Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1912-09-20
FIRST W|NDMILLS.
The Oldest Types Were Carried
on a Post.
EXACT ORIGIN is LOST.


land, While In tho United States Gil
gantio Structures Are Operated
Where Other Power Is Scarce.
The farm windmill, used In the Wild
est sense, means a machine by which
the energy Of the wind is applied to
useful purposes. Windmills were GER
tainly in use as early as the twelfth
century, but their exact origin is lost
in the oblivion of the past. Their in
PRODUCTION into Europe is generally as
cribed to the Saracens, through the
crusaders, says the London Globe.
Flashing their crimson crossed BAN
ners homeward, through Europe, the
knights Of Richard Occur de Lion
brought many strange customs and in
novations with them. The earliest
written record OF windmills In England,
dated the twelfth century, deals with
certain disputes in reference to tithes
connected with "windmillS." Since
those faraway times windmills have
been in constant use in Europe, Amer
lea and other continents. But modern
science has provided US with more ef-
ficient and reliable means Of grinding
corn or driving engines than the some
what intermittent power Of the wind
SO in this country windmills have be-
come objects of ornament rather than
use.
In Holland they are still quite
largely employed. No picture Of the
quaint Dutch country-whether actual
or imaginary-would be complete with
out its windmill. The sturdy mills
with their revolving vanes, form a.
great part Of Dutch character as the
golden pins and dainty lace caps Of the
women, the baggy trousers and woodei
clogs Of the men. Windmills are some.
what extensively used in America TO-
pumping and driving agricultural mG
chinery.
such very old fashioned machinery
should be encouraged in such q yer
go-ahead country as America. But T.
has been discovered that wind move
machines are useful where fuel j.
scarce and labor can proceed leisur,
~ If need be. A windmill is never
powerful or efficient motor, and II
work Is variable, but in favorable Pc
sitions q windmill will run on
average eight hours out of twenty
four.
Since crusading days there have bee"
many radical changes in the make al.
shape Of windmils. The oldest tyl"
was called the post mill, the who
structure being carried on a post. ~
order to bring the sails facing t.
wind the structure was turned on J.,
base by a long lever. The post m
was succeeded by the tower, smoc.
or frock mill, in which the mill prop
was a stationary tower, the sails bell
attached to revolving cap, rotatin
on the top Of the tower. In all o.
types of mill the twin shaft carrie
four or six arms or whips, on who
long, rectangular sails were stretcheN
triangular leading sail being somr
times added. Later the sails we
made Of sailcloth spread on wood,
framework, and at times boards we.
utilized. The American windmills az
: today are gigantic, carrying eightec"
or more sails, fixed round large dis
They consist Of narrow boards or sla
arranged radially, each board movi'
with the winds impetus. Nevada
these windmills are fitted with aui
matte feathering and steering mach
cry and are largely used in the Unit
States for pumping water
1t Is interesting to consider that -
the beginning Of the nineteenth CT
fury the whole of England's grindi
saving, stamping and the draining
the eastern countries was perform,
by wind power. At the beginning
the twentieth century science has re-,
dered windmills a veritable thing -
the past AS far as such work is CO
cerned, they stand idle, the revoluti
Of their giant sails no longer thj .
Of use and necessity.