The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-03-18
\ STEAM PLOW VS. DROUI III
AN0 SHORT CROPS.

Nj. r Ibert Crenzbsur, familiar
name with our older citizens, the in
ventOr of motor plow and cultivator,
believed to be of great superiority,
is now in Austin. MIC. came to this
place in 1s45, and was for many years
chief craftsman in the General Land
Office, and while there made the first
map of the State Of Texas, then known
as CJrdovs's map. Upon the discov-
cry of gold in California, Mr.. C. pub
ished minute description and gen.
eral map, with four large sectional
maps, representing the routes dIscov-
cred under various explorat ons, so
combined as to give a select continu-
GUS rol.c from the gulf coast to Ell
Psso. and 10y the Gila route TO San
Diego, aud up ;he coast OF California,
and also thr0u h the Iosgrim valley to
San Francisco. An exploration, con-
GernIug the route through Texas, had
Just been completed By Col. Ford, now
doing serY;ce as Superintendent of the
d of eni Dumb Asylum, who was &C
compsnied in this work by the well
rem INBRED Iltian agent, Major
Neighbors. Aftcr the lapse of third
of q century, this route then Sd ex-
plored aud selected with the view of a
railroad, Is being built upon. During
Governor Passes administration, Mr..
G. located and surveyed for the state
420 600 acres of asylum and school
lands, carefully selected In the counties
of Stephens, E.stlsnd, Shsckelford
aud CllIahan. His. elaborate maps of
these lands evince accuracy and great
expenditure OF labor. During the
late wsr, Mr.. O. applied his
mechanical talents in devising
means OF defense for Texas,
md his plans presented at Richmond
met he approval of Pot. MAury. But
ls was of an agricultural machine we
proposed to tell. Mr.. G. assures US
that this long promised "stesm plow,"
the perfection and construction of
which has led him to reside of late in
New York, Is by no means abandoned,
out, on the contrary, has been perfect
ed to a degree not even anticipated by
The inventor, and 1t will In due time
be brought before the public for opera
tion. Ii is we'll known that the dry
ness of Western Texas gives compare
tive immunity from the cotton worm,
and that this climatic condition induces
fineness of toer. By adding to thor
ough cultivation breaking of soil six
teen inches deep, without even turning
it over, and perfect culture, at the rate
of forty acres per day, during the
growth of crops, even long drouths
could be made comparatively harmless,
and crops could thus be increased one
hundred per cent. As a theoretical
inventors steam plow gives little
promise to the practical man, it
becomes proper TO mention that
Mr. @. Is not only an so-
complished mechanical engineer, but
for years has followed the plow in per-
son both in Missouri and Texas, and
has tested the peculiar tools which he
employs IN his machine. The unpro-
fessionsl has no conception of the diff
ficulties In the way of producing per-
feet machine of this kind and at a cost
within the reach of farmers of moder-
ate means. The main difficulty with
Mr.. G. has been with the motor. Mr..
G. is convinced that steam as used in
steam engines and as applied to the
clumsy and costly English steam
plows, of which there are great many
in use, is totally unfit for our Western
and Southern prairies, where the con-
sumption of large amount of water
and fuel, to say nothing of the danger
of such engines in common farm handle,
is great, and in many localities pro-
hIbitory objection. The plow part,
both for breaking and cultivsting crops,
having bssn long perfected, Mr.. C.'s
present and final problem is the adsp-
Ia ion to this "Land Tiller" of his
"Vspor Motor" a simple, non-explo-
sive machine requiring little fuel and
no replenlshing of water, and which
has been endorsed by that eminent
man of practical science, Professor
Wander Wyde, of New York. The
Importance of such machine in Tex.
as can hardly be overestimsted, and it
is hoped Mr.. Q. is not too sanguine in
his expectstions. Want of help and
hard times have caused standstill in
the enterprise during some years, but
We trust that so important matter, If
soundly based, will not again be al
lowed to suffer under such delay.