Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-19
Answer OF Geo. S. RubIe TO the Card Of
r, i. Watkins, Published In the Onat-
tanOaga American Union, OF July
Cd 1875


r. L. Watkins, Published In tne Onal-
tanOega American Union, Oh July
Sd, 1868.
NV object 10 locating in Chattanooga Is TO sell
farming and other implements to the eltlzehs OF
Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama Being scqualnt-
ed with All princpsl manufacturing establishments
in The Western States, and different patentees, |
have the opportunity of ssceraining which, amongst
the MANY are the best It is 10 my interest to sell
none but the rsyv best articles As sm only agent
for the sale Of those articles. l am at liberty 70
change my agency at any time, should ma oes-
ter article than the one / am now selling
have for sale large lot Of farming and ether
implements among which is she Russell Resping
and Moving Machine, which / have been selling
in this lection for two seasons, every of which
has proved satisfactory. Ny business being to sell
machines, wish to keep out Of newspapers or other
difficulties.
I wag challenged by Mr. R. L. Watkins 10 meet
him on his farm on the 23d day of June last, for
the purpose of testing the superiority OF the husse
against the Buckeye Machine. l met him and the
two mschines fairly tested by I'VE ezperiehceo
DISTINGUISHED Judges who, after strict tria ana lue
examination rendered verdict in favor OF the hus-
sell Mlchina which was published in the Chatta-
noogs papers. Then l expected the matter 81 an
end, IS 1 had accepted his challenge and met him
at his own time and place. and fairly beaten him.
Next he publishes card, in which some OF his dy-
ing struggles are very strong, while others are ex
trennelg weak in his agony Re sets out by eharg-
inc md with forging the report Of the committee,
for tina truth Of which refer the reader to the fol
lowing answer Of the committee to his card
CHATTAEooeA, TENN, July II, 1868.
Messr4. Rls5le 6 Wit!ford
In compliance with your request, we give your
statement with regard TO the trial of Reaping Ma
chimes between yourselves and H. L. watkins, ESD
at the farm Of Mr. Watkins the 23d OF June last.
Ne bsd read the published card and general in
vitation Of mr. Watkins of date June 18th, inviting
ali persons interested to witness the trial between
the Buckeye and the Russell Machines at the time
specified.
We were present at the trial. TO see for ourselves
the relative merits of the conending machines, the
Russell being a machine which some of US had
never seen work We were selected as committee
after we arrived on the field. Two of us (Cruteh-
field ard King declined serving when first solicit
ed beeause each was the owner of and partial to the
Buckeye Machine.
We witnessed the trial, and gave TO each machine
an Impartial test having the teams attached to each
machine driven, and the machines operated alter
nately by two of the committee
The challenge of Mr.. Watkins and the acceptance
of Msssrs Ruble & Willford with the points % su-
perio,ity claimed by them for the Russell over the
Buckeye Machine, were submitted TO and examined
by the committee. The committee were unanimous
in thoir opinion that there was but little difference
in tho cutting of the machines they cut upon the
same principle, bat upon all other points as claimed
by Messrs Ruble s. Wiliford, far as the commit
tee we're enabled to examine the Russell Machine
was superior.
The committee regret that there has grown cut of
the trial misunderstanding and newspaper contro-
versy. Had they thought such would have been
the result, they would have declined serving.
Very respectfully, &c,
TON CRJTcHFIELD
JOHN KING,
r. B. YEARwooD,
FRED. +. WE'LL,
j. B. WEAVER
( After The one hard struggle he becomes feeble
he next undertakes TO answer the eighteen articles
of superiority claimed by me, some OF which ne
admits others he declares amount to nothing
without giving a reason why. l would advise the
reader to take both of assertions, and try the
| two Machines by them, and you will soon see who
| is unreasonable Try article LIST by measuring the
driving wheel Article I'd he admits. Sd, he says
driver was killed in the West last season by TALL
! ing from a machine, but fails TO tell that he was
/ driving Buckeye Machine. 4th; would ask, how
can the seat Of front cutter balance the weight OF
! the tongue 5tb, the Buckeye cannot cut while
turning without running over and wasting grain
/ His 9th and 18th articles answer themselves-shey
are contradictory. In his Sth he carefully avoids
saying anything about the swivel and double nuts
that speak of on the Pitman of the Russell. In
answer 70 his 9th, would ask how Rakers seat
can be attached as we'll TO front rear cutter ?
AS TO his 10th, would ask the reader to examine
the two machines as TO finish His l lth is answered
by his Ist Where was the trial, Mr.. Watkins, when
the Russell choked that is the first instance Of
the kind / ever heard of. He says 'the wood por
ton Of the Buckeye was never known TO break. y
/ have known such things happen more than once
In his 18th he speaks Of "rod, when L spoke o.
'reel," He says that the Buckeye has been awarded
certificate, at two important field trials, for dura
bility. | would ask, was the Russell Maehlnethere
What other machine IF any, was there VIVA
machine took the certificate for other quslties2 L
twice all the times in ten years, that the Buckeye
has been victorious? and then only set certificate
for durability thing unknown to field trials J
He introduces a certificate from James L. Kirby
that only proves the Buckeye dangerous machine
or Mr.. Kirby very awkward driver. l neye
knew of driver falling off a Russell machine. 1
the cutting device was TO strike anything hare
enough to throw the driver Off he would fall to I'll
left out Of danger, the cutter is in the rear til
jar acouId bring the tongue to the right The Buck
eye, cutting in front, would throw the driver Of
knives.
He publishes a certificate from Gross & Reynolds
stating that they sold Kirby his machine ten day
ago Now, what has that to do with the matter
Does he wish TO prove that there had been a Bueh
eye machine sold only ten days SINCE
He pleads inexperienee (which | shall not a.
empt TO deny,) but will still set up his inexpt
rienced Judgment against the judgment of thos
whose experience he frankly acknowledges and th
Judgment of experienced judges of his oi0a choice
AS friend Watkins appears TO be hard TO convinc
1t propose another trial and TO make the thin
more Interesting, will each Of US deposit five hui
. dred dollars in the First National Bank at tn
place, as a premium; each Of US choose two Judge
who shall choose fifth; at a suitable time an
place, Ito be agreed upon by u.s. VIC will test ii
superiority Of the Russell and Buckeye Machine
resping and moving, taking into considerable
the eighteen articles claimed and published
, me-the judges to award TIE one thousand dolla
, premium TO the victorious machine. This is n
first challenge Of the kind, and have been promp
ed to this to satisfy Mr.. Watkins and the publ
that the Russell is the best machine
e have sold Machine to Mr.. Thomas Crutehfe
since the trial, who was one Of Mr.. Watkins judge
( He refused to act Judge, from the fact that
5 owned a Buckeye Machine, and was partial.
c was retained on the committee, and convinced:
others will be when they see the two machines cor
: pared and worked together
GEO. S. RuBLE.
CHATTANOOGA, July 49, 1885,