The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-09-16

Hoosier Hay Carrier, which has received thu
compliment of a silver medal at every State Fai
for the last five years. The Walter A. Wood
| Self-Binder, the harvester which attracted 81
much attention, also represented by Mr.. Davis
was sold by him to Mr. David Crumrine, OF farn
| Ridge 1t has cut and bound SO acres OF grail
| this season.
Near Mr.. Davis grounds was w. j. Hanna 4
Co.'S Hay Press-u novelty here. 1t was kept il
operation every day, and baled tons OF hay, ant
was surrounded by crowds OF grangers, wht
unanimously testified to its excellence.
Cushman's Grader and Ditcher, made here
also, came in for much favorable comment.
Another Ottawa firm that created not little
praise for the excellence OF their manufactures
was A. Maierhofer & Co., makers of plows and
cultivators Their exhibit was not excelled by
any in plows-the "Clipper" and others; while
their cultivators--the "Ottawa Success" "Prairie
Bird" &c, were admired by every one. They
also exhibited harrows and minor manufactures
OF surety, Ottawa's manufacturing capabilities
we're not in the least doubted, during this fair
at least.
In minor matters: Clark, White e Co, Utica
presented specimens Of their well known drain
and roofing tile. Poolcr IL Jones showed a sec
ton or so of their new barbed fence, which is
rapidly growing into favor. John Mayer, Otta-
wa, exhibited section of bis iron fencing Of an
elaborate pattern.
1t should be mentioned that no premiums
were offered on any article exhibited in the me.
chanical department, the highest evidence OF
appreciation which the committees were al
lowed to award being diplomas or silver medals
and these only on few articles.
In summing up the mechanical department.
we can only add that the general display was
beyond precedent at any State Fair, not only OF
those held in Ottawa but, as we have reason to
believe, the largest and best in Illinois, alike
creditable to the managers of the fair, who had
this feature in charge, and to the energetic com.
petitors who had their manufactured goods to
show. 1t is a matter of supreme pleasure to
witness such evidences of improvement in farm
ers implements as this fair has shown.
The farmer boy, born in La Sale county even
but forty years ago, well remembers the old
fashioned hoe, with its unscourable face, its
quarter of-an.inch thick edge, its ponderous
weight and clumsy handle; the pillow, with rough
iron share, wooden mould board and the paddle
carried in a leather strap on the beam or right
handle, and that the labor Of cleaning the pillow,
which had to be done every ten rods or so, was
almost as great as that of holding the unwieldy
machine itself. He will also remember that
wheat was threshed by fails or tramped out by
horses or oxen, and winnowed out by pouring it
from height upon sheet. flaming mills in
that day were thus simply and imperfectly con-
structed. AS an improvement upon the manner
OF threshing came the cylinder machine, without
separator or straw carrer-wheat, straw, chat
and all coming out together, to be separated as
best they might He can also call to mind the
days of dropping corn by hand, and the tedious
process of not only covering it with hoe, but
of cultivating it by the same laborious means.
Now the change is wonderful, as was exempli-
fled in the splendid and almost perfect machinery,
for not only these but all the varied labors Of the
farmers occupation. We say that we are proud
to witness these evidences Of progress, and more
especially as the machinery to which We refer,
and of which there was SO magnificent display
at our late fair, mostly owe their origin TO the
enterprise and inventive genius o. citizens Of
our nation, state and city.