The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-10
Happy is the
Modern Farmer

On the thoroughly up-to-date farm
the electric motor 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 laborious bucksaw ut dawn.
nor do they grind away by main
strength at the feed mill. The COM
ing OF electricity has worked marvels
in their methods.
1t is true. however. that farming by
electricity is In its infancy, yet the
success of each enterprise. where 1t
has been undertaken. has been so
great that the sale of electrical power
by interurban railroads promises to
develop into one of the most import
ant branches of the business.
In the vicinity of Elgin, Aurora. Ba-
tavia and other points along the Au-
rora line the use of electricity by the
farmers is common. In other parts
of the United States. as we'll. the cleo
trical 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 a lever.
saws half cord. and then spills the
chunks with rapid-fire device tina.
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-saving value of the motor is al
most beyond estimation.
The district around Elgin has many
large dairy farms, and to these the
use of the electrical power furnished
by the railroad has come to be ne
cessity.
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 build
ing. so that the fire risk will not be
increased The average cost of in
stalling one of these motors is placed
at 5000. including the expense of run
ming the wires from the railroad
track, erecting the building, and maxi
ing 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 81 month.
The motors require little care. The
power is taken directly from the third
rail of trolley wires, and carried on
poles to the farmers power house. A
meter is installed, and the measure
service Is used. The railroad COM
pany does not do the work of INSTALL
ing the motor, but simply furnishes
the power at about cents per kilo-
watt. Electrical contractors put in
the motors, and the field in this direc-
tiOn promises to enlist the services of
many engineers.
1t is easy to imagine how the use
of electricity on farms may develop
in the years to come. The loading and
unloading of hay and grain, the
pumping of water. the threshing, and
many other phases of farm work may
he done with the aid of motor.
Some farmers use gasoline-motors
but the superiority of electricity over
gasoline is said to be SO great that
there is scarcely any comparison.
Gasoline motors often get out of Or
der. They require time in starting
and have to be closely watched.
The electrical motor simply re-
quires to be oiled and to have the
brushes renewed couple OF times
a year. 1t is always ready for in
slant use, all day and most of the
night. In case of fire it can be used
ais g. fire engine.
Power can bet transmitted readily
for considerable distance either
side of the railroads right of way, al
though the farther off farmer is
the more his electricity will cost him.
Chicago Post.
NEW KIND OF WHEAT.
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