Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-06-07
(coMNUNiCArED.)
The Excelsior stu lTriumphant.

MEssRs. EDITORS: with rcry" considera-
bic surprise, we read a card which appeared in
yesterdays Press aud Herald and CnRoNIcLE,
'purporting to be- statement of what trans
pired at the recent trial of the Excelsior and
Sprague Mowers, on Mr.. c. Powells farm
As to the statement that there was "no set
trial, we only have to say that it was an lt,,-
derstood trial, and that Messrs Hough &
Church knew the day before the moving took
place, that our machine was on the ground for
that purpose. They did not really have one of
the firm present, but what answered their pur-
pose great deal better, an agent of theirs, and
practical mechanic, o Mr.. Edwards, who has
for some time been engaged in selling the
Sprague Mower, and who Ufcourse understands
it far better than they do. Any candid man
can see who had the advantage here.
Our Mr. McCorklo did go for the purpose of
engineering 'Ais trial. if no one was found
who would work it for him, but, as it turned
out, his presence was not at all necessary, for
Mr.. Fox, practical farmer, kindly took charge
of 1t and needed no instructions rs to how to
use it, the Excelsior being SO simple of construc
ton and so easy to operate that any man of good
sense can engineer it without difficulty.
However, Mr.. MeCorkle did MOI, write his
piece as was charged, but simply called for an
expression of opinion from the gentlemen pres
ent, which resulted in Mr.. G. Powell writing
the piece" and the parties present authorizing
him TO sign their names. The gentlemen say
that Tin the vain endeavor to cut through n
small clump of thick clover his machine quiv-
cred, Aoundercd and broke its knife, &c
Now the thick clover referred 10 was nothing
more nor less than a poSt-odk stump, which we
| now have at our office, but which the gentle
men of the Sprague Mower would have you be-
| lieve they sawed smooth of, going at u slow
| pace.
Right hero VIC will acknowledge the kindness
of Mr.. Edwards, the gentleman in charge of
| the Cnrapup machine who came Dromntly for
ward when we broke one of the sections Of our
| knife. and with n hammer smoothed it off so
| that it would pass through. This was all he
did, and all that was necessary to be done.
| Tho gentlemen go on further and say that
several large stones were thrown in front of the
Sprague Mower, and that it passed over them
| without trouble or damage. SO il did So could
any machine that cuts as high as the Sprague.
After the clover had been raked off the ground
cut over by the two machines, it was found that
the Sprague cut at least two inches higher than
| the Excelsior We are almost tempted to OK
claim, How is that for high !"
AS to two men pulling the Sprague with q
man weighing two hundred and twenty pounds
setting upon it, we would rise to explain. The
ground over which il was drawn had no grass
upon it, was firm and smooth, and had a down
ward inclination OF about thirty degrees. If the
Excelsior had been turned loose on the same
ground, it would have required very little en-
ginecring other than to keep it from running of
with the two hundred and twenty pounds
Now for business. Tho gentlemen Of the
Sprague Mower challenge us to a fair and i'm
partial contest, That the best machine may
have its Just reward We accept and nam,
next Tuesday, the 9th inst, as the day, and Mr.
A. Caldwelrs farm at Strawberry Plains, as tn,
place.
In conclusion we would call attention to tn,
certificate of the ",cide a,cake farmer Mr.
Wood, who you are informed had bought
Sprague Mower. 1t speaks for itself
MCCoRKLE & Co.