Western Reserve Chronicle

State Trial of Reapers and Mowers.
MANSFIELD, OHIO, July 5, 1870.
The grand State trial of reapers and mowers commenced to-day, under the direction of the State Board of Agriculture. One hundred and one machines have been entered, which makes this the largest exhibition of the kind ever held in this country. Every Manufactory in the State is represented, and many machines from adjoining States are on the ground, entered by local agents.
The crowd to witness the opening was quite large. It took place at three o'clock, in a sixteen acre field of timothy and clover, standing straight and quite heavy in places. The Champion No. 4 wrought iron machine of Springfield opened the contest, the inventor, Mr. Whitley, himself occupying the driver's seat, and managing the machine. Then followed the "Excelsior Iron Clad," of Massillon, and in quick succession the "Junior Buckeye," of Aultman, Miller & Co., Akron, "Dodge No. 2," Smith of Wooster: "Etna," of Salem; "Excelsior," of Akron, and "Dodge No. 1," of Wooster, in all seven machines tried during the afternoon. The test was to cut two rods each across the field, about fifty rods in width. Owing to the smoothness of the ground and the good condition of the grass, the test was not quite as severe, perhaps, as would be desirable. The machines all seemed to work admirably, and fill all the points claimed by the exhibitors in excellent style.
The judges carefully noted the working of each machine, and after the test closed made a thorough examination of them. The exhibition will continue from day to day till all the machines are tried, which will probably consume six or eight days. The mowers will be first followed by reapers, and the combined machines last. The decision of the Awarding Committee will be reserved till the meeting of the State Board, and announced on one of the days of the State fair. The scale of merits adopted as follows: Quality of work, forty; simplicity of construction, ten; durability, fifteen; ease of draft, twenty; market price, five; facility of management, ten; the maximum of these numbers being considered perfection.
The numbers were designated by lot, and the machines tried in their order. The struggle between the leading machines, which are all represented, as well as many new aspirants for favor, will be tremendous, and will excite the closest attention of manufacturers and agriculturists.
The last trial of mowers and reapers previous to this under the control of the State Board was held in Butler county in 1857. Only three previous trials have taken place in the State.