Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-06-29
A G a e % :.

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n STANTON, JUNE 25th 1866
We the undersigned, Committee appointed to
decide upon the merits of the Moving Machins
viz: McCormck's, the Buckeye and Hubbard ;
tried them on Mr. Crawford's Meadow, near Staun-
ton, Va, June 25th, 1866, and we find that all
worked we'll; but we believe the Hubbard Machine
has the advantage over the rest in lightness of
draft and ability to stop and start in heavy grass
with ease. AS to their durability we leave that
to be tested by time.
COMMITTEE.
". A. Abney, John F. Smith, W. McKeever,
D. @. McGufin, P. 0. Smith, W. H. Gan BILE.
AMERICAN HOTEL, June 25th 1866.
EDITOR OF THE VALLEY V1nGlNIAN:
Dear Sir You will please publish the above
report of the Committee on the Mower trial which
occurred to-day. AS representative of the Nc
Cormick Mower protest against the report of the
Committee for the following reasons.
They propose to "decide upon the merits of
Moving Machines and as shown by said report
decide but one point, namely, that all present
"worked WELL" and expressed the 9'belief that
the Hubbard Machine has the advantage over the
rest in lightness of draft and ability to stop and
start in heavy grass witheasc."
Before going into the trial noticed the Com
mlttee and others present that in the event Of an
unfavorable decision would claim new trial
and should they decide in favor of the McCor-
mick Mower, | would respond to the call of other
contestants for more thorough trial at some flu
ture time.
This notice was given, believing for reasons not
necessary here to mention that the Mccormick
Mower was entering the contest under unfavora-
BILE circumstances. The committee have done in
justice by giving expression to an opinion or be-
lief upon two points they were not prepared to
decide without more thorough and extended
trial 1t would we think have been more becom-
ing to have acknowledged, their inability with
out further trial, to decide that either had special
claims to superiority and to have appointed day
for said trial.
The peculiar feature of our Mower and the one
upon which we specially claim superiority over
all others; the arrangement for Rocking the Cut
ter Bar in passing over loose rock, unevenness of
surface through tangled and fallen grass and 9TH
err instructions was not called into full play to-
day, the ground being perfectly smooth, and when
used SO twice when passing through tangled grass
the right SO to use it was questioned by several
gentlemen members of the committee we believe.
The gentlemen without exception are strangers to
US and we cannot therefore believe they did us
intentional injustice; but we do believe had they
examined carefully and tested fully the merits of
the peculiar feature alluded to, upon rough and
smooth ground, they would not have given cx-
preston to their belief; but would have render
ed q positive decision in favor of the Mccormick
Mower. In conclusion we claim at the hands of
the Farmers of Augusta another trial in which the
Agents Of all other Mowers Shall be invited to
participate, and would respectfully ask the gen.
tlemen of the Committee to tender their assistance
in arranging for said trial. We claim this as
citizens of a neighboring county and as represent
ting the Messrs McCormicks who though for ma
ny years residents Of the Northwest have shown
by their many acts, of lberalty that they are not
cstranged from the land of their birth.
Yours, &C..
ALEX. NJ. HAMILTON,
for Hamilton, Waesche 4 Co., Lynchburg Va.
INN