Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-29

| Of the Pacific Railroad-that is that the ten
| deDcy W the age is to annihate time and space
In this they succeed admirably. The World
"annihilated" an estimated half acre in eight
minutes, being greeted With rounds of applause
| The Ihtns' came out two OF three minutes
| behind the world The RUSSELL came
| next being less than minute behind the
"Etna, having lost time by ono of its driving
wheels running off and having TO be replaced.
The Clipper came next, but owing TO the
heating Of the gudgeon in the pitman which is
| made of wood, this machine came out consider
| ably behind the first named machines the ex-
pansion of the gudgeOn, consequent upon the
heating of the same, bursted the pitman, making
it necessary TO procure another before proceed
ing. The next and last in this break-neck now
ing was the Excelsior which, owing to care
lessness IN leaving out key, lost the hinge fast
ening the cutter-bar to the frame of the ma
chlne, and stopped until another was procured
mus ended the race. We can call It nothing
but race, and a we think, without proving
me merits OF the machines, except, perhaps, the
advantage the heavier machines, with teams TO
correspond, have over the lighter ones in "A race
of this kind
If such races as this are to be run we would
advise manufacturers TO use babbitt-metal in the
journals, where the speed is highest rs the bear
ings should be, in every way faultless where
such high speed is attained. IN this the World"
l. somewhat at fault rs one of the bearings in
mat machine was considerably heated; though
1t would have run several minutes longer without
free from any heating; so also, was the "IEtna,
this we think was owing to the bearings being
IN better condition at the time, than the other
machines.
The ground selected was not suited for the pur-
pose of testing the merits of the machines The
clover was light, and stood nicely on the ground;
such as even bad machine would cut well.
This was we think an oversight by some one,
rs the proper way to test the merits of mower
is to try it in different kinds of grass or clover
where the growth is heavy, as well as where il
is light; where the ground is rough as well as
where 1t Is smooth; thus enabling the machines
to show their real merits and advantages in
practical and everyday use subiecting them to
the same difficulties and disadvantages that are
met with every day on an ordinary farm
This will prove the advantages, and show
forth the disadvantage, more plainly than any
other test.
The contest is now over, and we think it will |
result In good If not in the improvement of the |
machines Themselves we hope it will in creating |
n desire among farmers to purchase those labor |
saving machines and thereby enable themselves |
to take care of their grain and grass in manner
satisfactory to themselves, without the cost and |
time at present required.
@Hugh Martin, the man who made the chal- |
lenge failed to put in his appearance, and some |
ofthc contestants were unkind enough to insin- |
uate that he was afraid of getting beat; but we
suppose II was from some other Cause-pcrhaps |
he was willing to risk his laurcls upon hi, for |
mer reputation, and did mot consider it necessary
to make the trial.
We have only this to add in conclusion: After |
two days spent in the field we have come to the |
deliberate conclusion that the "Russcll" and |
the " World" carried more freight in thi, con- |
test than their competitors, and, if they were |
testing their capacity aS to this, we unhesitating-
" pronounce these two machines a grand sue |
cess.