Muscatine Weekly Journal

Taylor, and: Through her exhibitions at the State Fair A considerable interest was manifested in the exhibition of reapers, mowers and threshers at the late exhibition of the State Agricultural Society at this city, and as our notice of the mechanical department was rather meager, we copy the following from the Iowa Farmer:

Agricultural Implements and Farm Machinery.—This is a department which usually attracts as much if not the first attention of the real farmers, and those desiring to improve. It is proper that it should, as the inventive genius and skill of our people is ever preparing for them something new and useful, and here may or should be found the results of the preceding year. The number of entries were eighty-six, embracing a variety and number exceeding that of any previous exhibition, and in quality and value rarely exceeded at any State Fair: Much of the heaviest and most costly machinery and implements came from other States, as far east as Ohio, at great expense to the exhibitors, which presents a gratifying evidence of the high position given to the agricultural interests of Iowa by her sister States. Our farmers should feel grateful to such men for contributing so much valuable interest to their fairs, because a meager or good assortment in the implement department, is almost sufficient in itself to stamp it with a failure or a success.

First in importance to the farmer and first in premium among the machinery exhibited, were the Reapers and Mowers. There were seven on the ground, principally made in Illinois, some known to fame, and others which have been little known in this State; in construction they were excellent and received as such very general commendation; besides each had their admirers among some of the farmers present who had tested their qualities in the field. There were the celebrated Manny Machine made by Talcott, Emerson & Co. of Rockford, Illinois, which received the first premium; the Kentucky Harvester, made by Miller, Wingate & Co. Louisville, Kentucky, exhibited by Sears & Wilder of Keokuk, which was awarded the second premium; the Green patent machine of Gridley, Cogswell & Co. of Ottawa, Illinois, which received the third premium; two machines, one with a self-raker, made by P. Manny of Freeport, Ill.; J. Riley's machine, made by Falvey & Riley, Racine, Wisconsin; Rugg's machine, made at Ottawa, Ill., and a self-raking machine of Amos Whitely of Illinois. In price, they differ some fifteen dollars, the latter being the highest, and the Manny machine of Rockford and Freeport, the lowest, $135, all at shops. The committee were much embarrassed in their examination, from the fact that the advantages claimed for each over another, could not be made satisfactory to them without a trial in the field, hence their awards were principally influenced from the general merits being known to them personally in the field trials, and further proven by their long use for years, in the hands of our farmers.

Next in importance were the Threshers and Separators, which were tested by threshing and cleaning some ten bushels of wheat. The machine receiving the first premium was Ralston's patent, exhibited by Rice & Swartz of Martin's ferry, Ohio, which was compact, well constructed, and did its work admirably; its cost delivered at Muscatine, including a four horse sweep power, (which power was awarded the first premium) but without trucks, is $450. The second premium machine (the Pitt's patent) was one made by Davis, Watson & Co. of Davenport, Iowa. This was also a well constructed machine and run with belts principally; its cost with trucks and a four or eight horse power, double geared, is $450. The third premium machine was also the Pitt's patent, made and exhibited by Taft, Brownson & Co. of Muscatine. The cost is $400, including double geared eight horse power, without trucks, at shop. A very splendidly constructed machine, I. Case, of Racine works, Wisconsin, of Pitt's patent, was on exhibition, but not submitted to test by exhibitor. They are furnished at shop with eight horse power at $375 with trucks and $350 without trucks. The trial of these machines, with the powers mentioned below, was a profitable and interesting exhibition to the farmer.

For best horse power for any farm use, there were five in competition. The one receiving the first premium was made and exhibited by Rice & Swartz, of Martin's ferry, Ohio, is a single geared sweep power, well made, and worked with four or eight horses, adapted more especially however, for four horses, can be furnished for $60—it was this power which drove their thresher and separator. The second premium horse power, was made by J.J. Case of Wisconsin, sweep and double geared eight horse. The third premium to Taft, Brownson & Co. of Muscatine, for double geared eight horse power. Both of these last named powers were well made, useful and durable, but the price was more than double that of the single geared, and in the opinion of the committee not worth the difference in price for general farm use over that of the single geared sweep power. The railroad horse power, exhibited by Emery & Co. of Chicago, is a very excellent, well made and popular power, but not in the estimation of the Committee so well suited for farm use as a good sweep power. They commend it as an excellent power for those who prefer this mode of driving machinery.

Messrs. Parks & Scott, of this vicinity, are agents for the machine above mentioned as manufactured by Rice & Swartz, of Martin's ferry, Ohio. Mr. Parks informs us that at the trial of threshers at the State Fair, this machine threshed ten bushels and three pecks in six minutes—which was the quickest time performed.