Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-11-01
A Cotton Picking Machine.

A Cotton Picking Machine.
The first bale OF cotton ever picked
FROM the field by machinery ia now OIL
exhibition at the Charleston, s. c., Cotton
Exchange. Its condition has been pro-
nounced as good as hand picked cotton OF
the SAINT CRAZE, aud it was conceded that,
If placed among other exhibits, it could
moi be distins uished from hand picked |
cotton.
The machine is the invention OF C. I.
Mason, young mechanic of Sumter, and
it was tested in Mr.. Mason's own cotton
field. 1he Charleston Neps and Courier
says Of the trial:
Although the cotton was very wet from the
long spell of wet weather, and had been
ready for picking Six weeks, the machine,
which was operated by one horse and one
man, harvested cotton at the rate OF over 2UU
pounds an hour, which would be at the rate
OF 2,UUO pounds working day OF ten hours.
MIR. Mason Is by NO means satisfied with |
the present capacity Of the machine, aud
changes are now being made which 1t Ii be-
neyed Will increase Its capacity to about
1000 pounds OF seed cotton day, which ID
very easily SEEM by one unfamiliar with
machinery, that the proposed changes will IN
crea 9 the picking capacity OF the machine. |
Whether 1t will harvest three bales Of cotton
d day remains to be proved. Striking fair |
average, and putting the capacity at two |
bales II day, any cotton planter who ID subject |
to the iutolerable trials and enormous |
expenses OF harvest time will readily appre- |
clate the almost lncalculable value of such u |
machine.
a syndicate has been organized to
manufacture the machines, and the price
put upon them will depend very much
upon the quantity OF cotton that each
machine will harvest in day. 1t will
be the effort of the syndicate, If the
machines are sold outright, to place them
at such figure that they can be paid for
in one season by the saving to the planter
in the cost of harvesting crop. 1t may
be, however, that the policy of those COIL
trolling the patents will be to lease the
machines. The invention is only one of
many gratifying indications OF growth
and activity in the new South.
II is highly satisfactory that two Of the
Dover rioters have been found guilty,
though the fact that one of them ia
inexperienced, and his fellow convict a
iriendless negro, may furnish text for
persons mere and elsewhere who delight
to discover in Delaware's administration
of justice traces OF race prejudice and
social influence. Thomas C. Denney
exiled himself from his home, and this
conviction practically makes his exile
permanent, while Tomlinson, who
lacked the courage to face his
accusers, will get little comfort out of
the States abandonment of the case
against him. While rejoicing at the con.
yiction of some of the accused, EVERY
EVENING can not help feeling keenly that
the tactot the negro Smiths being the sole
victim of outraged justice is matter for
sincere regret, when Denney, whose
superior lights made him infinitely the
greater criminal, goes scot free.
Ex Collector Simmons of Boston, whose
career in Office ended somewhat under a
cloud, is low supporter of General
Butler, and Simmons successor, Collector
AlaDsOn W. Beard, declares that upon
taking office he discovered that there had
been gross Irregularities in Simmons ad-
ministrstion. MI. Beard adds that all
| FL l..
Department at Washington. To this the
Post replies with the queries,
why Mr.. Beard was silent ali this time,
aud whether Mr. Summons aesertion
of the Republican party is not the secret
of Boards sudden calling up of old scores.
beard ia admonished by the Post that he
should at once prove his charges or
humbly apologize to Simmons, and adds
) that however true they may be Mr.. Beard
must suffer in public opinion for having
80 long remained silent with such
, knowledge in his possession, 1t does
look as if Mr., Beard had put his foot in it.
, Eeninsular farmers will be interested
TO no little degreein circular just issued
= railroad giving this years. crop statistics
, of Dakota. The total acreage OF wheat was
44J, 200, aud the average yield 81 bushels
r per acre; of oats, 30, $50, and the aver
e age So bushels per acre; Of rye, 22,510,
= tho average so bushels per acre; OF