Year: 1876

The cheapest motive power in existence


is the force OF the wind. 1t can be util-


lied without preparation; no reservoirs.


dams or fumes are needed to apply it to


our machinery, and the proper engine


alone is to be provided. In some cOun-
tries wind power is extensively used. The


traveller in Europe scarcely loses sight OF


windmill in his journeys, and in places


the landscape is thickly dotted with them.


Substantial grist mills, which have faced


the breezes for centuries, still wave their


arms, and promise to do so for centuries


more. Much pumping and drawing Is


done by these mills, and thousands Of


acres are either watered bv irrigation or
dried by drainage, and rendered valuable


and productive by their help. A few
years ago windmill was an unusual sight


in this country, except in the very Oldest


portions. We were not sufficiently set


tied people. and did not remain long


enough in one place to make it profitable
so long in use in other countries; we need
ed cheaper and more quickly constructed
mills. Those which we could then pro-
cure were not satisfactory; they were
then slightly built, and were not able to
take care OF themselves when the breeze


became gale or hurricane. Recently
our mechanics have turned heir atten-
ton to wind engines. and great improve
ments have been made in their construc-
ton. We have now a choice of several
kinds of them, all Of them useful. but dit
fering chiefly in their degree of adaptation
to varying circumstances. At the recent
Illinois State Fair there were no less than
thirteen different wind engines on exhi-
bition, from the small one. eight feet in
diameter, costing but 800, Of but half
horse power, and fitted for pumping stock
water or churning, to those Of 80 or 40
horse power costing $4,000. and able to
run grist mill or a woolen factory. Be-
tween these extremes there Is q number
of mills capable of adaptation to almost
every purpose for which power is needed
on the farm or in the workshop. Amill
% feet in diameter. costing about $500,
has power Of five horses; two-horse
power mill is about 16 feet in diameter,
and costs about 1925. This cost is less
than that Of a steam engine, and wind
engine needs neither fuel nor skilled at.
tendance. Neither is there danger of fire
or explosion from accident or carelessness.
The wind engines are now made self-reg-
ulating, and in a sudden storm close
themselves. They are also made to change
their position as the wind changes, facing
the wind at all times. With these engines
one may saw wood or lumber. thrash,
pump, hoist hay or straw with the hay
fork, shell corn, grind or cut feed, plane
lumber, make sashes or doors, or run any
machinery whatever. There is but one
drawback. when the wind stops the mill
stops. For work that may be done when
it is convenient to do it, as most OF the
mechanical work on a farm is done. these
engines are exactly what is wanted. On
the Western prairies. and almost every
where, except in sheltered valleys in the
East, we have wind enough and to spare,
which offers to us power that is practi-
cally incalculable and illimitable. and the
means of utilizing this power is cheaply
given to us in the numerous excellent
wind engines now manufactured. In
fact, so cheaply can these mills be pro-
cured, that it will not pay for any person
to spend his time in making one, although
he may be sufficiently good mechanic
to do it.-American Agriculturist