The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-11-20
A Cotton Picker at the Exposition.

Away over behind the Manufacturers
building, in the hollow, is cotton field.
That cotton field was planted by the Ex-
position for the purpose of exhibiting
machine which seems to be successfully
accomplishing what has been almost uni
versally declared to be impossible. or
course, there is almost no such thing as
an i'm possibility, Though anything can be
proved so. This machine behind the
Manufacturers building is picking cot
ton, and picking it to the entire satisfact-
ion of the people who see it. 1t is at
tracting great deal of attention, probably
one hundred and fifty people visiting 1t
every day. The directors want it moved
up near the agricultural building, where
it can be easily seen and be within the
reach of the hundreds Of cotton planters
who can hardly believe that such thing
can be done. AS it is now located it is
necessary to 20 to the east end of the
electricity building aud climb down
steep flight Of steps to the ravine, cross
small bridge and pass through little
clump Of trees. OF course where the
machine now is, the field is typical cot
ton field, and the machine is practically
where 1t will do the field work, while If
it were in special exhibit place, there
might be doubt in the minds of the be-
holders as to Its ability to work in the
field.
The curious part of the whole matter is
that Canadian has conceived and exc
cuted the idea Of this successful cotton
picker. Perhaps it is best, for the in
ventor, not knowing the traditions OF the
cotton fields, was unhampered, and
worked only from the possibilities OF the
mechanical end. He saw that under ex-
isting conditions, not only was it difficult
to harvest the cotton crop before rains
Commenced. but that when 1t was har-
vested, it sold at so low price that the
profits were quite eaten up. So he en-.
deayored to get machine which would
pick cotton, pick it clean, and at the same
| time ipjure neither the plant nor the
buds. blossoms, squares or green bolls.
| According to the testimony OF the people
who have seen it, and who have written
on the book at the field their opinions,
| the machine accomplishes all this, and
picks cotton equal to the best hand pick
| ing.
Some of the testimonials are from the
best known cotton plantersin the South,
and read very favorably. One man from
Mississippi Gays: "It is tie grandest OF
Inventions" Another says that "the ma,
chine does what Is claimed for 1t, and the
cotton picked is equal to the best hand
picked.n The testimonials are all favor
able, and the surprise Of the men who
have seen it is great.
The inventor claims thai the machlne
will do the work of forty pickers. 1t re-
| uuires two men and two mules, though
| the two mon can be reduced to six If four
machines are used, as one Of them has
! merely to attend to the removal Of the
bags as they become filled with picked
cotton. The picking Is plished by
means of slender needles, which enter
the cotton plant at right angles to the
direction Of the machine, by retrograde
motion remain stationary in the plant,
| revolving at the same time, until the ma
chine has passed its length, when they
are Withdrawn, carrying with them 81
per cent OF the cotton on the plant. The
cotton Is not injured in the least, and Is
cleanly lifted out of the bolls, without the
trash which good, fast picker will almost
inevitably get.
It seems to be the opinion Of the plant
ers who have seen the machine at work
that 1t tis an invention of equal importance
with the cotton gin, and that 1t will revo-
| lutionize the cotton industry. Mr..
Campbell, the inventor, says that the
machine is almost ready for the market
He has been at work on 1t for number
of years and has watched the numerous
cotton pickers which have been, from
time to time, placed before the public.
There was always great defect, however,
| in each one. One would ipjure the green
boil; another would thresh the leaves to
strips, and still another pulled shucks
and all into the picked cotton.
1.-THE work that this machine Is doing
| in the field on the exposition grounds is
satisfactory, then the machine is success,
for the field is a typical cotton field, and
Is an average growth OF cotton. The
opinions of all who have seen it are the
same. They say that it is successful
cotton picker for average upland cotton,
and that seems to be about all that can be
desired.
The secretary of the company is at the
grounds every day at 8 O. clock, and he
says that the crowds increase every time
the machine isoperated, and their surprise
is great, though after they have seen the
machine work, it is with perfect willing
ness that they say 1t is successful ma
chine. The operation was witnessed by
a Constellation representative few days
ago, and the enthusiasm was evidently
i real.