The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-07
MODERN FARMER
Taps Trolley Roads and Electric Mo-
tors Do His Work.
(Chicago Post.)

| the electric motor now does most OF
the heavy work.
The advance in farming methods is
shown in numerous instances in the
vicinity of Chicago. Along the line of
the Aurora, Elgin and Chicago Elec-
trio Railway many farmers have taken
advantage of the opportunity to pur-
chase power. No longer do they fiirt
with the laborous bucksaw at dawn,
nor do they grind away by main
strength at the feed mill. The coming
of electricity has worked marvels in
their methods.
1t is true, however, that farming by
electricity is in its infancy, yet the
success of such enterprise, where it
has been undertaken, has been so
great that the sale of electrical power
by interurban railroads promises to
develop into one of the most important
branches of the business.
| In the vicinity of Aurora, Batavia
and at other points along the Aurora
line the use of electricity by farmers
!! is common. In other parts of the
United States, as well, the electrical
method is finding favor.
Farming loses much of its slavery
when electricity is applied to it. Lit
tie Johnny Farmer, when his mother
tells him TO put in the time before
breakfast saving wood. goes gleefully
forth to the woodshed, pulls lever,
saws half a cord, and then splits the
chunks with a rapid-fire device that
puts to shame the old-fashioned meth
cd of our grandfathers.
When it comes to shredding and
crushing corn. the electrical farmer
can accomplish as much in day as
he could in a month by hand. The
time-saying value of the motor is al
most beyond estimation.
The district around Eigin has many
large dairy farms, and to these the
use of the electrical power is furnish
ed by the railroad has come to be
necessity.
Enormous quantities of feed are
ground by electricity Within FIVE or
six miles of Elgin about Is big farms
have installed motors, most of them
being of Is horse power. Usually the
motor is placed in detached building,
so that the fire risk will not be in
a~.oona Tba ororoga ooc4 If fucfoI.
ing one of these motors is placed at
$500, including the expense of running
the wires from the railroad track,
erecting the building, and making all
necessary connections. The belt is
run in an inclosed chute from the
power house to the barn.
In one instance where farmer used
his motor to grind feed for so cows
and for saving wood, the cost of the
power averaged two dollars month.
The motors require little care. The
power is taken directly from the third
rail of the trolley wires, and carried
on poles to the farmers power house. |
A meter is installed, and the measured
service is used. The railroad company
does not do the work of installing the
motor, but simply furnishes the power /
at about cents per kilowatt. Elec- i!
trical contractors put in the motors, |
and the field in this direction promises +;
TO enlist the services of many engin- I
GERS. II
1t is easy to imagine how the use of ]
electricity on farms may develop in I
the years to come. The loading and I'M
loading of hay, grain, etc., and the f
of water, the threshing and +
many other phases of farm work may a
be done with the aid of the motor. 4
Some farmers use gasoline motors, @
but the superiority of electricity over |
gasoline is said to be so great that Il
here is scarcely any comparison. Gas
,line motors often get out of order
they require time in starting and have h
o be closely watched. lr
The electrical motor simply requires
O be oiled and to have the brushes re-
lewed a couple of times year. 1t is !,
llways ready for instant use, all day il
md most of the night. In case OF fire Z
I can be used as fire engine. Q
Power can be transmitted readily Il
or a considerable distance on either Il
ide of the railroads right of way, al n
hough the farther on farmer is the u
more his electricity will cost him. n
d
-. IfeaF.,I Th.epn