Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-09
ELECTRICITY ON THE FARM.
Agricultural Possibilities of the New
MOtive-POWer.

Engineering MagaZine.-ln some To-
calities there is no reason why cen
tral station could not supply power to
several farms. For example, let US
assume that we are in a neighbOrhOOd
wher farms are so located that we
could find one occupying central po-
sitiOn and four others in a radius OF
one mile. One central farm occupies the
center Of our circle, and the four 9th
ers at the ends Of two diameters in
terSecung at right angles. This as
Sumed location of these farms is :;
good average. Assuming that the max
mum requirement for any one farm
at any time of the year is S horse
power. our central station would then
need for the use of the five farms,
say a 40 horsepower boiler, Il 40 horse
power engine, and 40 horsepower
generator Work win be arranged on
these farms so that every Saturday OF
every other Saturday to suit the sea
son VIII be ''poWer-day," Of Oftenel
when the years cotton crop must be
ginned or the grain crop threshed.
We Will use the standard voltage now
in vogue (5OC volts for transmission
Of power by electricity The s horse
power motor at each farm will cost
about $3.50 at the factory. Two miles
Of insulated wire Zone mile for the out
going and one for the return) Of sufii
cient size to carry the maximum cur
rent with loss Of 10 per cent. viii cost
$1T5. Say the freight and poles will
swell the first cost of the plant fol-
each farm to a total of S625. This
amount would hardly pay for an
horsepower boiler, an horsepower
engine, the pump, the settings of boil
err and engine, q well, smolleStack, and
the erection of abuilding La our cleo
tric-motor system this building is I'M
necessary, for we could place our motor
III the same building in which we have
located our different machines.
For the central station 4 40 horse
power boiler viii cost $500, a 40 horse
power engine the same, and the gen
orator about $650, or say the whole
plant, set up ready TO start would
five farms, would swell up the first
cost OF the farm plants to S94O. We
would have to make our central station
farmer pay the cost of erection Of the
station building, for he has DO line
to pay for. With a system SO arranged
power could be delivered to these diff
erent farms on certain days agreed on
beforehand.
At one time we might see on farm
No. 1 the winters supply of wood be
ing sawed; at No. cotton ginned and
pressed; at No. 3 the sorghum-cane
pIaner or lathe at work; and at No
) a fced-cutter and cOrn-Sheller, OF per-
haps the ensilage-cutter. With this
system the farmer could saw up his
own wood, gin and press his own cot
ton, grind up his feed-stutf and sorgh-
um-cane and cut up his ensilage, etc
A corn or flour mill could be added, and
his toll for grinding saved.
Look at the advantages. The first
cost of the electric system is about
$3.50 or $500 more than the private
steam-plant. The interest on this
amounts to. say, $50 per year. He
saves fOur-fifths of hte wages of a
fireman and assuming wear and tear
to be the same on all engineS) fOurfifths
Of the wear ad tear; he saves in the
hauling of fuel, he saves water he
gets rid of the element of danger from
first Too n11Ich Stress cannot no laid
on this last point. If there should be
waterfall in the community, by means
of q turbine we could use this natural
kinetic energy and save fuel, wear and
tear on boiler and engie, ad other re-
pairs. If this should be the case, there
would be comparison between the
two systems as to economy.
If this motor system We're in vogue,
see how many rainy days could be
utilized. Corn could be ground I'D in.
to feed-stuff for cattle or into meal
for bread, cotton seed crushed, grain
threshed, cotton ginned, wood sawed
into lumber, and in variety Of ways
could something useful be done that
requires power for its operation. How
many prey country homes are allowed
to 60 into ruins for the lack Of board
here or plank there. The fenses
could be repaired but for the lack of
boards. With a saw and planr run
from this electric system there would
. be no excuse for such neglect.