The Greeley tribune., 1909-10-07
Power Oh the Farm

Among the many things which
| now engage the attention of the pro-
| gressive farmer here in the new west
| is the question of power which
can relieve him of the excessive lab
or and one upon which he can de-
pend. He is now demanding a re-
liable power that he can use upon
the farm. What size power shall it
be and what fundamental principles
must he know so as to enable him
to get the most satisfactory results
from it? In the past few dreamers |
have looked forward to a time when |
all the farm labor is to be the work |
of machinery. They have even voic-
ed their dreams in that the future
has in store for us the horseless
farm We hope not. A part of
these dreams have come true and
there are none among us who can
say where mechanical developments
in agriculture shall end. 1t is a
fact that the total horsepower nsed
upon the farm today to do the plow-
, ing, tilling, harvesting, threshing,
hauling, etc. is far greater than all
; the horsepower used in all other
lines of work The farm powers
now offered generally to the trade
are first the treadmill, which re-
l. Quires animal power to operate 1t,
second, the windmill; third, the
steam engine; fourth, the Internal
combustion engine, which uses alco-
u hol coal oil, gasoline or gas as fuel
and fifth, the electric motors The
. treadmill is used successfully where
small power is needed to the extent
of say two horsepower; but no hu-
name person would work a horse in
one of them A mule has given fair
results, but | am of the opinion that
the only animal which should ever
be led into treadmin is bull
Farmers are using the treadmill a
an exercising place for their bull:
and there is no reason why they
should not make good use of the
power obtained, as some are now do
ing.
The windmill as a farm power
does not answer the requirements
of the average ranch. 1t is sta
tionary, seldom develops above
three-quarter of a horsepower and
works only when the wind is blow
ing. 1t is used successfully as d
pumping power in places where a
limited quantity of water is needed
and by using large storage tanks
there are few times when the watei
supply is exhausted . But we have
yat tn find one of these windmill
plants which at some time durlnH
the wear has not had to be supple
mented with hand power The steam
engine as traction power or as
stationary engine has Its place on
1he larger ranches and farms. Where
a community of interests VIII war
rant it, several farmers combine III
the purchase of steam power pu'
tbe large majority of the farmers
are in need of power Which Il
STRONGER and more reliable than tne
windmill. which is of such size as te
accommodate itself to their sur
roundncs and which is much more
economical than a steam ehSi ile
nlant The internal-combusuon en-
aino which uses gasoline, coal oil
alcohol or gas, seems to I'LL loh2
feIt want At present, the Saso'
line engine is the most SATISFACTORY
mower which the farmer can u.s.
The engine is used as stationary
a uortable and a traction power
The many lines of agricultural "orH
:, ba done with the gasoline en-
zinc are limited only by the aoilltl
Of The farm manager. Electric llgh''
ire and mower plants are now COM
ing into use upon the iaIih' loN ~
ING is being done with the tractlon
engine and for the average la'llis
of the west this form OF 'ractiuA
mower is beginning to successiuiiS
take the place of steam .. .b,
In closing, 1 would ADVISE ehe
Farmer TO take a careful lnVolee u
Mat his conditions are an pnfrn2st
, pasoline engine of sufficient SIZE
Locate il on a strong foundation III
a clean, light place, free from daml''
ness if possible, Use the pes. saso. 'Se
iine and lubricatins oil obtainapie
tniya ,I inelligent care of the engine
and do not change any oil the pait
,mTi1 ,,nT there is a certainty that some
thino is wrong. Remember tha'
pnnrh of the so-called gasoline en-
live troubles arise from the TOO ire'
80 Of the wrench in making SOM
smnposedlv needed adjustments we
believe that so far as uhders.aiuin- .''lli,,
n,1 successfully operating the saso
,ira eneine is concerned person
a. AZ" average ability need have no lear
ord there is nothing more sure tiiai
~ Nv Gasoline engine as farm power
Field and Farm.