The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-10-30

jured tine or pillow is removed to the
blacksmith shop for repairs.
Mr.. Blackie informed me that plow-
ing fourteen acres is an average days
work The ground, when 1 saw it, was
hard and dry, but after being plowed I
it was SO well pulverized as to be difficult /
and tiresome to walk upon, the character /
OF the work done being so perfect. The
soil is thoroughly turned over, there be-
ing no misses or hard patches, as is fire. /
quently the case with bullock-plowing. /
In word, to sum up Fowler's steam .
pillow, it Is the most ingenious and effect /
i've continuance employed in agriculture. |
1t accomplishes the most stupendous |
task in connection with sugar-cane !
raising avoiding the vexation OF |
spirit and expenditure of forcible |
language which are too frequently, |
but often pardonably, used by the driver |
of half broken bullocks or OF the still |
more unmanageable animal, an obdurate
mule. 1t has only to be seen to
be appreciated. There are now five |
steam plows on these Islands, and more /
must surely follow. Whoever has 1000 !
acres or more to plow ought certainly to !
buy one. To 20 on blowing in the old
way when a steam pillow can be had for
moderate sum would not be in accord |
ance with the progressive spirit OF the
planters, and to revert to animal power
after having once used the steam pillow
would be an act OF folly.
The experimental stage OF the steam
plow has passed, and it is now pro-
nounced success. The pioneer steam
pillow on the island of Kauai is that of
which | write, now on the estates OF the
Kilauea Sugar Company, and its intro
duction is due to the capital and enter
prise of Robert A Macfe, Esq, of Dreg-
horn, Scotland, President OF the com
panv. The work done by these engines
and plows has not been confined to Kill
auea They have also been worked on
the Princeville plantation, thus proving
the practicability of their being moved
from one part of the island to the other
AS many of your readers must know, IN
order to travel from Kilauea to Hanalei,
and vice versa the Kalihiwai river has
to be crossed. The scOw conveys pas
sengers, horses, and even bullock carts,
but it is totally inadequate to carry
twelve-ton engine. To get to Hanalei
the engines must go through the stream,
which at the time they were transported
was about eight to nine feet deep. This
was successfully accomplished under the
direction of Engineer Blackie. As the
boilers and furnaces were completely i'm
mersed, it was impossible to propel them
by their own locomotive power. Bullocks
alone could not drag the engines through
| the soft bed of the river, consequently
| other steps had to be taken. The main
difficulty was get one engine across, as
steam could then be got up and the
| second engine dragged across, as the
pillow is dragged across the rugged field.
| 1t was effected, however, in the following
manner: One engine got up steam and
was placed broadside on to the stream,
as though it were a field about to be
plowed. The wire traction rope was
| hauled across, passed through a block
securely anchored on the opposite shore,
| the end returned to the starting point and
| securely fastened to the first engine to
be transported The order to ego ahead"
was given and while one engine remained
! stationary, the other was successfully
landed on the other shore. The one on
! the Hanalei bank then did like service
for it's helpmate, the task being much
easier, however, the pull being direct
Both engines then proceeded by their
own motive power to their destination on
the uplands of the Princeville plantation.
The return journey was accomplished in
a similar manner.
have described this part OF the
work somewhat at length, if but imper-
fectlv, with the hope of conveying the
idea of what can be done with Fowler S
patent steam pillow in the way OF trans
portation. Where the grade IS very
steep it is impossible to keep water in
both ends of the boilers, but by resort
inc to ingenious devices and exercising
good Judgment and care, even these
difficulties can be overcome. There IS,
however. an obstacle on nearly every
road to be travelled. 1t is not insur-
mountable, but it is inevitably encount-
cred whichever direction is sought.
refer to the present state of the bridges.
1t NAV be truthfully said that the
BRIDGES were built before the stea m
blows were introduced, but as their use
must soon become general on all large
plantations, the bridges to be built IL
=, future should be made sufficiently strong
to bear the weight OF a steam plow engine
Our provident Government will no doubt
look to the interests OF the country II
: this matter without any further sugges-
I tons. Wherever the steam pillow travels
q the road is benefited thereby. Eacf
p engine is a perfect steam roller OF a mucf
, larger size than those at present LOCATED
e, in the Government yard in Honolulu
For general traction purposes they are
n invaluable.
: Kilauea, Kauai, Oct. oath. b.