Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-09-25
FARM TRACTORS
DID Big WORK
Secretary Patton Is Pleased
With Wonderful Gross
River Demonstration

Secretary Patton. of the State De-
partment OF Agriculture, this morn
ing expressed his congratulations
through the Telegraph to every trac-
tor manufacturer and agent who par
ticipated in the plowing demonstra-
tions at Marsh Run, showing "splen-
did spirit in sticking to the end in
spite of adverse conditions"
The secretary said that there had
been more efficient plowing than was
recorded at any previous test, in
cluding the recent one at Salina, Mo,
and that the Harrisburg event will
have most significant results all over
the United States. 1T is an industry
yet in its infancy" he pointed out
but our records show that while one
year ago only 500 machines were in
use in the state; now the number is
something over over 1900. One of
the most significant features of the
gathering was the number of men
from all parts, of the Union who
sought agencies for the tractor, and
it is certain that very soon nearly
every automobile establishment will
have it's tractor department, so that
the farmer can be in immediate touch
with the product"
Five o'clock last evening saw the
finish of tho demonstration and
while several days must elapse be-
fore the Department of Agriculture
can make out the precise records 1t
can be said to-day that total of rs
acres were plowed. The quota orig
onally planned was 102, but rain sad
ly disrupted the schedule. On Friday
the hotels here We're jammed with
farmers who were disappointed in
not being able to look on during
Saturday. However, a great many
saw enough to convince them and the
universal pledge was heard: IL can
not do without this machine"
or the rs plowed acres 45 were
disced and seeded with prime wheat
and Secretary Patton, just to show
that the old keystone state is there
with all kinds of loyalty, to-day turn
ed over two tractors to the govern
ment and the Marsh Run folks will
go ahead and cultivate many more
acres. so that a big crop of wheat
is insured for next year.
The first machine to drop out was
the Reed, which only took couple
turns last Thursday and then with
drew, after an accident. On Satur-
day both entries of the International
Harvester Company withdrew and al
so the Waterloo. These entries
therefore will have no records for
Monday and Tuesday.
The big tesS of the whole demon
stration was on Monday afternoon
when the machines which remained
in the competition were sent into q
two-year old corn stubble field that
was overgrown with weeds from
three to six feet high. In addition
the field had a number of large
gullies and stones almost as large
as man were turned up. The trac-
tors which tackled this field made
remarkable progress and showed
really the almost endless capability
of the modern tractor as it has been
perfected to-day. Army officers and
many farmers were skeptical about
the tractors ability to work in this
corn stubble field. but when the ma
chimes which tackled it got through
they were convinced that the tractor
could work under severe circum-
stances.
The making up of the records, a
very precise task is in the hand of
William Douglas, statestician of the
Department of Agriculture, and he
emphasized to-day that in publishing
these later, each tractor will get
credit for the particular conditions of
the field in which each worked, for
conditions were by no means identi-
cal