Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-08-18
A PRIME MOVER.
Wind Power Mills a Great Boon "a
the Western Farmer.

In this year Of prosperity to the West
ern farmer he is not disposed to feel an
other time may come when he will not
need water as he has in years past, when
crops have burned up from drouth and
his stock die from n lack OF good water
at the right time, easily procured, without
labor. When he places his order this
year for the best labor-saving machinery,
q wind mill to pump his water is one OF
the first thoughts, and thousands of these
wind harnesses will dot the ~prairies next
year.
Perhaps OF all machines on the farm
there has none advanced more rapidly
In favor and as labor savers than the
modern wind mill.
Fifty years ago the old four and six
arm mill, rudely constructed. was made
at the cross roads shop, but what Nc
Cormick and others did for the harvest.
ers, Perkins did for the wind mill. This
genius among inventors virtually har-
messed the winds and made the wind mill
do his bidding.
This pioneer in this work devoted his
life to devising means to utilize the ele-
ments for power useful to man, and when
he died his life earnings went to charities
that will endear his name to thousands OF
young men and women who are being ed
ucated and made better citizens by his
! life work.
When Mr.. Perkins made the first self
regulating wind mill his name became a
household word among the progressive
farmers of the East. But he did not
stop here. Water lifting for stock and
house use was but the entering wedge
FOR wind power. The possibilities of the
great West opened TO him, and for prac-
teal demonstration he purchased land ! N
Kansas, where his irrigating mills were
successfully used and have become a boon
to the small farmer.
His attention was early attracted to the
deep well sections, where stock went
miles to the streams to quench their
thirst. Here he constructed q special
mill that is in general use among the
large stock growers, and they do their
duty far from human habitation, month
after month, furnishing cattle with cold
water from the bowels Of old mother
earth, having no human care, lonely bea-
cons on the unbroken prairies.
The browning triumph was the power
mill that bears his name. His familiarity
with farm life and it's hardships and
cares early led him to devise plans where
by the farmer could use his mill for other
purposes than drawing water. His early
plans were crude, but he was nothing IL
not progressive. and the Perkins power
wind mill Of to-day is n thing OF beauty
and a JOY to the farmer. This powerful
wind engine not only supplies water for
the largest farms and forces ii to all
parts Of the farmers dwelling, but with
a perfect system Of transmission it en-
ables the farmer to cut his fodder, buzz
bis wood, sharpen his tools, and while he
sleeps this safe and ~tireless machine
grinds his feed by night or day and trans
mits ii to the storage bins.
This old inventors "den'' at the factory
at Mishawaka, Ind. is a study for the
curious and the student Of wind power
never tires Of the sights there presented
to him.
This good mans aim was always on
ward and upward, and his success was,
as it is with his successors, t. make the
best, believing competition would regu-
late itself with common sense. His boast
was that his mill controlled the wind and
not the wind his mill, hence they stand
where others fall.