The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-11-25
COTTON PICKER
N.cINSE THAT WILL REPLACE
HAND LABOR.
Said to Have Been Invented and
Built by Mr.. r. S. Wheeler, Of
Springfield.

Mr.. E. B. Taylor, Of Springfield,
has written to Commissioner Watson
Of a cotton picker made by Mr.. Il
5, Wheeler, of Springfield, and SUI
gested public demonstration near
Columbia. Mr.. Watson fixed NO
yen1ber 25 as the date for the dem
onstration, which can at least do 20
harm, and the place will be announc-
ID later. Here is Mr.. TayloT's let
Ter to Mr.. Watson:
Springfield, S. c., Nov. 10, 1905
Col. E. J. Watson, State Commls-
sioner Of Agriculture, Columbia. S.
C.-Dear Sir: I fully believe that
the successful cotton picker has come
in machine invented by Mr.. r. S.
Wheeler, native of the North, but
~esident Of the South for many years
He and his father bought SOME
timber near Springfield several years
ago. and after his fathers death his
timber was sold and was made th2
basis of our lumber operation here.
During his absence of year from
Springfield he has brought out this
cotton picker, and has made a Gem
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 to
cotton picking which was not pick
ing cotton" as is commonly called,
but picking out cotton" This lat
-er phrase accurately expresses the
act which must be performed by a
machine before it can be pronounced
success. The Wheeler machine
clicked out the cotton from the boil
sad does not pick trash. The picking
instrument is a leather belt one-hal.
an inch wide, carrying wires insert
ed in it about as closely as they can
be, and q little less than quarter
Of an inch long. This leather belt
| is made to travel very rapidly AID
after seizing the cotton, arrows II
into a chamber from which an ali
| blast drives 1t into cotton sack
will not describe further than tc
say that I believe the staple picked
By this machine will grade higher
than haod-p!cked.
I believe you will he glad to CO.
operate with Mr. Wheeler in provid'
ing opportunity for demonstrating III
capacity somewhere near Columbia
where practical planters may see /,
e'orFins, SnG where representative:
of the press may conveniently N ,e
to record results.
The cotton gin was perfected il
Georgia by the immortal Whitney
We shall all be glad to have the sue
cessful cotton picker perfected II
South Carolina, and it now look:
like Mr.. Wheeler would share tx
immortality OF Whitney by prodrc
ing a successful cotton picker. Th'
motor for driving the picker is nc
I'll that can be desired, but that Il
a mere matter Of detail which cal
be accomplished by anyone in half
dozen ways, and which will be per
fected directly now since the true
principle Of extracting cotton iron
the boil has been found.
We are hoping that it will be con
venient for you to suggest a place
sor this demonstration during tn,
three or four days preceding Thanks
giving at some place near Columbia
We are supposins some place nea
! Columbia would suit better than an
place near this town, and thus sar'
a Journey hither.
Thanking you in advance 70
your kind consideration, am, yer.
truly yours,
EDN. 3. TAYLOR.