The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-08

has a modern farmhouse, leads the
progressive farmers of Blue Earth coun-
ty. His homestead is seven miles from
the nearest town, yet the ordinary in
conveniences Of farm life are almost
unknown. Mr.. Thompson is one of the
boy attended the log schoolhouse that
is one Of the memories Of the district.
His first Improvement beyond a large
house and comfortable barns was
windmill and waterplant. The latter
consists of large tank at sufficient
elevation to force the water thru mains
leading to the house, barns and across
the road to the pasture trough. Hot and
cold water can be drawn in the kitchen
and in the barns the cold is near at
hand for the CATTLE ..4, r. "...-.'
The wooden walks were next taken
>up and cement walks laid around The
>house and outer buildings The lawn
was enclosed by picket fence which
entailed the: trouble, of opening the
gate; so, in the interest of greater ease,
the younger son trained his dog to per-
form this duty by pat of his paw on
Installs a. Gas Plant. .- .,.
The comfort Of the earlier improve
ments and the, prosperous outcome of
/ "a wheat crop led to- further advance
ment. Last year the oil lamps and dim
lanterns were doomed when a gas plant
was installed. 1.-The gas is formed by
forcing air thru gasolene; in the cellar
into waterseal case, which is filed
daily by a few minutes work at the
air pump. This is surmounted by a
tray containing several hundred pounds
of sand, which supplies the necessary
pressure. A pipe leads out of=the air
tank thru the cellar wall to a cemented
pit, in which the car bonator and supply
supply barrel and carbonator are con-
nected by a needle-point valve which
feeds the gasolene to the carbonator
in proper quantities.
This little valve is so great labor.
saving device that it is the treasure of
the plant. Its use was introduced fol-
the first time at Mr.. Thompson IS, and
was the idea of George Wilder, who in
| stalled the plant. Mr.. Wilder and Mr.
Thompson watched and worked over il
for some months before they succeeded
in regulating it to-: the twenty five
lights. It has worked satisfactorily
the pit is visited only thrice year
when the supply barrel is reflled. The
new mode Of lighting requires three
barrels Of gasolene year for lights ant
range, to two and a half barrels Of
kerosene, merely for lights, under thu
old way. =. o."
| Not at All Complicated. s.
| The working of the plant is extreme
on a draught is created by the releas
of the air under pressure Of the sand
this air is forced thru the pipe, between
two perforated glass plates, into tn
carbonator where the real gasmakinI
begins. AS the liquid bubbles and i
! evaporated by the air, the supply valv
begins to work and replaces in the cal
bonator the exhausted gasolene. /
! "T''s pipe leads. the gas from the cal
bonator to the house lights, range AM
three outdoor, lamps. One Of the lamp
a position that it sends it's rays dow
the stall row, and when the door beyon
is open, lights the stanchion row NOR
brightly than the banished lanterns.
One Of the picturesque reminders Q
earlier days is an cold oaken bucket
well near the side door. But in, thi
case the we'll is cistern and the cram
winds up buckets of soft water to b
; heated in the range tank for the batl
room. .,s.z: a... D. =
Steam Heat Next. 4.-
The distance Of the estate from st;
tion is matter Of little account, fe
the rural delivery passes the door dali
and most Of the neighbors, the twi
cities, and stations along the line, ca
be called up over the desk phone.
present Mr.. Thompson home is tt
most comfortable in the township, b.
he is planning to make it more so b
steam heating. His two sons, one (
4 whom has taken course at the stat
agricultural college, intend to renal
farmers and both enter heartily int
their fathers improvements.