The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-09
Terms, by Mail, in Advance
FARM ENGINES.
Description OF an English ASricul-
tural Locomotive.

EVening Post writes ...- ..-
The application Of steam power t
farming is no longer an experiment
The high price of labor and large ares
OF our western farmers will soon compe
its general introduction. 1t is not fol
blowing and narrowing alone we de
mand something better than horse
power. We must have an engine t.
tbresh the grain, cut the wood, shell
the corn, draw water and do a dozer
other odd jobs about the barn. An en-
CINE to meet all our wants must be able
to do all the work of a stationary en-
CINE, be able to transport itself to any
part Of the farm, and TO drag the crops
to market.
In England, where labor Is cheap
over three thousand steam plows, be
sides hundreds Of other farm engines
are at work.
We saw recently, at an agricultural
fair in England, a number OF engines Of
various patterns. All are on wheels,
and either move themselves or can be
dragged about by horses. One particu'
lar engine stood alone on the grass with
steam up, and light blue cloud Of
smoke was escaping from its slender
smoke stack. Near by was broad
circular track, showing where it had
been driven round to show its PAGES
The grass near it did not seem to have
been injured in the least The boiler
rested upon four wheels. The forward
truck was movable. A small platform
in front, with a steering wheel, showed
how the machine was guided. The
driving wheels were six feet in diameter
and shod with rubber tires two inches
thick The cab for the engineer hung
over the rear and carried the Goals. The
water tank was under the boiler. The
exhaust steam could be turned into this,
thereby saving fuel greatly. The cyl,
Under, safety.valve, &c, were placed on
top. There was a piece of short shaft
ing on top, with tiy-wheel attached.
From the wheel aud shaft power was
taken to drive the saw, run the thresh-
ing machine, elevate the hay, or DO any
farm work required.
Presently a man appears, mounts
the cab and begins to stir up the fire.
Calling man to steer the hot-headed
beast, he bids them 90 to the brook for
water. With gentle snort the huge
thing trundles swiftly over the grass to.
ward the brook. The crowd scampers
after, but is quickly distanced. Down
the bank it rushes in precipitate haste.
We are alarmed for its safety; but it
neatly turns round and stands with two
wheels in the water A pipe is put out
and the horse takes mighty swallows IN
to his wroughtiron stomach.
Presently, with vi gorous putting II
starts to return up the bank. Meeting
with resistance it develops tremendous
power and climbs a grade of one in five
easily. Its track over the sod is marked
only 10y a slight flattening Of the grass.
| Next, at command, it runs round a
small circle to show its speed-about
ten miles an hour, We should judge.
Its next performance is to run up be-
side a winnowing machine, throw out a
belt, aud run the apparatus at a swift
and effective rate.
Next it is released and rolls over to
where huge threshing machine on
wheels stands packed and ready for
removal. This is the last day OF the
exhibition, and preparations must be
made for the journey home. The loco,
motive backs slowly up to the thresher
and is quickly coupled with it. The
shackle used is SO made that when
turning a corner the forward truck is
turned first, precisely as the shaft-horse
pulls the wheels after him when turn
ing.
Next with a push, the train backs
I'D to huge straw elevator. This
machine is on wheels, and resembles
one of the ice elevators used in our ice
houses at home. 1t is used to lift straw
in bundles TO the lofts or to the tops Of
ricks. The elevator being coupled, the
whole train is ready to start. 1t con
sists of a locomotive twelve feet long
and weighing seven tons, the thresheI
WEIGHING five tons and fifteen fee
long, and the straw elevator, three tons
and twenty feet, total OF fifteen tons
and forty-seven feet in length.
When all is ready, the engine start:
gently and easily, takes great SWEEP
over the grass, and starts for one OF the
entrance gates to the fair grounds. This
cate leads to a narrow, winding lane,
with only room for one team. The en-
zine enters the lane at an angle, and the
train follows after, without touching
the rate.posts. 1t would take careful
driver, with a docie team, to do as wei
with horses.
Immediately on entering the lane the
engine comes TO a soft place in the road
The wheels sink into the mud and stick
fast. The crowd gathers around anc
becomes, after the usual English man
ner derisive and doubtful. Really, il
this is the style of the horse, he devel'
OBS faults suddenly. Without q word the
owner steps up to the driver, and asks
for n "claw." This is a cast-iron shoe
made to fit the wheels The gentle
man quickly fasteus it on; the wheel:
urn round, and when the sharp edge
of the claw strikes the ground the train
moves forward foot or so. The claw
is used again, and the slough is easily
passed.
He remarked: That was an extrs
bad slough. Don't meet with such
greasy mud often. When we do We
1nshsckle the engine or use the claws
With a chain we can drag the team
through, and go on. The engine, wher
alone, will pass any ordinary mud hol'
with ease"
After going down the lane Tor a shor
distance it stopped, and our superlntend
ent politely informed us that this was
all it would do at present. BY slngu
larly stupid law of Parliament no roa'
bt