Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-08-08
From TIE Prairie Farmer.
THE GREAT TRIAL OF REAPERS
AND MOWERS. I

The Immense demand in the great West
makes it eninently proper that at intervals,
not too far apart, the inventors and manu-.
facturers should be encouraged to come to-
gether, compare notes, and test their ma
chimes. Thorough trial where the exsmina-
ton shall be made with care and judgment,
and 30 much in detail that the comparative
values can be figured out accurately, would
be. of immense importance to the country,
and OF practical value to the manufacturers.
1t is now several years since anything like
an extensive field trial has been had in the
United States, and never has there been one
Of any importance in the West. As this is
now tho great field for the sale Of this class
Of machinery, the alacrity with which man
ufacturers have turned out to compete for
the prizes offered, show their appreciation Of
the West as a market. In making the ar
rangements for trial, we believe that the
Executive Board have so far as possible en-
deayored to make it one, where every point
of value should be brought out and properly
considered. To this end they have engaged
the services of competent surveyor who
was always on hand, the ground always
ready and designated by appropriate and pat
riotic signals, good, spring dynamomcter to
test the draft of machines, and each member
seemed to enter into the work heartily, being
ever watchful Of every point that should come
into notice. The mass Of notations must DC
large, and from which valuable report can
be made.
There was some dissatisfaction experienced
by some individuals that " a scale of points
was not furnished the public, OF at least the
newspaper reporters. The actual point upon
which they were to be tested was withheld
from all and the people in the mower trial
wore kept Every properly off the stubble so
when raked a fair comparison could be had
Of the operation of the machinery. In reap
ing this was not so, as after the machine had
been tested by the dynamometer and the
committee, the people were allowed to follow
the machines and examine the operation as
they pleased. The arrangements and tests
applied were heartily seconded by every cx-
-hibitor, so far as We could learn by talking
with them We have never attended trial
where this feature was so apparent. They
were always ready to operate and moved as
desired by the committc, at all times and in
such situations as they might never have oc-
casion to- do in every day use. - 40
According to the published programme,
the official report will not be made public till
fall, at the State FAIR at Peoria. This we
think is wrong, and the reason given for it is
Of no real weight whatever. We think it due
to the exhibitors first, that report should
be made at once so that increased expenses
may be avoided (if so desired by thein) by
not attending the Peoria Fair. There are
Z however but few, If any, who would attend
any sooner for the withholding Of the report
until that time. 1t is the masses Of the peo-
pie exhibitors wish to reach .by thus attend
ins fairs, and they will 60 to certain extent,
or so far as they can see their interest in go
ing. We hope therefore that the Society will
reconsider that resolution and make the re-
port at'as early day as possible. ssz
The character of the machinery as whole
shows wonderful advances over that at any
former exhibitions in tho United States. The
machines with few exception, were very ex-
cellent, and the fact that with three exccp-
tons all followed the trial through and finish
cd up in one of the most al liicult spots that
could be selected, shows that a very high
degree of perfection has been reached. As
we cannot in this report give the data by
which an accurate comparative value or merit
can be arrived at, we shall give the affairs as
they came under our observation, and so far
rs possible a minute description of such ma
chinery as has not been familiar to our west
ern farmers. In doing this we shall not in
tentionaly do any one injustice among those
who have been exhibitors. Bs tIs7kfis (
Tho weather throughout the week was all
that could be desired ~ any one. s.E2'. .
eTH FIRST DAY.. E0 +