The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-04-15
Straw Shelter Sheds.


Straw Shelter Sheds.
The Fargo Forum has the follow
Ing to say about 4 machine that is
new on the market.
When Prof. Thomas Shaw, of the
corps Of lecturers associated with
the North Dakota Farmers institute,
. year ago prophesied that straw
eventually would be utilized for shell
tering purposes by the farmers of
North Dakota, few Of the auditors be-
lieved that his forecast would be full
filed before at least several years
had elapsed. Today, after less than
twelve months have passed since
that prophecy, there is in operation
in the city Of Fargo a process which
has solved the problem of utilizing
the by-product of the field which
heretofore either has been burned
outright or else only nibbled BY the
cattle that Craze in thousands over
the state.
This process, to put it briefly, is
not unlike the briquetting process to
which Ignite coal is subjected. The
theory employed is the same. Like
coal the straw is compressed into
bricks. These made to conform to
any size desired-the favorite is
brick eighteen inches long, eight in
ches wide and six inches deep-are
especially adapted to building pur-
poses. Hence, their manufacture
means great deal to the farmer not
in a position to build wood or stone
structures to shelter his stock.
Whereas Professor Shaw, in promul-
eating his theory, suggested that the
straw be made into bales and then
used in the construction of shelter
houses, this process makes it pos
sible for the farmer to make his
supply of straw go to much greater
lengths.
1t is not necessary, however, to
buy these bricks from the manufac-
turer. Their manufacture is left to
the farmer whose fields are dotted
with the straw stacks which led Prof.
Shaw to make the suggestion seized
upon by machinery manufacturers.
All that is necessary for the agricul-
turist to do is to buy one of these
fuel presses-they are so called be-
cause the bricks so made may also
be used for fuel and grind out all
the brick needed to furnish material
for structure capable of sheltering
all the stock on his farm.
This press is less than four feet
long and weighs no more than 140
pounds. It's body is only three feet
in length, projecting from which is
a bar of the same length. Into the
body of this machine the straw is
packed on top of a strong piece of
cord. The bar is then forced down.
ward, until the proper pressure is
brought to bear when the end Of the
cord is brought tightly over the top
Of the brick and tied, preventing the
brick from expanding. The bar is
then released and the brick taken
from the machine ready for use as a
building material or fuel.
The Forder fuel press, for which
the Fargo Foundry company is the
North Dakota agent, is the first ma
chine in which is realized the full
possibilities suggested by Professor
Shaw's prophecy. The local COM
pany has entered the field with a
machine which, in view of it's gen.
srai usefulness and modest price, is
declared to Be especially suited to
the use of the small farmer, for
which it is principally intended. That
its principles may be put to practical
exemplification, the Fargo Foundry
company has turned out a number
of machines which will be used for
that purpose. From the bricks
turned out by these Hachines several
model shelter shdds have been con-
structed in the yirds of the foundry
and scores Of Interested visitors are
shown thesesdatt Dakota Farmer.