Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-08-03

and he came ashore with his mouth
full of salt water, mutttering:
eff was the ocean, and any more of
that kind of west came here, l should
ebb out"
A CENTENNIAL LETTER.
The managers of the V!omen's Pavilion
have made several mistakes that detract in
exhibition. In several instances ladies who
have offered articles OF the greatest value
have been neglected or fatty refused exhib-
itiOn until now that the merits OF their offer
ings are seen as the crowds flock to them in
other departments the directors Of the Wo-
bly, is this the case with Mrs. Maxwell, the
huntress of Colorado, who wrote them, more
than year ago, asking permission to exhibit
in their department., her collection of 200
animals, including all the native fauna OF
Colorado, except the stone marten and per-
haps one or two others-and 800 stuffed birds
in cases, birds nests, &C., all prepared, and
most Of them gathered by her own hand
But they never answered her application UNI
til about a month before the time tor starting,
and till after she had arranged with the Col
orado Commission to exhibit in the Colorado
department. And then they wrote her that
her letter had been overlooked, and they
would like to hear from her again. They
did not offer her a place in their Department..
It is no disparagement to other exhibitors to
say, that there is nothing exhibited in the
Women's department that cxcites halt the
interest or attention that Mrs. Maxwells ex-
hibit does.
A TRIAL OF REAPERs AND BINDERS
was held the past week, ut Schenck's station,
OF the road to New York, and q large number
of machines on exhibition here, participated
in the trial. Director General Goshorn, by a
published hand.bill. had announced that the
Competitive trial, ordered some time ago,
would not be held, for reason not given, but
made. And Superintendent Jandreth gave
notice that such trial would be held on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday Of last week.
| was there to see on my own responsibility,
and at my own expense, and followed the
machines for some five hours, under blaz-
ing hot sun, and at another time shall give
the result OF my observations. At present
general. As to competitive trials, my ma.
tured conviction, after long observation, is
that usually they are great sham. Almost
always, q majority Of the judges are composed
of men incompetent to determine the real
merits OF the competing machines. They are
to judge justly, as majority Of farmers who
use these machines. 1t is rare that even one
expert can In. found upon any committee, or
that the award made ut such trials command
general confidence. .Apropos Of this subject,
: good story is told, which, if not true, at
is said that Mr.. lambeth, tie superintendent
of Agricultural Hall, wrote to Mr.. Reynolds,
Of Chicago, Secretary of the Great Industrial
Exposition there, asking him what he
thought would be the effect Of holding COM
petitive trials Of Agricultural machinery, and
bestowing awards. Mr.. Reynolds. it is said,
replied that it would work great injury but
for one reason, and that was, that nobody
now was fool enough to care anything for
such awards.
BUYING MEDALS.
In addition to the incompetence of the
judges, there is the liability to be influenced
to render partial judgment to tavorites.
Wealthy machine makers having had long
experience in this business, with medals and
| stars emblazoned all over their banners, as tro-
plies OF former contests, enter the field deter
mined to win new laurels, and are not al .
| ways over-scrupulous as to the means Of OBJ
tanning the victory. Indeed, the renowned
commanders of well-disciplined armies might
| take lessons in strategetic tactics, and in the
art Of mining and saping, OF these veteran
| knights of the harvest field. And the judges,
sometimes in the innocence of their souls.
and sometimes with SIMS er motives, scarce
, " concealed, walk right into the trap set for
] them, and often render verdict that has no
! more relation to the facts of the trial, than a
| Esop: These judges are often appointed by
the influence OF prominent manufacturers,
and there is often as much partisanship man
Tested at these trials, as in political caucus.
l speak OF what have seen and what l know.
The field selected for the trial was a very
large one, and the grain on the south side
stood upright, but that on the north and
west part was quite crimpled with heads in
terlocked, and some of it was badly lodged.
And the grain was too ripe and the straw
very brittle. Any fair reaper can cut and lay
! decently upright grain but the test is, will
it do work we'll in grain in bad condition
Of on tine s99 tSe cut and de-
| right grain we'll enough, but only small
number laid the bundles smoothly and even.
| ly. Indeed, all OF the revolving arnl-rake
reapers layt the bottom of the bundle cross.
wise, as any one can sec by examining it.
THE ESTERLY REAPER, OF WHITEWATER, WIS.,
with reel and one arm-rake working in &
quarter circle, is the only machine here that
lays the bundle perfectly even. Equal to any
in all other respects, it excels all others ii
But reapers have had their day, and hence.
forth harvesters and binders are to take the
! lead. A good harvester saves the labor Of
| two men, tor two men can bind as fast as
harvester can cut, but it takes tour men t
bind after reaper. The imperfections of al
harvesters here, except one, are, that they dc
not separate the bundles, and hence in bind.
! ing there is always some scattering and waste
that they all use canvas with belts and roll
ers to carry the grain, and as the canva.
stretches i'll dry, and shrinks in damp wealth
| er, and the straw winds around the rollers
and the leaves and fine straw clogs the gud.
geons, they are continually getting out Of or:
der and cause much delay in adjusting and
cleaning.
| EsTERLY AND SONS IIARvEsTERs
dispense with all this machinery, and a re-
! volving and vibrating rake strikes the butts
Of the cut grain and carries it up and on to 9
transverse table where it is pushed by re.
versible rake to the binders. II the grain is
light two bundles need make but one. Both
rakes are driven by small spur wheel on the
main axle Of the driving wheel, working in .
spur gear, in connection with a cam, rack
and pini0M. The whole machine is simple
operates perfectly and colnmends itself to all
! visitors
My conviction is, that we have not reached
perfection in harvesting machinery. W.
must have in the future, what we have moi
now, harvester and binder that will cut
and bind grain in all stages, unless badly
lodged, and deliver it in good condition with.
out watse. Such q machine is demanded
Such machine We must and doubtless shall
have ut no distant day. The best machine.
we now have are merely indices Of what ar
/ TO he. S. NJ. B.