The Republican journal., 1871-04-20
VOLUME Al.
Power for the Farm.

Much has been written on this question
of late showing that the subject is begin
ming to attract the attention it deserves,
but | do not sec anything published to in-
form the public of the great perfection
which has been attained in governing and
to use the power OF the wind; and in the
first place | wish to say that | am not
manufacturer or interested in the sale of
any windmill, but simply wish to call the
attention of those in need of cheap power
to the advantages offered by this source Of
power. The windmill used by several of
my neighborS, and which gives uniform
satisfaction, is made by the Continental
Windmill Co. Other mills may be equally
good, but | have never seen any other that
seemed to me to be worth using; and this
seems SO nearly perfect that l see nothing
to suggest as an Improvement. 1t VIII run
in Il very light wind, and will regulate it.
self according to the force OF the wind and
The work required Of it, by means of CEN
trifugal weights similar in principle to the
we'll known governor" of the steam en-
gine when the wind is high, the regulator
trims the sails at a sharper angle to the
wind, and when it subsidies, the sails trim
themselves to catch ali the wind they can.
1t will run safely in very heavy weather,
and if kept in motion, does not clog with
snow, sleet, or hail in fact, almost all that
is needed to keep one of these mills in run
ming order, is to attend to oiling the run
ming parts once or twice week, for it is
provided with vane which keeps it always
headed to the wind, and can be kept run
ming day and night ii desired, or can be
stopped at any time with perfect ease.
Where power is needed all the time or
every day, the windmill must of course
give place to steam, horsepower or calOrlc
4 I,nrri
wind enough always. But where the work
required is intermittent, and where we can
choose our time for doing it, not generally
being obliged to run more than half the
time with full power the Windmill furnish
es by far the cheapest and most convenient
power known, for the reasons given below
l. No engineer is required to run the
machine as in the case OF steam engines.
>. The power is ready at moments
notice, whenever the wind blows, no delay
being needed 20 get up steam
). The expense of running is merely
nominal. being Che oil required, the repairs
and interest on the outlay, both Of which
latter items are much less than in the case
OF steam or horse power.
l. The capital required for first outlay
Is less than for the corresponding power in
steam, horse power or caloric engine.
Thus take for instance the mill, % feet
in diameter furnished by this company;
the price is $500; the tower required will
vary with the locality from $50 to 500,
making the machine cost 5000 at the out
side. This will give in ordinary weather
from five to ten horse power, according to
the force Of the wind, and would be ample
to cut fodder, grind grain, thiesh, pump
water, and turn grindstone and circu lar
saw, or turning lathe or churn-where 80
head Of cattle are kept-and all this with
out any expense for fuel or engineer, or
risk OF explosion or lire. For irrigating
upland or draining meadows, wherever q
reservoir can be used so as not to require
incessant pumping, no power can compete
with the wind for cheapness and conven-
ience.
Several gentlemen hereabouts are intro
ducing them to irrigate their gardens, and
some gardeners who study economy and
profit in everything they do, are using them
with great advantage. think they are des-
tined to be very generally introduced.
Several sizes of mills are made smaller
than the above named, costing Sl25 aud
upwards. and very much larger ones also
are made when required. Country Gen
tlcmcn.