The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-06-08
n CHINER Y AT TEE FAIR.
GREAT PROGRESS SHOWN IN
AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY.

fhe Display OF Agricultural Ma
chinery one OF the Most Inn
portant I xhlbits-The
Northwest Well
Represented.
The display of agricultural machinery
In the southeast corner Of the agricultural
palace of the Columbian exposition is
considered by those who have investi-
gated and examined the similar exhibits
at the Paris and Centennial expeditions
as the finest ever made. It covers a
wide area of the first floor and yet the
space to each exhibitor is limited, and
in most cases intentionally SO. The
confidence inspired in most Americans
that no other nation can compete with
them in the variety and excellence of
contriyances for Tightening the toll of the
tiller of the soil and in increasing the
effectiveness and power Of a single labor
er, has led them to make the most pos
sible Of their resources in this exhibit.
The great and worldwide known man
ufacturers of agricultural machinery, have
each the largest amount of space allotted
to them, while the lesser lights have
sometimes to put up with very contract
ed limit of floor space. These large firms
limit themselves to that class Of ma
tchinery in which they expect to excel
their competitors. Nearly every company
manufactures very many machines which
they do not exhibit at all because some
other concern makes a speciality Of them
and would naturally have the best chance
Of coming out first in the competition.
No other nation has attempted to enter
the lists against the United States except
Germany IN the matter Of drill seeders and
a few other minor displays Of machinery
which suggest agriculture on small
scale. The United States exhibitors in
this section, however,, fear no competi-
ton N foreign countries because as they
say, we have met all the other nations
on neutral ground in the actual COM
petition of foreign trade, and the superior
lty, adaptability and durability Of our
machines have so demonstrated them
selves that we have experienced no
trouble in selling them, even where the
natural aptitude of the buyer favors some
| nationality other than the Yankee" The
skill Of the American in adapting the
| best means of reaching a required end
and of deyising all sorts of machinery
for tightening toll has made him master
N the production of all kinds of agricul-
!ural macrlIery. Nature and surround
mgs have aided the American largely in
this work. The farmer here has had to
Till large areas and to do it as cheaply
| as possible because his products came
! into competition with those produced by
the cheap labor of all nations. Cheap
| ness and amount of produce have been
| the two problems which have confronted
him. The result has been that labor
saving machinery was a necessity. Skill
ana ingenuity and wise patent law did
the rest. The outcome was that Amer
lean agricultural machinery obtains the
preference IN every market where it is
known. met man the other dav who
had travelled for leading agricnltmrai
machinery house in every state and ma
ton upon the American continent as an
agent for the sale of their goods. He
said that be found no competitors worth
mentioning save his own countrymen.
~ 4T, Gnlle, Argentine Republic, Paraguay,
ne found that American machinery ha
/ taken the place of all foreign makes and
mat 1T was giving entire satisfa elton.
He said that there was an increase in this
Inc OF trade every year. GU. perhaps. >
said q. he would not believe, ''but have seen
as me a. helds OF wheat in Argentine Re
public as the sun ever shone upon. It
j was being cut by American Irvine binders.
i The demand for American made headers
! is becoming very large on account of the
! quickness in which grain ripens, and I
! look to see them in use there altogether
before many years elapse." ~.
I In looking over the exhibit, as a whole,
it will be noticed that there has been
much pride taken in the appearance of
the machinery. There is nickel plating
everywhere, plenty of paint and varnish
and an abundance of the finest quality
OF hardwoods in the construction This
trick has been learned rather late in the
| day by exhibitors in foreign countries
who come in competition with all kinds
of agricultural machinery with silver
mountings and mahogoney finish. These
| foreigners are generally of the opinion
that agricultural as well as all other ma
chinery should shine like a new dollar
and remind the observer of the interior
furnishings of one of the palaces of the
Hohenzollern's; consequently, American
machinery has often been at a disad-
vantage in mary expositions. The United
States is not to be outdone, however, in
that regard, at this exposition. Every
thing is secured up until you can see
yourself in it, and nickel plating can be
chine, even down to a potato digger and
an ordinary plow. This trick of outward
appearance has not been attended to by
Americans in other exhibits, much to
their disadvantage when compared to the
displays of the foreigners.
in looking over the exhibit as whole.
The principal aim in the construction OF
agricultural machinery during the last
ten years seems to have been to secure
lightness, strength and durability, some
times at the expense Of effectiveness and
much as possible is being constructed out
Of steel, which gives strength and light.
ness as compared with wood. The old
plan Of casting in iron all the heavier
portions Of machinery, especially the
framework, is going out Of fashion, and
steel IS taking its place. This gives
strength and durability no less than light.