Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-08-27
THE WATER WHEELS.
The Leffeli Challenge.
Mr.. snEiiWOOD'S REJO,NDER.

IspEpESprsoE, Iowa, Aug. Is, 'e9.
Ed. BUCHANAN Co. BULLETIN,
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa Tn
your issue of August goth, 1 noticed chal-
lenge from Mr.. James Leffell 10 meet him
at Lowell, Mass, or at some other place for
the purpose Of testing water wheels, for the
sum OF $4,000.
Now, if Mr.. Lefell had been acquainted
with ne and the position that have occu
pied part Of my life-chopping cordwood,
driving oxen aud mules, carrying hod, ETC.,
although the last few years have worked
some on mills, such Is running the wheel
barrow to stop holes in the dam, etc.--he
would have been too much of gentleman
to have act the sum 30 high. Mr.. Leffell
Of man would not be very likely to have
$4,000 Mt his command TO bet with. For
that reason it is impossible for me to accept
the challenge as he has given II. All the
means that have is tied up in an incor-
pora,ed body in mill nov under construc-
ton the cost of which will be about $780,
600, it is all can do, conveniently, to meet
my assessments as they become due. And
now as am one of the company and have
taken no steps for manufacturing any wheels
Of any kind, and feel under obligations to
the stockholders (about 35 in number,) to
procure the best wheels for running our mill,
| will make Mr.. Leffell this offer: If he
will come here himself (this being the place
At which the previous trial was held, in
presence Of 200 or more witnesses, incu-
ding nearly all the stockholder>,) and test
his own wheel, and wherever the deficiency
is, or might have been in the previous trial,
point it out so that all may understand it,
lhe may be bis own judge, or bring HE ju.lg-
es from Springfield, Ohio, ii he CHOOSES
and if it gives us a better per cent. of water
used than my wheel, | will purchase
all the wheels for running our mill
(nine run of burrs,) when com.
pleted, and wheel for each ran, besides
TWO machine wheels, and will pay hin, be-
fore he leaves the place $1,000 for his time
aud expenses ont here aud back. On these
conditions if my wheel should give the beat
per cent. he shall pay me the actual cost of
the previous tests, including the cost OF the
wheel l bought Of Mr.. LeiIell sad three
wheels had made OF my own, one inches,
one 81 inches, and one II inches; it being
understood that MIR. Letfel shall try the one
I have here or another of the same size, is
suing the same amour, of water, so that
will not have to get up another wheel. The
one l have here Is q stout heavy wheel, full
as heavy as the one bought Of Mr.. Le6e !,
runs on I inch wood step; inch shaft. The
The whole cost so far is $3.50, and probably
$50 will coverthe cost ofthe trial here, making
in all $500 that be, Mr.. Lctfell. shall pay
me before leaving the place If my vince:
gives the best per cent. of water discharged
through each wheel. l would like to hear
from him soon rs we are now ready to order
our wheels, and it would be much more sat
istactory to the stockholders to be present,
some being farmers and could not well 90
to Lowell, Mass, or any other place. Be-
sides that, we have no wheels to put in in
Lowell or any other place here is tho place
we want to use the wheels let them be CT
what kind they may.
Now about the letters. So far they are
correct, but there was another letter viii h
Mr.. Letfel did not publish, notifying him
that there would be trial here AID that |
lad notified Mr.. Finch, one of their agents
at Cedar Falls. to be here 50 that their wheel
might be fairly represented ! also notified
him of the wheels that would be here to be
tested with his, except my own, and below
is his answer:
SPRINGFIELD, O., July 9TH, 69.
Mn. S. SHERWOOD, Ese.,
ISpEPESpENcE, Iowa,
DeU Sir:-Your
favor of July 9th is before us. You re-
ii 70 oil III 4 ,o
same quantity of water. We have now over
three thousand wheels in operation under
every possible circumstances, and have dis
placed .ii.y different, kinds of wheels, and
where both wheels bad the same advan,a-
ges and operating under exactly similar con
diiions. with fair and impartial test, our
wheel never has been beaten. OF course,
there has occasionally been side tests made
for the purpose OF getting up false reports,
and where no Letftli men were present to
look after our interests and thus report of
defeat trumped up. We have been on the
track OF tie Waterloo and Sterling wheels
They are gross limitations and infringeDents
on our Letters Patent and re-isaued rights,
and we have taken the preliminary steps for
prompt prosecution of both parties. The
Sterling men actually dissected one Of our
wheels and made patterns from different
parts. We shall recognize no tes,s with ei.
Their of those Sar,ies, even though we bea,
them 20 to 30 per cent. We have another
kind Of trial for them.
We are yours truly,
JAMES LEFFEL 4 Co.
The above is an exact copy of y letter
received from LeffeIl in answer to u letter
wrote him about the test, previous TO the
tune it took place, but did not tell him had
o wheel of any kind myself.
Now know Mr.. Letleli is too much Of
gentleman to make any proposition that he
knows | cannot come mp TO, or call HE a
scoundrel unless he has some reason for do
ing so. Therefore let him come and exam
inc the wheels as they Are, also the manner
in which they were tested, and If there proves
to have been any fraud, then let it be known
to the public. Below is copy of another
letter that he wrote Mr.. Dow:
SpRISGFlELD, o., Aug. Is, 80.
b. +. Dow, ESQ = About week ago We
sent challenge 10 Sherwood, in The hide
peudence paper II: Independence, to lest
wheels with us for $4,000. Now rs he has
both wheels there 10 lest. be VIII accept, IN
less be knows he acted the sconudrel in the
test, which We are satisfied he dii.
Yours, DC,
JAMES LEFsEl. ( Co.
can prove by 200 or more witnesses that
did not superintend the setting or testing
of any wheels except my own, and am ! TO
be branded as scoundrel unless Mr.. LET
fell comes where tais test took place and
proves to those that were present Al the time
that there was fraud. He has made me an
offer that is impossible for me to accept.
| have made him one that he can come up
to, and no DOUBT he will Now let him
come aud prove his assertion and get his
$1,000, and establish the reputation OF his
wheel here, as he can sell eleven wheels TO
the Independence Mills Co., also two or
moro to Mr.. Ross, at O,terville, and two to
Mr.. White, at Littleton.
S. SHERWOOD.
SuABpr.--Prof. Piper Of Manchester,
made application to the Superintendent Of
~ I,,,h,,,,., 4. So,tl, W.,,.rr X for