Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-11-28
Steam on Com m on Roads.

Two years ago the Legislature OF MS
consin offered prize Vi $4,000 fora sue
cessful road motor, propelled by steam or
otherwise. 10 be used as a substitute for
draught cattle on common roads ana for
ordinary agricultural work, as in plowin-,,
threshing, etc. The text of the law. was
printed in the Scientific An. 80, g.. Iaul-
ary %, 1876. The test Oi So. ,.ss r.., -
be the performance OF Il jou.. ! q al
least two hundred miles on the comm-r
roads Of the State at an average rate Of five
miles an hour, working time. Il; was also
stipulated that the machine should be So
constructed as to ruN in the ordinary wag-
on track. to be able to run backward and
turn out of the road tor the passage of
other vehicles, and to be able to overcome
a grade of at least two hundred feet to the
mile. "A board of three commissioners.
including Mr.. G.. NJ Marshall. the member
to whom the passage of the law was chief
| ly due, was appointed by the.Governor to
witness the prescribed test, and such others
as they might suggest.
| The effect of the law has clearly been to
stimulate in a marked degree the inventors
of the State, seeing that at competitive
trial appointed for July 18th two Wiscon-
sin machines were entered. and others from
Milwaukee and Madison had been offered,
but failed to appear at the advertised time
for starting.
The competing machines We're tie ''Osll-
kosh," invented by Schooner & Farrand,
Oshkosh. and the "Green Bay" owned by
the Cowles Brothers. of East Green Bay.
The latter proved the more speedy for
short distance. but broke down so often
that it was practically out of tie race. Tho
''Oshkosh' made the trip from Fort How
ard to Madison-201 miles-n 33 hours y
minutes, thus beating the prescribed time
over - hours. Over the sand hills be-
tween Waupon and Watertown the ma
chine is said to have traversed thirty-two
miles in little over four hours. Another
quick run was made between WatertOwn
and Fort Atkinson, twenty-one miles. In
two hours and ten minutes. Most of the
distance Travelled is said to have been
through heavy sand and gravel. The en-
gineers report 40 breakage on the trip, no
soaring of teams, and not a bridge plank
disturbed. Throughout the trip the ma
cline hauled a wagon weighing $3.50
pounds. While on exhibition at Oshkosh
this load was increased by about five tons
of green lumber. The machine alone
weighs iSV0 pounds, with water and fuel
q cnn .>-..---i- I,-...s--L .t-:----
ing trial was had, the details Of which have
not come 10 us.
The advantages to be gained by the
adaptation of steam 10 e.r'linGry road trac-
ton are enormous, and the behavior of the
Oshkosh" shows that practical success in
this direction not far of. The wisdom
of the Wisconsin Legislature in offering
the bounty needs no better demonstration.
The result is pretty sure 10 be one, per-
haps several. practical motors. which must
add greatly to the Industrial power and
wealth not only OF Wisconsin, but Of tho
world.
The commissioners report that the ',Osh-
koSh' not only made the prescribed trip Of
200 miles within the time allowed. but also
hauled loads, plowed and otherwise ac-
complished in Il successful manner every
test mentioned in the law, or suggested bv
the commission. They are not satisfied.
however, that the machine is, IN the spirit
of the law, "a cheap and practical substi-
tute tor the use Of horses and other ami
mails on the highways and farms" They
find it unquestionably of great advantage
in plowing, threshn., and heavy hauling
fl ON farm to farm, and on the highways,
but it costs 81 .0GG, and requires daily eX-
penditure of from 81 to SIS to run it. Con-
sequently the commissioners decline to
give it the prize offered by the Legislature,
though they propose that the Legislature
shall make proper award for what has
already been accomplished. Seeing that
nearly three years rernai1, before .- lime
OF the Legislative offer expire. ,n.te would
seem to be still sufficient opportunity tor
inventors to win the prize. and, - matter
of course, the large fortune which awaits
the inventor of practical motor tor cons
mon roads.