MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 89 



drum, each connecting-rod communicates motion to a pinion, which turns 

 easily, but without shake, on the axle just mentioned. The pinion interlocks 

 with a cog-wheel, which, with a pinion on its axis, imparts motion to the 

 cog-wheel bolted to the drum; the whole being so proportioned that six 

 strokes of the piston cause one revolution of the drum. 



Increase of power and of control over the movements of the engine are 

 thus secured : 



In front of the fire-box is a short, tapering bow of sheet iron, which serves 

 as a seat for the fireman and a receptacle for fuel. The bow is supported by 

 a body-bolt on a truck composed of two iron guide-wheels 3? feet in diam- 

 eter aud 15 inches broad. The truck moves freely like the front wheels of a 

 chaise, and is controlled by a steering-wheel in charge of the engineer, so 

 that the whole machine is turned as readily and as short as a farm wagon. 

 The engine is of 30-horse power. The entire length of the machine is about 

 18 feet; its weight, with water and fuel, 10 tons; and cost, including "don- 

 key " engine and pump, about $4000. By this pump, water may be drawn 

 from a well or creek, and the tank filled, or water forced from the tank to 

 the boiler. The tank holds twelve barrels, sufficient for three hours running. 

 The ploughs, eight in number, are attached to one frame, which is suspended 

 by chains passing over grooved pulleys in two beams, projecting from the 

 seat of the engine. These chains communicate to a windlass in charge of the 

 fireman, in front, by which the gang of ploughs may be raised or lowered 

 at pleasure, and the frame of ploughs is drawn by other chains, which are 

 attached to the under side of the frame of the engine. 



In answer to the several questions propounded by your Board, touching the 

 capacity and practicability of the engine for farm purposes, we find, upon 

 trial and examination, as follows : 



First: The weight is ten tons, as reported by Mr. Fawkes. 



Second: The fuel consumed in one hour was 170 pounds, or two bushels 

 and ten pounds of inferior coal, with one-eighth part of a cord of wood, 

 evaporating about 150 gallons of water, and ploughing one acre in twelve 

 minutes (which includes turning). 



The wood used was mostly of pine, and considerably deca3 T ed, and would 

 have been rejected upon steamboats. 



Third: The amount of traction on different grades of land would be a 

 matter difficult to determine, with the facilities in the hands of the Commit- 

 tee. We had the engine run up the various grades of the Fair Grounds, 

 passing into a gulley with the ploughs swung in the rear, which struck on one 

 bank as the main roller was raising the other, which overpowered the engine; 

 but upon detaching the ploughs, the machine moved out without the least 

 difficulty. Upon measurement, the grade was found to be 1 foot vertical to 1 

 on the horizontal line. Steam, by the indicator, was marked at only G'2 

 100 being his ordinary pressure. 



Fourth : The friction produced by the pressure against the shoulders of the 

 axles, instead of being fair on the journal (which are of less size), may 

 possibly make a slight waste of power in running across inclined planes. The 

 wear and tear would be the same as with any other steam-engine used for 

 locomotion. 



The engine can safely be run across an inclined plane of 30, because of its 

 great breadth of base (six feet) the principal part of the boiler, the heavy 

 fire-box, and a great portion of the machinery, being below the centre. 



Fifth : We have previously stated that an acre could be ploughed in twelve 



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