Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-06-20

Flowing With
prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture.)
Manufacture Of tractors for agrfcul
tural use has grown greatly in a com
paratively few years, but big field Is
still open to manufacturers in the
small farmers business. which can be
gained only by the Introduction 1T all
purpose tractors that can be used eco
nOmically on farms of under 100 till
able acres.
Prior to 1905 practically all power
blowing was done by steam. II there
was any machine In use at that time
employing an internal-cOmbuStion en-
CINE as its source of power. the case
apparently has never become matter
of record. Steam blowing has been
In vogue for number of years. espe-
cially I'm regions such as the DakOtas.
Montana. and the Canadian provinces
Of the Northwest Here were found
bonanza farms consisting Of thousands
Of acres, one crop Of wheat sometimes
/
large tracts. stretching away for miles
In level and unbroken plain. offered
conditions which were suitable for
these mammoth steam outfits weighing
many tons.
| Several factors had bearing on the
elimination IF steam as a source Of
power for blowing and the substitu-
ton Of the Observation-Disclosures en-
CINE.
| The fuel was bulky for the power
transmitted, and the storage space on
the engine was small Several men
Were required. The steam engine as
thel constructed could not stand the
con slant strain and rough usage neces-
sary In blowing. 1t was necessary to
spe nj considerable time In care and re-
pair. just as is required by the rail-
roa locomotive after a five or six
hour run.
How Use Of Gas Engine Began.
There was a demand by operators
for a machine which would do away
witt these disadvantages. Interest
was shown by various manufacturers
and their attention was directed to-
ward the development Of a machine
using the internal combustion engine
Apparently 1905 was the first year
thai a gas tractor advertised as a
source Of power was placed on
the market This machine employed
couble-cylinder engine. using gaso-
line for power and oil for cooling. II
had a rating Of - nominal and 40
actual brake horsepower and was
capable of pulling six to eight 12-inch
plows. depending on the soil. The
weight was practically the same as
that Of the steam engine. about nine
and One-half tons. While operators
were not satisfied with the steam tract
ors on the market. there was then
considerable prejudice against the gas
tractor. 80 that machines were built
which looked ms much like a steam
engine as possible. Perhaps this fact.
to some extent. tended to overcome the
prejudice and make for the. popularity
Of the outfit.
By 1908 so much interest was mani |
fest throughout the Northwest in the |
gas tractor that 1t was decided to hold !
motor competition in connection with |
the industrial exhibition at Winnipeg.
Canada. During the week Of July Is
IL. 1908. this contest was held, the
first of its kind on the American con-
tinent. Machines were exhibited by
i've companies; two other companies |
entered. but withdrew. The rules of |
the contest limited the weight to seven
and one-half tons to keep out steam
rigs. This rule barred one gas
tractor. as 1t weighed nine and one
half tons.
Early Tests Unsatisfactory.
The tests upon which final award
was based consisted Of hauling. plow-
Ing and manipulation. Some Of the
soil conditions were not ideal. and
bad impression was given in the haul
Ing tests. The barred machine put
on a private demonstration and made
an excellent showing. using kerosene.
except to warm up the motor at the
beginning. The significance Of this
contest was that the weak points
were shown and that II started the
development Of practical motors for
small farms.
In 1909 a similar test was held at
Winnipeg and six companies demon
strated machines. The contest was
divided into four classes: (a) Internal
20 horsepower and under.
10y 20-3O horsepower. (c) over 30
and (d) steam engines.
This contest created much interest in
circles, and many man.
Ifacturers were present to obtain use
mi Information, which showed that
hey were alive to the possibilities at
ending the development Of a success
'ul tractor.
At this time 1t was estimated that
here were between As and 80 firms or
Individuals making. or attempting to
make. tractors. Naturally. many were
as the possibilities Of "get-
ing In on the ground floor in an in
iustry In the making were recognized.
Another contest was held the same
summer at Brandon, Manitoba. with
the same machines entered
Is at Winnipeg.
To Winnipeg must go the honor of
starting an idea which has done a
'reat deal to develop the tractor in