The Washington herald., 1921-07-17
MATCH TRACTORS
AGAINST HORSES
TO PROVE WORTH
Contests to Be Feature of
Middle West Auto
Shows.

CHICAGO. July 16.-The most rad
turers to establish the economic
place of the tractor beyond dispute
has been taken by the national show
and demonstration committee, trac-
tor and thrasher department of the
National Implement and Vehicle as
ISOLATION. which made provision for
a contest between horses and tract
ors in field operations.
The committee decided TO hold
three demonstrations. Of which the
first wss Fargo. N. D.. June Is. %
and 30. Another demonstration will
be held in the Southwest and the
third in the Central West, time and
location of each to be decided later.
shows Authorized.
Two shows were also authorized;
one for Minneapolis and the other
for Kansas City. provided suitable
quarters can be furnished. rent free;
and provided also that all other
suitable and satisfactory arrange
ments can be made between the
local and rational committees.
The innovation of the horse and
tractor contest Is of special interest
and in order that the result of these
comparative tests be unbiased. fair
and convincing. 1t was resolved by
the committee that "the observations
and data for such records be taken
by a committee composed of repre-
sentatives from the American So
ciety of Agricultural Engineers from
the State University either of the
state where the demonstration Is
held or tho university of any other
state: from tractor manufacturers,
from the Society of Automotive En-
gineers. from the Horse Association
of America and from the United
States Department of Agriculture.
As an inducement to obtain the
very best horse power available IL
was decided to award suitable in
ducements to horse owners entering
the contest and making the best
records on the cost Of preparing
their land allotments.
Others May Compete.
The dollars and sentS comparison
between horsepower and tractor
power in plowing and preparing
seed beds as provided in these demon
strations will not take into account
some of the most vital considera-
tions in successful tractor opera
tion. especial, belt work. but new
ruies are provided by the committee
SO that manufacture of belts and
belt-driven machinery OF any kind.
operated with a tractor. are eligible
to exhibit. It is expected that the
educational work of belt operations
will be among the most Interesting
features of the demonstrations.
No individual records of tractor
performances and no comparisons
between Individual tractors Will be
given out for publication by the
committee in charge of the demon
stration. Each tractor manufactur-
er. however. will be provided with
the record of his own machines. The
results made public will be averages
Performances to be Checked.
In this connection rules will be
made to cover such details as depth
of blowing, speed, etc. Observers
will watch the operations ana note
the performance of each tractor and
averages will be secured from those
qualifying under the rules. Also av-
erages will be obtained for those
violating the rules and thereby fail
ing to qualify through completing
the work assigned to them. Finally
the average of the best six tractor
records will be taken from those
qualifying.
This will bring out the very best
horse performance and the best trac-
tor performance and represent the
respective merits OF each form OF
power 1t should be made clear,
how sver, that it is not the intention
of these demonstrations to~convey
the idea that. the tractor is limited
to field, operations or that the horse
s to be eliminated from the farm
OF that IL is only a dollars and cents
comparison between the horse and
the tractor in plowing and preparing
seed beds and seeding.
/. :. manager was definitely decided
upon by the committee and authori-
ty was given Finley p. Mount to
negotiate for his services in manag-
ing both the demonstrations and the
shows for this year.