Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-08-11

power as other 10 h. q. engines and
by this he will be able to furnish his
customers with more powerful
engine than is made else where for less
money than competitors charge.
Mr. Knowlton's experience as gas
engine maker in his little factory up
in the country, taught him many val
liable lessons, first If which was
economy is construction and the re-
duction in pieces to make a simple,
compact, powerful engine. He studied
day and night and then he determin-
ed to travel and investigate and, like
Peter the Great, was not afraid to
take off his coat and learn details by
actual experience, and when he had
learned all there was new to learn he
invented with an eye signle to econ
omy in construction, and thus, thro-
ugh energy and perseverance, was
laid the plans for the present gas
engine factory in this city, which we
believe will be one of the best money
making Investments in the state and
it is certain no better equipped plant
will be found in the northwest. The
demand for these cheap power engin-
es is growing faster than they can be
manufactured and the territory which
the Canton factory can supply and
will supply is almost without limit.
Canton should certainly be proud of
Mr fpr la l n q inn
to stay by his home town, as he had
| flattering Inducements to go else
where, but Mr. Knowlton believes he
can manufacture his engines at Can
ton fully as cheap as in any other
railroad center in the northwest, and
his Judgment in this respect seems
sound. The difference in the cost OF
fuel can be offset in other directions
and few engine plants are located
near coal mines.
There is one thing the LEADER
wants to call attention to and that is
the necessity Of vacating one block Of
| Eighth street that separates tn e
machine shop from the foundry, and
this block runs from Main to Cedar,
ending practically in front of Mr..
Bergstrom's plow factory. 1t Is sell
dom used and of no practical convent
ence to any one, but it would be of
some benefit to the engine factory
and could be used for building con-
Meeting the foundry and. machine
building, because the latter had to be
built close to the railroad tracks in
order to get siding, The LEADER
would be pleased to sign petition to
the city commissioners asking that
this unused block be vacated, and it
is not asking much when we consider
what this engine foundry means to
the upbuilding of Canton. Mr.. Knowl-
ton will employ at least 40 skilled
mechanics to start with, and most of
them are likely to be married men,
and this means a great deal as a
starter in making our city manu-
featuring center. Every assistance
should be freely given to Mr.. Knowl-
ton and his company, as a majority OF
the stock will be owned by men in
terested in the upbuiiding of our
beautiful city, and further, let us say
frankly, the LEADER would not urge
this matter if the vacation OF this
block would injure or Inconvenience
anyone now or in the future, because
it is of no practical benefit to adjacent
property owners.
The LEADER is quite anxious to see
this engine plant in operation: and
the Editor has contracted for the first
engine made to be used in running
the presses in the LEADER Office.