The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-01-06
srsnn,l tArrIeuI.ure.

"
II We look at industrial life, as dis
,;nguisbed from agriculture life, we
see that many Of the colossal fer
times have bee n made in connection
with steam. The weaver first starts
with a small she'd, sometimes but an
attic in bis f-our-roomed house By
tremendous il ldustry, often working
fourteen hon rs a day, he saves a lit
tie money beyond his immediate
wants. He continues on thus little
nv little adding to his store. till be IS
able 10 buy a steam-engine. Alter
that. with good business tact combin-
ed. be soon gets on the road to an
easy fortune.
Not always is the prospecting me-
cbanic the owner Of his WI steam
power. Many get near other nils
have the lease ofa shaft from the
main one; but still the main principle
holds good that in numberless lnstan'
ces il "a the force Of steam that push
Is one on to business prosperity.
Many a M complains Of farming
that after years Of hard work it ha:
only Welded a comfortable living
that they have act amassed wealti
at It which others have in ordinary
business: but neither would those
business men if they continued on
through life to depend on the rough.
unaided labor Of their hands. Labor
for labor and work for work, unaided
by these great motive powers IN
either cases, the average farmer Is
by far the best of in a numbeT OF
wears.
Yet it is a matter Of surprise that
this has not struck many Of or land
~cultivators more forcibly than it evi
IDENTIFY has. Expensive horse Of
manual labor is yet the main reliance.
and very little has been done towards
drawing into play a part in the far.
mer's fortunes, that which has aided
the fortunes Of so many more.
Certainly this would require q
reorgaaization Of the whole system
OF modern farming; but it has been
done in other pursuits and 1t might
DE done 10 this. IL would be absurd
10 purchase five OF ten thousand dol
lars. worth of m~achi0eTy to work a
farm, the upmost sales Of which IRON
all sources would not exceed s9VOO.
1t would have to be done on some
very different plan from any now
purchased.
But is it impossibleg We do not
know but it is impossible, and yet we
like to believe that in time such q
theory might be. Ground has been
plowed by steam-pOwes, by the aid
Of movable steam engines: but who
wants to get an engine to do n OF
two Jobs on a farm, and yet have to
keep a staff Of horses to do all the
work besides? Would it pay to have
ones horses idle in their stalls while
we are burning fuel TO do the horses
work? These are among the practical
questions that GENE in as we study
the capacity Of steam-power to do
the farmers work. And vet all this
might be adjusted in the hands Of
thorough business-me accustomed
alike TO practical farm-work as well
as TO regular business habits and
rules. At present much Of the spirit
Of progress in this direction is with
those who rather feel that they are
doing something no n else can do;
as for instance with many Of the
English mobility who like an interest
in farm pursuits. During the past
season one Of these excellent gentle
men has been nearly beside himself,
because the fIst time in his life be
has cut bis grain by steam-power. 4
stationary engine was kept along one
line Of the wheat-feld, and the reaper
drawn up and across the field by
ropes. One can easily see how this
may be done: but is not as easy to
see how we can dispense with one
horse less for ordinary teamwork by
having his wheat cut in this way.
Still something may come of it all
some day, but not after this fashion.
At any rate it does US no harm
once in a while to think Of it, and
keep the matter before the public, IN.
I'll atleast another more manageable
and economical motive power than
steam shall be Decentralization
tolCa Telegraph.