The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-01-23

The cheapest II olive power in existence
is the force of the wind. 1t can be utilized
without preparation no reservoirs, dams,
or fumes are needed to apply it to- our
machinery, and the proper engine alone is
tn be provided. In some countries wind
power is extensively used. The traveller
in Europe scarcely loses sight OF wind
mill in his Journeys, and in places the
landscape is thickly dotted with them.
Substantial grist mile, which have faced
the brrfZes for centuries, still wave their
arms, and promise TO do 30 for centuries
more. Mncn pumping and drawing is done
by these mills, and thousands of acres
are either watered By irrigation or dried
by drainage, aud rendered valuable and
productive by their help. few years ago
u windmill was al unusual sight in this
country, except in the very oldest por-
lions. We were not sufficiently settled
people, and did not remain long enough
in one place to make it profitable tn build
such substantial mills IA have been so long
in use in other countries; We needed
cheaper and more quickly constructed
mills. Those which we could then pro-
cure were not satisfactory; they were
slightly built, and were not able to take
care of themselves when the breeze be-
came a gale or hurricane. Recently our
mechanics have turned their attention TO
wind engines, aud great improvements
have been made in their construction.
them, all of them useful, but differing
chiefly in their degree of adoption to vary
ing circumstances. At the recent Illinois
State Fair there were no less than thirteen
different wind engines on exhibition, from
the small one, eight feet in diameter, cost
ing but 800, of but half horse power,
and fitted for pumping stock water or
churning, to those of 30 or 40 horse power,
costing SO 900, and able to run grist mill
or a wooden factory. Between these .ex-
tremes there are number of mills capable
of adaptation to almost every purpose for
which power is needed on the farm or in
the workshop. A mill % feet in diameter,
costing about $500, has a power of five
horses; two-horse power mill is about 16
feet in diameter, and cost about 1926.
This cost is less than that of steam en-
CINE, and q wind engine needs neither fuel
nor skilled attendance, neither is there
danger of fire, or explosion from acct
dent or carelessnees. The wind engines
are now made self regulating, and in
q sudden storm close themselves. They
are also made to change their position as
the wind changes, facing the wind at all
times. With these engines one may saw
wood or lumber, thrash, pump, hoist hay
or straw with the hay fork, she'll corn,
grind OF cut feed, plane lumber, make
sasbes or doors, orrun any machinery what
ever. There is but one drawback, when
the wind stops the mill stops. For work
that may be done when it is convenient to
do it, as most of the mechanical work on a
farm is done, these engines are exactly
what is wanted. On the Western Prairies,
and almost everywhere, except in sheltered
valleys in the East, We have wind enough
and to spare, which offers to power
that is practically incalculable and illimit
able, and the means of utilizing this power
is cheaply given to us in the numerous ex-
celent wind engines now manufactured.
In fact, 50 cheaply can these mile be pro-
cured, that it will not pay for any person
to spend his time in making ono, although
he may be a sufficiently good mechanic TO
do it.-Americam -4grieulturist.