264 PRINCIPLES OF RURAL ECONOMICS 



even for traction purposes, and it is very probable that it will 

 eventually displace animal power, or nearly so, on our roads and 

 streets. For plowing, particularly in large fields, it has some ad- 

 vantages also, and may gain in favor as engines are improved, 

 but it will probably be a long time before it displaces animal 

 power completely. Some of the large harvesting machines in 

 use in the Far West have been drawn by mechanical traction, 

 but the experiment has not yet proved such an unqualified suc- 

 cess as to cause its general adoption. An interesting combi- 

 nation is being tried, by means of which the dead weight of the 

 harvester is drawn by horse power, but the machinery is run by 

 steam or gasoline engines. This is virtually a stationary engine 

 running the machinery while the traction power is furnished by 

 horses. Eight horses are able to pull the whole machine, as a 

 mere load on wheels, whereas it would take thirty-two to pull 

 it if the traction had to run the machinery also. 



For the running of stationary machinery on a farm, water 

 power is undoubtedly the most economical where it exists, but 

 unfortunately those farms are very few. The windmill is an 

 equally economical source of power, and it can be used on 

 almost every farm in almost any place, but it is suitable for 

 only a few kinds of work, such as pumping water, grinding 

 feed, etc., which do not have to be done at definite periods. 

 Where labor is dear it would not prove economical to use so 

 uncertain and so uncontrollable a source of power as wind, for 

 work which required labor as well as power. There would be 

 too many vexatious and unprofitable delays and interruptions. 

 As between steam engines and gasoline, or explosive engines 

 for stationary power, the choice must depend upon a variety of 

 circumstances. Where, as on a dairy farm for example, con- 

 siderable quantities of hot water are needed, and the same 

 boiler can be used for heating the water and running the en- 

 gine, steam power is unquestionably more economical. Again, 



