The Washington herald., 1908-08-23

by Herr Won Podbielski. formerly minister
Of agriculture FOR Germany. The address
is IN the hands Of the Bureau Of Manu-
features Of the Department Of Commerce
and Labor
The matter offers what appears to be a
particularly good suggestion for increas-
ing the utility OF thousands Of electric
power plants distributed throughout the
United States in the smaller cities and
towns Of the great agricultural districts
It should be OF interest 10 the farmer 10
Gated near towns having electric-lghting
power plants, and as well 10 the compa-
MES owning these plants and the manu-
facturers Of electrical supplies
II IS probable that one-haif Of the cleo
trlc-power plants such as have been re-
fe-red 10 lie Idle during the day, and it
would seem obvious that BY study and
adaptation they might be utilized In the
direction indicated
The address referred 70 husbandry On a
large scale as being the only finally profit
able system Of agriculture. this being the
only form il which modern technical
science can be advantag geously applied 70
this Industry.
7 always pity the farmer running after
his plow." said the author "On my lands
the plowman sits on a plow drawn BY
motor With the small farmer this is I'M
possi be. and consequently he is always
subject 10 the necessity OF hard physical
labor"
Transforming Power for Farm
The first thing needed 10 put electrical
7 appliances to use on the farm IS the cleo
tricity. This may be produced by the
/ farmer himself in his own power plants,
but Il is much more practicable and con-
venient 10 buy II cheapIy Of some elec-
tr.c plant n the neighborh0od. The cleo
tric plants in small cities lie idle during
the daytime. their supply OF current for
[ lighting purposes being necessary only at
/ night. II such plants the current may. as
rule, be had much cheaper than II it
| were produced in ones Own plant.
/ Even II special machinery must be en-
I pI0yed fer such work. production on a
| large scale viii always be much cheaper
than the production IN small power sta
I tons on each individual farm. and, there
4 fore. the ss-CaIed observation-disclosures "
/ or central power houses. which supply a
/ whole district with electric current for
I al! possible purposes. are increasing IN
I number and importance. The question Of
I distances arising. the electricity IN the
/ central station IS generally generated in
I q high-voIJage current IN this way Il IS
/ possible 20 conduct very large quantities
/ Of energy 10 each Of the farms OF places
where 1t IS wanted by means of wires no
Z thicker than the ordinary telegraph wire
Low-voitaEe Current Best
/ The hiEh-voItage current cannot be
I taken into use directly for various rea-
/ sons. the principal Of which IS the dan
ger 10 life BY means OF transformers it
/ is rendered harmless. and the low-voltage
current is distributed about the farm by
means OF q special net OF conductors. Il
: depeuEs on the extent Of the electrical
l installation whether the secondary net OF
I conductors supplies the farmyard only o.
/ the adjoining telds as well
/ 4 transformer IS inclCsed IN a city
/ street booth similar 70 the advertising
| columns used in Berlin. the conductors
20 out from this booth. and electrical
/ junction boxes are installed OF the build
lings OF the fa-myard as well as on num-
/ bers Of poles in the fields. These juno
ton boxes are similar 10 those used in
connection with the electrical installmeut
I IN dwellings. Sc where the conducting
wire Of lamps may be Joined 10 the cleo
trtc battery by means OF contact COlnec-
tions.
The junction boxes used on the farm
are. Of course. much larger and must be
instead Of being a fine insulated one. as
used in dwellings. must be a strong. plia-
ble cable from % 10 100 yards long. and
which may be rolled on & reel as with a
garden hose With the junction boxes
and such a cable We are able 10 reach
lnearly every spot IN rhe farnyard and
the greater part Of the fields
AdaPtabiIity II Motors.
Having arranged for the delivery Of the
current 70 the desired location. the next
thing to consider IS the motor It's size
viii depend upon the amount OF work to
be done. but in all cases the motor must
be portable. With q hand litter two Per
sons can easily carry a motor. which VIII
be used IN various places in the farmyard
10 drive small machines for house or yard
work II can easily be connected 20 such
machines as chaH cutters. oil cake brea k
lers, draining pumps. corn shelters. grind.
ers, &c A good manager Will use the
motor to the greatest advantage IN work
Of this kind
The farm work IN general lasts FOR only
a few months Of the year, and for this
reason the motors are not permanently
corrected and may be used thrOughout
the year for all kinds Of work. thus de.
irving the largest possible returns for tbs
money invested
LaEke IlDLULS LlE TRANSFER must De Du
lon wheels. BY using belts. this motor car
be used for all possible work and espe-
cially with thFashing machines There
are electrical thrashing machines in uss
where the motor Is permanently connected
with the machine A number Of such ma
chimes are in successful operation Barns
are equipped with electrical cranes lifting
an entire load Of hay at once and placiue
It in the loft at any desired place Sucf
an installation means the saving Of mum.
bers Of farm hands.
Some large farms use electric cars tn,
electric railroad Of the great Dahlwit1
farm, which for ten years has forwarded
large quantities Of farm products 10 III.
markets OF Berlin and vicinity. may b,
cited, proving that electricity in aEricuI
ture Is not a toy or experiment, but o.
genuine profit IN farm work The use o.
electricity in agriculture develops slowlJ
and has come much later than in othe-
branches OF human activity. but 1t vii
conquer one field OF agricultural vyorl
after another
In response 10 an inquiry, Herr vor
Podbielsk offers the following sugges
, [ tons:
IF even a very small profit IS to b,
, derived from agricultural work the farne
IS bound to use machinery instead Of dal
labor. because the wages for the latte
are steadily increasing. Electricity Is tn,
= power wanted, and is the best adapte,
to the work Electricity is always at han,
when the proper conductors are provided
Until very lately It could not be use,
extensively, on account Of the great pric
for the kilowatt-kour. charges Of from
20 10 90 pfennings (S0.G952 10 S0I42S) for tn
kilowatt-hour excluding its use for agri
cultural purposes According TO my cal