The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-11-20
COTTON PICKER
MACHINE THAT WILL REPLACE
HAND LABOR.
Said to Have Been Invented and
Built by Mr.. R., S. Wheeler, of
Springfield.

Built by MIR. H. >. Wheeler, OF
Springfield.
Mr.. z. B. Taylor, of Springfield,
has written to Commissioner Watson
OF a cotton picker made by Mr.. H..
S. Wheeler, of Springfield, and su:;-
gested a public demonstration near
Columbia. Mr.. Watson fixed No
vember 25 as the date for the DEM
onstration, which can at least do 10
harm, and the place will be announc-
ed later. Here is MIR. Taylor's let
ter to Mr.. Watson:
Springfield, S. c., Nov. 10, 1903
Col. E. j. Watson, State Commits
sioner of Agriculture, Columbia. S.
C.-Dear Sir: fully believe that
the successful cotton picker has come
in machine invented by Mr.. R. S.
Wheeler, a native of the North, but
resident of the South for mahy years
He and his father bought sonic
timber near Springfield several years
ago, and after his fathers death his
timber was sold and was made the
basis of our lumber operation here.
During his absence of year from
Springfield he has brought out this
cotton picker, and has made a dem.
onstration which satisfies several
good judges here that the cotton
picking machine, long looked for,
has arrived.
Years ago in North Carolina l
heard the expression with regard tn
cotton picking which was not pick
ing cotton" as is commonly called,
but picking out cotton" This lat
ter phrase accurately expresses the
act which must be performed by
machine before it can be pronounced
a success. The Wheeler machine
picked out the cotton from the boil
and does not pick trash. The picking
instrument is a leather belt one-hals
an inch wide, carrying wires insert
ed IN it about as closely as they can
be, and little less than quarter
Of an inch long. This leather belt
is made to travel very rapidly ari
after seizing the cotton, -nrnws it
into chamber frop which an ail
blast drives it into a cotton sack
I will not describe further than to
say that I believe the staple picked
by this machine will grade higher
than hand-picked.
l believe you will I've glad to CO.
operate with Mr.. Wheeler in provid-
ing opportunity for demonstrating its
capacity somewhere near Columbia.
where practical planters may see it
Working, md where Representatives
Of the press may conveniently m ,et
to record results.
The cotton gin was perfected in
Georgia by the immortal Whitney.
We shall all he glad to have the sue
cessful cotton picker perfected in
South Carolina, and 1t now looks
like Mr.. Wheeler would share tie
Immortality of Whitney by prodrc-
ing a successful cotton picker The
motor for driving the picker is not
all that can be desired, but that is
a mere matter Of detail which can
be accomplished by anyone in half.
dozen ways, and which will be per-
fected directly now since the true
principle of extracting cotton from
the boil has been found.
We are hoping that it will be con-
venient for you to suggest g. place
for this demonstration during th,:
three or four\days preceding Thanks
giving at some pace near Columbia.
We are supposing some place near
Columbia would suit better than am
place near this town, and thus save
a journey hither.
Thanking you in advance for
YOUR kind corsidera ton, I am, very
truly yours,
EDW. B. TAYLOR.