, we will attempt
description Of tho machine. II seems singular
that all che inventors Of the steam plows are
from Pennsylvania. ROBERT L. srSESs, who
=, now about to be made famous, Is from Beaver
County, Pennsylvania; his fatherwas wagon
maker and q soldier In the war Of 1912. About
three years ago, Mr.. SrAESs came West, since
which he has been engaged in mlll-work and
stationary machinery. While repairing the mill
ofGroRoE G. RoBARDs, now his financial part
ner, In Hannibal, Mo-, In July last, MIR.
srHENs communicated to bis employer his de-
sign to embody his ideas Of steam plow In
practical model, and the result Is the present
machine, even yet not entirely completed
which he could not finish In time for the
Chicago Fair, which he, after commencing his
work, learned had large premium to award
to the most meritOrious machine. He came to
". Louis with his patterns and the work was
done for him by CupDY, CARPENTER 4 Go.
The appearance Of the oddity at the first saao
js, that q locomotive boiler has been placed on
frame which proves to be seventeen feet four
inches long and hx feet wide, on pair OF
timber wheels. -. -. ..,. -.
The two forward wheels ure for guiding the
engine In drawing light twelve.inch plowP'
turning each fourteen-inch sod, attached by
chains under the axle Of the two large driv-
ina-wheels in the rear. few inches below
a six.inch tire on The spokes Of these driving
wheels of eight feet diameter, are bolted seq
,nsnts of spur. gearing, which, by cog-wheels,
receive the power, nine to one, of two small
engines, four-horse power each, whose cylin-
iers, FIVE inches diameter, and n-inch
stroke, are attached to an upright boiler
iorty-hve inches diameter, and eight feet five
nches high, surmounted by smoke-stacl
sixteen inchss in the throat, having a spark
consumer inside, which is an inverted hoot
Of iren, against which sparks rise and ial
again into the flames, and are thorough
iyburned up. The top of .the. stack is four
teen feet from the ground. A4wood-box for
ward holds half cord Of fuel, and a tank, u
boiler plate, holds 2aO gallons of water. Ver.
little fuel is needed, and only two person
may necessarily be employed in using tn
engine. In front Of the boiler ia a pilot
wheel three and halffeet diameter, or steer
ing apparatus, which directs the movemen
by lever purchase on the forward wheels, an,
a chain has such power 10 control tho wheel
as to turn the whole affair in its own circle
swivel style, on its axle. Both engines ca
give power 10 one wheel, OF forward on OH
and backward on the other. To run owe
roads the six-inch tire Ia used for drivin
wheels, but for soft ground, an extra rim
twenty inches wide, is Slid on. The boile
contains 127 Hues ono and three.quarte
aaainches in diameter.
The wondering people scanned tho curiou
machine in the streets, and none with NOR
interest than some Indians from the Far West
who gased on the engine with asorrowful shrug
as much as TO say, "Pale-face make more ma
chimes to root up graves on Indian hunting
grounds" .f +-. s..-t
Tho engine travelled six or eight miles Q
the streets Of St. Louis on Saturday, and vii
be on the fair grounds this, Monday-th
closing day Of the exhibition.
The engine is calculated besides to do gen
eral farm work, q reaper and mower ben
also attached to the same. The cost will
in the neighborhood of $4,000, with the plow
attached.