The Aberdeen weekly., 1919-06-20

turaI use has grown greatly I'm 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 Of all
purpose tractors that can be used eco
nomically on farms of under 100 till
able acres.
Prior to 1908 practically all power
plowing was done by steam. If there
was any machine In use AT that time
employing an Observation-Disclosures en-
gine as its source of power the case
apparently has never become matter
of record. Steam plowing has been
in vogue for number of years, espe-
-cially in 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
paying for the entire farm. These
large tracts. stretching away for miles
In n level and unbroken plain. offered
conditions which were suitable for
these mammoth steam outfits weighing
many tons.
Several factors had bearing on the
elimination Of steam as source Of
power for plowlng and the substitu-
tion of the internal-combustion en-
gine
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
then constructed could not stand the
constant strain and rough usage neces-
sary in plOwing. IT was necessary TO
spend considerable time i'm care and re-
pair. just as is required by the rail-
road locomotive after a five or six
hour run
How Use of Gas Engine Began.
There was a demand by operators
for machine which would do away
with these disadvantages. Interest
was shown by various manufacturers
and their attention was directed to-
ward the development Of machine
using the i'ternaI combustion engine.
Apparently 1905 was the first year
that gas tractor a( TertiSed as
source of power was placed on
the market This machine employed
n doubIe-cyIinder engine, using gasO-
line for power and oil for cooling. 1t
had n rating Of 80 nominal and 40
actual brake horsepower and was
capable of pulling six to eight 12-inch
pIOws. 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. So that machines were built
which looked rs much like steam
engine as possible. Perhaps this fact,
to some extent. tended 10 overcome the
prejudicf and make for the popularity
of the outfit
Ry 1905 so much interest was mani
fest throughout the Northwest in the
gas tractor that Il was decided to hold
n motor competition in connection with
the industrial exhibition at Winnipeg.
Canada During the week of July 13-
II, 1908. this contest was held, the
first of its kind on the American con-
tinent Machines were exhibited by
five 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 it 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 "A
bad impression was given in the haul
ing tests The barred machine put
on 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 it 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 wac
divided into four classes (a) Internal
combustion % horsepower and under.
tb) 20-30 horsepower. (c) over 80
horsepower. and (d) steam engines.
This contest created much interest in
manufacturing circles. and many man
ufacturerS We're present TO obtain use
full information, which showed that
they were alive 10 the possibilities at
tending the development of a success
full tractor.
At this time il was estimated that
there were between 40 and 30 firms or
individuals making. or attempting 70
make, tractors. Naturally. many were
nakeshifts. as the possibilities of get
ting in on the ground floor in an In
dustry I'm the making were recognized
Another contest was held the same
summer at Brandon, Manitoba with
practically the same machines entered
as at Winnipeg.
To Winnipeg must go the honor of
starting an idea which has done n
great deal TO develop the tractor in
dustry rapidly. These tests were the
forerunners of others I'm various sec
lions OF the United States and Canada
that have given farmers the opportu-
nifty of seeing these machines at work
and deciding on the merits of the in
dividual tractors
In 1909 five tractors were exhibited