Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-23
THRESHING MACHINERY.

"Of the magnitude of the threshing ma
chine exhibit | can convey but little idea.
There were about a dozen English
and German firms represented, with port
able engines Of from 10 to 80 horse power,
with threshers and stackers of proportion
ate size The manufacture of steam ma
chinery has evidently reached perfection In
both England and Germany, and [ can
say nothing except in commendation of
this exhibit. The showing of dozen
| engines and threshers on a fair ground by
one manufacturer would be considered
| folly in the United States, but here many
sales aremade he grounds, and hence
| it is desirable to have full variety.
can not speak Of the practical working of
the threshing machines. They are huge,
clumsy looking affairs, not finely finished
nor deliberately decorated; but, I have no
doubt, they are durable Ten hours
work with one Of the large machines with
good oats would be about LOO bushels
| This would be considered a poor estimate
with good oats in Illinois or Iowa with a
Is horse power engine. Wire tooth spring
hay rakes were shown IN abundance. as
were also hay tedders, both being heavy
and roughly constructed.
CARRIAGES AND FARM WAGONS.
1.-The display in both these lines was
good but we have nothing in the United
States to compare with them. The car
riages are ali heavy, and always intended
to have a driver on high seat in front
Nothing like an American surrey, carriage,
buggy, phaetOn, or road cart is found here,
all carriages are heavy, cumbersome, and
pOnder0us, a load for team of themselves.
The farm wagons are huge affairs, with
pOnderoUS woodwork and rough black
smith work AS an object of curiosity
one of these wagons exhibited under a
tent at circle of American fairs would
be a fOrtune-making object. Lawn mowers
were formerly imported from Philadelphia
but now, in conformity with the desire to
make everything here for home use, the
Germans have begun their manufacture
Like all these they undertake, they have
increased the weight Of the castings and
made them heavier and clumsy looking.
PRICES OF AMERICAN VS.. GERMAN MA
CHINERY.
ut has been claimed by certain class
# American political economists that the
american farmer paid more for his ma
chinery than do the farmers of Europe
| have not table of prices Of American
machinery and tools from which | can
make comparisons; but I desire to say
this. that the agricultural machinery on
exhibition at this exposition, if fair sam
ple-and have every reason to believe it
is-wouId with the exception Of the steam
engines none Of which aye traction or self
propelling), meet with nothing but ex-
pressions Of disgust from American far
mers. Ii is not equal in finish to IT," ma
chinery in common use in the United
States thirty years ago. 1t is heavy, coarse,
rough and wholly unsuited to work in any
but a sandy or gravelly soil. The prices
given are, therefore. with the exceptions
Of the American-made machines on ezhibi
ton. not TO be compared with American
high finished, light and easy-workiDg ma
ines and implements, but with what
might be called second or third class ma
chimes made by some amateur workmen
in backwoods country shop thirty or forty
years ago"
And yet free traders absurdly argue that
the retail prices OF American agricultural
machinery, already much cheaper to
American farmers than similar articles tc
the farmers of any other country in the
world, would be forced down by the COM
petition OF these wrecked limitations.