Putnam patriot., 1930-06-19
Prove Durability
 And Reliability
National Leaders and Oregon Pic neers Hail End of World Record
 Farm Tractor Marathon

The high degree of reliability and endurance of modern power farm machinery has been demonstrated by the agricultural engineering depart ment of Oregon State College, which has completed a nonstop test run with a light type track laying tractor in which a new world record of 4ol hours and five minutes was establish ed.
 The run was made under official ob- servation of the agriculture and en- cheering schools of the college with the tractor used under actual farm conditions. pulling a full load in blow ing or cultivating whenever weather permitted working the land. Exact records were kept to determine wear, particularly on the track, and to check on consumption of fuel, water and oil .,,
 Two men. Dick Wagner and D. Hil- Ter. working on alternate eight hour shifts. kept the machine going day and night through all kinds of weather. Automatic devices recorded engine revolutions and made a daily chart of operations. Any stopping of the engine would have been recorded on this chart.
 Establishment of the record, which exceeded all former runs by more than three days, attracted nationwide attention and a public ceremony Tn celebration was staged on the college campus at the conclusion Of the 2O- day grind. An ox-drawn covered wagon, a relic of Oregon Trail days of 1850. provided contrast for the modern efficiency of the tractor. and pioneers from many sections of the state gathered to pay tribute to the merchanical advancements over their day.
 Sends Congratulations Senator Charles L. MeNary of Oregon, recognized as probably the nations foremost congressional farm champion, sent his congratulations to President w. ]. Kerr of Oregon State college directly by long distance tel ephone at the time appointed for stop ning the run. President Kerr passed the word to the crowd and to Cover nor A. W. Norblad who turned the switch stopping the record run.
 In establishing the new 2O-day record the little tractor broke three former records, one for each size group. First to fall was the former light tractor record of 16s hours set i'm Australia. Next the heavy record of 264 hours fell, and finally the for mer l7-dav record for medium sized machines held in California.
 Immediately on completion of the run the machine was taken Co the col leee laboratories and dissembled, with every part checked in comparison with condition at the start. Par ticular interest was taken in track, both weight and measurements being obtained to show degree of wear. The track was stretched out and subject ed to the same load strain as when m operation, and 1t then showed ar elongation of but 6 inch after travel ing lO11 miles.
 Statistical Observations
 Engine revolutions amounted to 37.42l .09s yet the cylinder wear amounted to only 00i inch with no out-of roundness The machine con sumed 728 gallons of gasoline, and sixteen gallons of gear oil. Net amount of crank case oil used amount cd Go 26.5 quarts as sixty-four quarts were added and 37.5 quarts drained off. Total water used in radiator was seventeen quarts.
 Speaking of the contrast between life in the past and present, President Kerr said at the ceremony that the ] ox-team and the tractor were symbolic of the span of the last 100 years.
 "This venerable covered wagon drawn by these patient oxen typifies western civilization of century ago" he pointed out "Thig tractor with it's untiring evidence of power, is a symbol of the industrial progress of today"
 W. J. Gilmore. head of the agri- cultural engineering department. de- clared the endurance test was suc-