The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-09-05

cultuTal Work, as IN plOWlng. thrash
ing. etc. The test of success was to
be the performance of a journey of at
least two hundred miles on the COM
mon roads of the State at an average
rate Of five miles an hour, working
time. 1t was also stipulated that the
machine should be so constructed as
to run in the ordinary wagon track,
to be able to run backward, and turn
out of the road for the passage of
other vehicles, and to be able to over
come a grade of at least two hundred
feet to the mile. A board of three
commissioners. including Mr.. G. M.
Marshall, the member to whom the
passage Of the law was chiefly 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 a competitive trial appointed for
July Is two Wisconsin machines were
entered. and others from Milwaukee
and Madison had been offered. but
failed to appear at the advertised
time for starting.
The competiting machines were the
.Oshkosh." invented by Schooner &
Farrand, of Oshkosh. and the "Green
Bay. owned by the Cowles Brothers,
Of East Green Bay. The latter proved
the more speedy for short distances,
but broke down so often that it was
practically out of the race. The
"Oshkosh'' made the trip from Fort
Howard to Madison-2Ol miles-in
33h. 27m., thus beating the prescribed
time over IL hours. Over the sand
hills between Waupun and Water
town and Fort Atkinson, 81 miles, in
two hours and ten minutes. Most of
the distance travelled is said to have
been through heavy sand and gravel.
The engineers report no breakages on
the trip, no soaring of teams, and not
a bridge plank disturbed. Through
out the trip the machine hauled a
wagon weighing $500 lbs. While on
exhibition at Oshkosh this load was
increased by about five tons of green
lumber. The machine alone weighs
1890 lbs, with water and fuel 5000
lbs. At Fort Atkinson blowing trial
was had, the details Of which have
not come to us.
The advantages to be gained by the
adoption of steam to ordinary road
traction are enormous, and the be.
havior of the tOshkosh' shows that
practical success is not far off. The
wisdom Of the Wisconsin Legislature
in offering the bounty needs no better
demonstration. The result is pretty
sure to be one, perhaps several, prac.
tical motors, which must add greatly
to the industrial power and wealth
not only of Wisconsin. but of the
world.
The commissioners report that the
Oshkosh" not only made the pre-.
scribed time of 200 miles within the
time allowed, but also hauled loads,
plowed, and otherwise accomplished
in a successful manner every test
mentioned in the law or suggested by
the commission. They are not salts
fed. however, that the machine is. in
the spirit of the law. "a cheap and
practical substitute for the use Of
horses and other animals on the high
ways and farms. They find it I'M
questionably of great advantage in
plowing- threshing ,and heavy hauling
from farm fo farm. and on the high
ways. hut it costs 81 900, and requires
a daily expenditure Of 50 to IS to run
it. Consequently the commissioners
declined to give the prize offered by
the Legislature. though they propose
that the legislature shall make
proper award for what has already
been accomplished. Seeing that near
lg three years remain before the time
of the legislative offer expires, there
would seem to he still sufficient on
ToTtunity for inventors to win the
prize. and as matter of course. the
larger fortune which surely awaits
the creator of a practical motor for
common roads.