The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-30
The Southern Harvester Cotton Picker.
atlanta Constitution, Nov. 4.

daY at the 0xpOSltlOu. 1ueIo "oio Lhoh y
things to attract the people and interest
them. Probably that which drew the lar
pest crowd during the whole day was the
exhibition given by the Southern Har-
vester Company of their cotton picker in
q field in the northern part Of the exposi-
ton grounds. The crowd that gathered
about the machine just prior to the time
when the exhibition was to be given was
large, and in it there were many mechan-
ical experts and cotton growers from diff
ferent parts of the South.
The exhibition was given on rough
piece of ground, very unfavorable for
successful test. However, the cotton
picking was done 30 perfectly that every
body was surprised and were loud In
their praise of what promises to bring
about a revolution In the cotton industry,
not only in the Southern States OF Ameri-
ca, but throughout the civilized world.
The best evidence that the picker Is q sue
cess is the practical demonstration before
your eyes Of picking the cotton and depos-
Iting It in bags. When you see 1t with
YOUR ewes, as was done yesterday, you
must believe 1t whether you want to or
not.
The best way to explain what the pick
er can do Is to let experts tell 1t. Mr..
Diamond, one Of the most competent
mechanical experts in New England, AZ
ter seeing the exhibition yesterday,
said:
cess. know it will pick the cotton, be.
cause I have seen it do so more than half
q dozen times. Improvements have been
made In it, and each change has rendered
the machine nearer perfect. There are
only two or three defects Of miror char
acter and they can be easily remedied. 1t
is granted by all, believe, that the ma
problem to be solved-the saving of 1t is
q very essy thing. Yes it is success and
a great big success at that"
The testimony Of Mr.. Diamond de-
serves careful consideration for the reason
that he has studied cotton picking for
several months and is familiar with the
plan OF many of the machines coming
before the public, prior to this one.
Mr., w. 8. Van Wrinkle, whom the
Constitution interviewed some weeks ago
relative to the success Of the Southern
Harvester cotton picker, witnessed the
exhibition yesterday. He endorsed the
plan and says:
"From the first time saw the Southern
Harvester cotton picker, I was convinced
that It was success. do not mean to
say that the machine did its work per-
fectly the first time saw It, but that the
plan and design was one which when
perfected would do the work for which 1t
was intended: Several improvements
have been made In It the past month, and
the exhibition given to-day at the EXPOSE
ton. shows that the picker is practically
a success, and will pick the cotton. 1t is
true, as explained by President Blum,
that not more than one-fourth of the wire
brushes were suitable for action in to-
DAYS exhibition. This trouble can easily
be overcome. In fact, as many brushes
as may be needed can be conveniently
placed On the machine, thus enabling it
to pick tho thickest cotton with perfect
ease. The brushes as now placed have
but one motion, but If given four differ
ent motions, which can be easily done,
every boil can. be taken from the stalk.
Some Of the cotton I saw after being pick
ed fell on the ground, but If the underly-
ing platform Is extended about two feet
and q meshed wire screen Is put in the
rear, all the cotton can be saved. have
great hopes Of the future of the picker,
and by another season it will be SO per-
fected as to be ready for the market. At
least that Is our intention"
Mr.. Van Wrinkle, as everybody knows,
is mechanical expert, and his judgment
In the matter is worth probably as much
as that Of any other mans in the United
States.
Mr.. L. R. Turner, of Sing Sing, N. Y,
who Is also familiar with every part OF
mechanics, Is stopping with Mr.. Van
Winkle, experimenting the construction
of some cotton machinery for few New
England mills. He also saw the exhibit
tion at the exposition grounds, and
said.
"The principle upon which the South
ern Harvester cotton picker is built Is
perfect one, and rejoiced to find that one
had at last come to the front promising
rich results. The test to-day shows not
a perfect machine, but one, with few
slight improvements, that will do the
work REQUIRED. The great difficulty
heretofore has been to devise plan that
will successfully take the cotton from the
boil. That has been accomplished in this
machine, as proven by to-day's exhibi-
ton, and the picker, as understand it,
has great future. Next year, when all
Of its defects will have been remedied,
doubtless thousands of the machines will
be sold, and large per cent. Of the cotton
will be picked by them. j
The opinions Of these gentlemen speak
for themselves, and, as the parties are
acknowledged experts in the mechanical
line, 1t is presumed they know what
they ara saying. The farmers and
cotton growers all over the South are
anxiously waiting for these machines,
and 1t is thought that next year their
hopes and dreams may be realized, and
where only 100 pounds Of cotton IS pick
ed to-day by one man, 5000 can be gath
cred with the use Of the picker. It Is to
be regretted that President Blum did not
compete for the gold medal at the exposi-
ton. He says, however, that he was not
hero for the purpose Of showing of his
machine, but Of testing it and letting the
people see just what he had and what he
will be able to furnish them next year.
Mr.. D. NJ. Bell, q merchant and large
cotton grower OF Patillo, Ga, saw the
machine work and thinks 1t will
eventually solve the labor problem In the
South.
"It is q succes," said he, land rejoice
to carry the news to my brother farmers.
Why, It picks the cotton 80 nicely, and
there Is 10 little trash In it."
4 Horse Snapper Mad.