The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-11-28


Falls, in Southern Oneida County, is
farm that is probably as interesting
and remarkable as any in the State
of New York, and IT is doubtful If
there is another in the United States
equalling IL in completeness OF labor
saving, power generating and me-
chanical devices. The farm is owned
by e. Burdette Miner. Besides being
cultivated and conducted in every
way in accordance with modern and
up-to-date farming science, 1t also
possesses one of the most thoroughly
perfected and efficient electrical farm
plants ever constructed.
By electric power generated on his
own farm Mr.. Miner runs a large
saw for cutting up all lengths and
sizes of stove wood, runs the milk
ing machines, ensilage cutters and
holsters, separators and ice cream
freezer, churn, thrasher, grindstone,
pumps, washing machines and wiring
er, besides lighting every room in his
house and heating most of them by
the same method. He has electric
lights in every barn and other build
ing on his farm. where lights may
be needed, including well appoint
ed machine shop, where he, with his
sons, does all his own Mechanical
work. In that shop he has an cleo
trio motor that runs lathe, drill,
wire winding machine, electric SOL
dering iron, buffing machine, buzz
saw and large pump that operates
the milking mahcines down in the
stables.
In his house he has electric heaters
in the different rooms that thorough
ly warm it at an absolutely even tenn
perature at the will of the occupants.
He also heats the flatirons by cleo
tricity, and has even a little electric
motor attached to the sewing ma
chine. And this is all accomplished
on a farm by farmer without any
help. advice or assistance from any
one outside his own family.
All this saving of labor and the
inestimable conveniences have been
made possible by Mr.. Miner and his
sons by harnessing the Oriskaney
Creek, turbulent little stream that
flows through the beautiful Oriskany
Valley, in which Mr.. Miner owns a
large section of fine, fertile, well
titled land. At suitable point in
the stream about one-quarter OF a
mile from the house, where there is
a normal flow of about four thousand
cubic feet minute, with about six
foot fall a thirty-six foot flow dam
was put in, with concrete and plank
foundation, that is built to Withstand
almost any pressure that might come
from foods and spring freshets; but
to make the dam safe and sure be-
yond all doubt, they built slosh
boards in the dam, six feet wide and
one foot high, that can be drawn
out, one or all, as the supply of water
demands. Further, they have two
large flood gates In the concrete at
the bottom of the dam that can be let
out, and should the flood be so great
that all these methods would fail to
save the dam from going out they
have built a spillway on the side of
the pond that would take care OF a
great quantity of food water.
At the left of the dam, leading
down from the pond about hundred
feet downstream to an abrupt bank,
a dixie eight or ten feet wide was dug.
At the lower end of this a wheel pit,
laid in concrete, was built, with a
small powerhouse above. There 1t
was found that a head of four and
one-half feet had been obtained and
an upright thirty-inch Samson water
wheel was installed. Upon test it was
found that the wheel under this very
low head developed seventeen and
one-half horsepower. In the power
house a dynamo of twelve and one
half kilowatt capacity was placed.
This was connected by 1900 feet of
bare aluminium cable with the farm
buildings. In the house were placed
twenty-five sixteen-candlepower 220-
volt lamps, and in the barns eight
more, electric illumination being the
first and principal object of the plant.
In a little more than two months
after work was started in the bed of
the creek to build a dam, the plant
was started up, and it has been run
ming successfully, night and day,
ever since. and with no attention
whatever from any one, save oiling,
which is necessary about once in two
weeks. The water wheel and dyna-
mo run continuously, and, now that
the expense OF purchasing and in
stalling them is over, there is abso-
lutely no expense or trouble to 1t,
and the vast amount of labor it saves
and the many luxuries and convent
ences It affords Mr.. Miner and his
family make life on the farm about
as pleasant as it could be anywhere
in the world
Only a small portion of the power
that could be generated is necessary,
and Mr.. Miner placed governor at
the wheel gate. which regulates the
amount of water passing through the
wheel to the amount of power needed.
After the problem Of illumination
on the farm had been solved, two of
Mr.. Miners sons proceeded to extend
the application of the power then at
their command. 1t was in the winter
and in this climate heat is very essen
tial, and fuel, either wood or coal. is
always expensive. So there was a
problem to solve. and II was an easy
one. They purchased a 4000-watt
heater, placed 1t in the house, and
heated two rooms, one 16 13 TX,