The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-10-09

rhe Largest Barn In the Country

The Largest Barn I'm the Country
The Shakers are famous for their grea,
barns, and the largest one that they
have is at Lebanon, in this State. /,
was recently erected at an expense oi
about SIS 900, and is thus described =
It is 196 feet long, 50 feet wide, fve
stories high; the walls Of good Nat
quarried stsne, Eve feet thick At the
foundation, carefully laid in lime nostar
cement pointed outside, aud plastcre,l
inside; rooted with tarred paper, cement
and gravel. II also has three wings
wooden buildings, which form fsur sheds
about 100 feet long Upon the cast and
west side Of two cattle yards, on ths
south Of the main building, with lofts
for straw and grain connected with ths
barn.
The lower story OF the barn is ma
nure cellar, and II the west end is level
with the ground, so that carts can be
driven in and ont with case. The next
story is the cow stable which IS on a
level with the yard. the cows standing
with their heads toward the center, with
4 passage between supplied with water
pipes and cocks. Inthis passage, roots,
fcut feed or water can be given in iron
I. 81 boxes, which swing on pivot into
the passage. Behind the cows the
fioor drops couple Of inches, space
of THREE feet, and back Of that rises
again. The depression is 10 hold the
mannrr. On the rise behind arc iron
rails, npon which cars run into the west
end and over space about 25 feet wide,
and discharge their loads, the rails and
a turn table being so contrived that the
manure il well distributed with but little
labor. The rdea is entertained Of MAX
ing the whole cellar into liquid manure
vat, which could be distributed bv its
own gravity upon the lower part Of the
farm, or sent h'.hc, mp by the water
power that drives tho mill not far distant,
Thc cows are all fastened in their
:. Ills at each milkinssin summer, and
III 1T one movement. They are driven
in al together, and each one takes her
place, where her name is printed o,er
head, and then by pnIl Of a cord all
the moreable stanchions are closed.
They are opened by reversed motion,
and all the cows hurried ont in drove,
50 that they never make deposit upon
the floor They are left few minutes
to do that in tho yard, before sendin.
them to the pasture.
There arc six large chimney yen:ila-
tors from the rear Of the stalls to the
roof. The floor above them supports
The great hay mows, between which is
The floor for feeding hay, which is sent
lown to the cows through box tubes
and these, when empty also assist ven.
lilation. There arc openings from this
loor into the straw lofts over the sheds
and also 10 the store rooms for roots !
and grain.
The next flcoris the grand drive way
for loads of hay, lG feet wide and 1861
ect long, with ample space to turn
around. The floor opens upon public
.oad, and is but little above its level, so
hat loads really come in easily at the
op Of the barn. Over this floor Is a |
fifth story, only in width Of the floor, to
y,ve room for work, ventilation and
light. Half Of the many windows arc
glass and half Slated blinds. The hay
$ nearly all thrown down, not pitched
,p from tho load. Iii case Of need, the |
arge space at tie end could be filled,
out It is thought that it viii not be re-
except with corn, which can be
,usked there anil thrown down . spout
nto large, airy granary over the
western shed.