Telegram-herald., 1891-09-11
LANSINGS STATE FAIR
soms Of the Attractions shown On
the Gyounds-
HANDSOME blsPLlr OF MACHINES
How The ThssshinE neehiAs aas nses
lmproysd--rrAetion Eaginss asd Nsw-
Easgisd f&rmins lmpismssts-
WaEoa Displaya

The State Fair now in progress Ia
Lansing Is not attracting extraordinary
attention. However yesterday the
grounds wore an animated appearance
eli day, and the visitors were pleased.
The main thing in fair IS to please
the people, and when that is accom-
plisaed half the work of making the
fair success is accomplished. The
State Far appeals more particularly to
farmers. The exhibits are chiefly OF
articles intended TO meet their wants.
In this respect the present fair "a con-
sdered 10 be AS good ~ any that has
ever been held in Michigan. Tie dis
play of thrcshing machines 10 large.
Nearly all the prominent manufacture
ers In the country are represented.
Many new appliances are shown.
Some of these are intended 10 facilitate
the cleaning and stacking OF the straw,
otner appliances are for the better de-
livery of the threshed grain. Others
again do away with the work OF feed
ing the monstrous jaws of the thresher
by hand. The wagon loaded with
sheayes can drive up, and the sheaves
one after another can be thrown
into the carrier by pitchfork.
They arc torn apart, straightcned,
and fed steadily and in correct propor-
ton to the iron toothed throat of the
thrasher. The use of horse power to
drive thrashing machines has been
abandoned. Steam is the only thing
that answers modern requirements.
The rivalry of inventors has brought
some perfect specimens of portable aud
self-pfopelllng engines. The exhibitors
of these machins turn them loose, as IL
were, on the fair ground, and they tear
about IN all directions. They chase
each other IN circles, they dodge about
square corners; they back up and shift
direction, and play like four.footed
animals, in . grotesquc way, and At all
rates of speed. After amuslng them
selves for while in this fashion, the
engines 20 back again to work, the long
belts are placed around the pulleys,
and the complicated grinding, oscillat-
ing and tanning motions of the thrash-
| ing machine begin again to the admir-
alton of the spectators.
Improved Steam Machinery.
Some of the innovations are the max
Il lEH vi otC11A III OOlASAc HlaICu 6t a ulo"
tance. The cylinders, pistons, cranks
and gearing OF the engine are placed
under the body of the thrasher itself
and are supported by the same wheels
and axles as the thrasner. The steam
is conducted through hose from the
distant boiler, and the chief thrasher
with his hand on the lever of the en-
gIne, has it under complete and instant
control. As showing the tendency to-
ward labor saving machines on the
farm, no farmer overloOks the many
new things at the fair for gathering,
curing, and moving away hay. Most
| of these heretofore laborlous things are
now performed by horsepower or by
| steam. All that the farmer has to do
10 to guide bis horses and manipulate
rope or a lever. The machine does
the rest. A novelty in the way of farm
machines is cOrn-husker and fodder
cutter. This invention is placed on
wheels and can be moved about the
field. The cornstalks are fed into it..
The corn neatly and perfectly husked
comes out at one end and 10 elevated
50 that it may drop into wagon box.
At the other end the stalks, chopped
and crushed for food, are also loaded
into wagon. The machine excites
much admiration from farmers.
| Flows and implements.
There is notable exhibition of plows
by all the famous manufacturers of
the country. while the patterns do not
vary much from the conventional
styles. there are still many differences
which are perccptble, and every style
appears to be adapted to it's particular
kind of soil or conditions. The same
tendency toward eparing the human
animal and placing all the toll on mans
quadruped friends has had its influ-
ence on the plow makers. Plows of
many makes are arranged on wheels.
The plowman rides easily to his work.
This has been carried to such IN extent
that even the poems of Mexico are fav.
ored with easy perches of this kind. a.
shown by pictures of the manufacture
ere. 1t is q great advance from the
heavy beam of timber with an iron
prong. common enough in Mexico since
the conquest, and before that in use by
the Moors and the Egyptians. The
line of agricultural imple.
ments for seeding and for
tlling the soil is most extensive.
The variety is sufficient TO encourage
the attention for several hours. II il
this sort of exhibit that endears the fail
to the farmer. and it may be said also
10 the farmers wife. The women have
as much interest in things of this eort
~ their husbands. Invention appears
to run most largely TO the constructing
OF machines to tighten mems labor. II
respect TO machines for domestic use
the fair has nothing to show but wash
ing and sewing machines-and with
nothing at all new IN these lines. There
are also large exhibits of wagons, cartl
and buggies by many manufacturers
The varieties are numerous and tha
finish of some of them is fine. At ths
san,e time the display of the cheaper