Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-01-10
STATE MADE MACHINES
PROGRESS Toward Maxine
Farm Machinery at
State Prison.

A letter from s. W. Leavitt, memb er
of the state board of control, has this
to say about the carrying ont Of the
law enacted last winetr providing for
the manufacturing Of farm machinery
by the state. The letter is to L. c.
Spo0ner, of Morris. and tells what is
being Gone in tie matter:
We have employed the firm of
Brown & Hopkins, Of ChicA, o q or
patent attorneys. This became
necessary by reason of, the fact that
tho preliminary steps toward IN
augurating the manufacture of these
articles required Us to have reliable
information as to whether or not We
were violating any patents, and. IT so,
what steps could be ken. or should
be to obviate. as far as possible, being
dragged into courts after the manu-
facture of the machinery was begun.
This drm has visited Washington, and
after some two weeks examination
of the patents in the Office, has
made some reports to as on the
different machines under considera.
ton. telling Us what parts are free
from patents. and what parts would
be infringements Our experts are
now q work on the pr blem Of avoid
ing such infringements, either by new
inventions or by the USE of other
Inventions upon which patents no
longer exist.
As to harvesters, We have under
consideration the Massey aarris,
Mime, and johnson machin es as to
mowers, the iiaasey Harris, Keystone,
and Mime machines. The board has
not determined y hich of the machines
in question will be adopted and can.
not do so until We have the judgment
of our experts "a to which machine
can be pefercted with the least ex.
pense, without Infringement of
patents. bearing in mind always the
character of work in the machine is
expected to do in the field.
SO far We are much pleased with
the prospect, and have reason to
believe we shall have some sample
machines ready tor experiments in
the field next harvest; and unless
ONE unforeseen obstacle presents
tse1t. that We shall be able to place
st least a limited supply on the
market for the harvest Of 1909.
Az to the mowers. fewer obstacles
are IN the way than with the
harvesters. In fact. We nav Gay that
the Infringement of patents in mowers
will be easily avoided.
As to rakes, We presume your
knowledge of the business will lead
you to the conclusion at which we
have arrived that there are few, If
any. obstacles in the way, There are
q few patents of Improvements which
are desirable which We shall try to
avoid by other inventions, before enter-
ing upon the manufacture of rakes
At present, however, practically our
whole attentin is concentrated Oh the
harvester, believing 1t to be the most
import to the farmers of the
state.
It may seem to you and especially to
those who are not familiar with the
ways of tho International Harvester
people. or the difficulties that lie in
the way of successful competition in
the manufature of a new machine.
that the board of control is not
proceeding a. rapidly as It might,
but assure you We are endeavoring,
In the utmost good faith, to carry
out the wishes of the people, as
reflected by act Of Legislature, and
shall do as rapidly as good Judgment
and safety will permit.
Sincerely yours,
S. ". Lavitte.