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the: illii^sTois fa.iimeii. 



185 



State fair Trial of Implements and Machin- 



We commend the following circular 

 /to the attention of all manufacturers of 

 ■ machinery and to the officers of all agri- 

 cultural societies. We have in our hum- 

 ble way protested against the system of 

 awarding premiums at fairs for imple- 

 ments and machinery without subjecting 

 them to trial. And trials should be 

 made with deliberation, and the judges 

 on such occasions should be men who 

 thoroughly understand their business. 

 We often find implements and machinery 

 presented for exhibition, whose greatest 

 merit, apparently, is their exquisite fin- 

 ish. These machines may operate well; 

 but their fine finish will on trial, be of no 

 importance to them. We do believe 

 that such trials as are desired can be had 

 under the auspices of our agricultural 

 societies; but we question whether this 

 can be done at our usual fairs. Men 

 there have too little time to investigate 

 the principles of machinery. They 

 wish to see everything on exhibition and 

 can devote but little attention to one de- 

 partment. 



We arc aware that the time has passed 

 for the holding of a meeting on this sub- 

 ject as called in the appended circular 

 at Cincinnati; but the facts embraced in 

 that circular, and which are important 

 to all manufacturers of implements and 

 machines, requires its publication at 

 this time. We regret that it was not 

 received by us until near the middle 

 of November : 



NewafxK, Ohio, Oct. 15,1858. 



At a meeting of delegates appointed 

 by Mechanics and Manufacturers in the 

 States of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, 

 held at the State House in Indianapolis, 

 on the 17th day of October, 1858, the 

 undersigned, as Chairman and Secreta- 

 ry, were directed to address you on the 

 subject of a great and general trial of 

 machinery and implements in the North- 

 western States during the summer of 

 1859. 



It has long been the opinion of the 

 most observing and successful of our art- 

 isans and builders of agricultural ma- 

 chinery,^that there is not enough atten- 

 tion paid on the part of agricultural so- 

 cieties, to this important and indispensi- 

 ble adjunct of farm labors; that the posi- 

 tion given, the premiums awarded, and 

 above all, the manner ofmalchig awards, 

 are not calculated to encourage the ex- 

 hibitor, or give the public any adequate 

 idea of the true merits and value of im- 

 plements shown, while many who build 



excellent machines do not exhibit them, 

 failing to see proper inducements for un- 

 dertaking the labor and perplexity of ex- 

 hibition where the rewards arc so uncer- 

 tain and inadequate. For these reasons 

 initiatory steps have been taken for or- 

 ganizing at some suitable point in the 

 Nortlnvest, during the next summer, an 

 exhibition and trial of implements and 

 machines, under such supervision and 

 rules as shall insure the most thorough 

 examination and comparison of all which 

 shall be offered, and to this end, as Ave 

 Avould in no Way interfere with existing 

 organizations of State or National Agri- 

 cultural Societies, we now address vou 

 on the subject, desiring that you may 

 give us your views of the subject in "wtI- 

 ting, or send from your association a 

 delegate who shall efficiently represent 

 the views of your officers, at a Conven- 

 tion to he held in Cincinnati on Wed- 

 nesday^ the Yith day of November next. 



This meeting will decide as to the ad- 

 visability of placing the trial in -svhole or 

 in part in the hands of some existing or- 

 ganization, or of arranging for an inde- 

 pendent prosecution of the enterprise. 



We do not attempt to give details of 

 plans to be adopted for securing. the re- 

 sults which we so sincerely desire, but 

 leaving such details to the decision of 

 those who shall assemble at the time ap- 

 pointed, only premise that we 7-epudiate 

 the awarding of premiums^ or the ex- 

 pression of anything but facts elicited by 

 the trial, and embodied in a full and 

 clear report, which facts shall relate to 

 the same j^oints in all the machines of 

 any particular class. 



Conceding, then, the necessity or 

 utility of the undertaking, the main 

 points for discussion, at the November 

 Convention will be those relating to the 

 direction and supervision, the organiza- 

 tion ot a competent committee, and of 

 finances. These are thought by some to 

 be clearly adjustable, and we approach 

 the community with confidence that such 

 a programme will be offered as shall in- 

 vite the confidence and favor of all in- 

 terested. 



We hope to hear from you in good 

 time,, and that we may have your favor- 

 able approbation and support. 



Please address J. E. Holmes, Secre- 

 tary, Newark, Ohio. 



ARTHUR PETER, 

 Chairman, Louisville, Ky. 



J. E. Holmes, 



Secretary, Xeivark, Ohio. 



•••^ " - 



Large Peach Crop.— The brothers 

 Loughry, of Adams county, Ohio, raised 

 this season thirty-six hundred bushels of 

 peaches, which brought them in Cincin- 

 nati, an average of three dollars per 

 bushel, or an aggregate of over $10,000. 

 Deducting the expense of gathering and 

 marketing, the net product was $9,000. 



THE STEAM PLOW TltlAL* 



The steam plow trial, under the superrisioa 

 of the State Agricultural Society, was held at 

 Decatur oh the 10th instant. There was but 

 one plow on trial. Three others expected were 

 not present. The pnprietors say that they 

 will hereafter appear on our prairies. The 

 plow exhibited belonged to J. W. Fawks, and 

 was the same that was at Centralia. On the 

 morning of the 10th, it was fired up, for trial. 

 The ground Bclected was south of the Depot — 

 a blue grass sod. The plows were not calcHla- 

 ted for our soil, being eastern plows. Never- 

 thelens, the engine moved forward as rapidly 

 as men could conveniently walk, drawing six 

 plows, cutting a foot each, and doing tke work 

 satisfactorily. When the engiie reached the 

 end of the field, it turned in three-quarters of a 

 minute, aiid returned, plowing, to the point 

 from which it started. The engine seemed to be 

 under perfect command. 



On the day following, it also worked very 

 sa'isfactoril}'. 



Mr. Fawks does not regard his machine as 

 perfect, but believes, with a few improvements, 

 it will do all that can be done by a locomotive 

 steam machine. It can now be used for thresh- 

 ing, sawing, grinding, &c. Mr. M T. Soott, 

 of McLean county, has engaged Mr. Fawks 

 and his machine for a year on his large farm 

 at Chenoa. It is supposed that the machine 

 can break up 20 acre:^ of prairie a day, at an 

 expense of fifty cents the acre. Some two or 

 three thou'-and persons were supposed to be 

 present at the exhibition, who all appeared to 

 be much gratified with the performance. 



On the evening of the 10th, the Executive 

 Committee met at the Barnum House, and 

 adopted t":e following resolutions . 



Resolved, That having witnessed the perform- 

 ance Ot J. W. Fawks' "Steiim Plow," we deem 



it our duty to record our opinion, that tliis in- 

 genious machine i.s well adapted, as a stationary 

 engine for farm purposes, and that wiih im- 

 provements it can be made u-eful for plowing 

 on our prairies ; but that it is not aa yet such a 

 machine as will entitle it to the premium ofiPered 

 by this society. 



Resulced, That in consideration of the ex* 

 peoses incurred in exhibiting this machine at 

 Centralia and Decatur, the Corresponding Sec- 

 retary is hereby auth(<nzed and required to 

 dra'v an order on the Treasurer of the Society 

 in favor of J. W. Fuwks for the sum of five 

 hundred dollars. 



But a few plows were present for trial. The 

 committee adopted the following resolution for 

 the appointment of a committee to examine them 

 and report upon their performances: 



Resolved, That Dr. II. C. Johns be appointed 

 a ommittie to Jurther superintend the trial of 



steam and other plows, arid that he have full 

 power to call to bis aid any scientific or practi- 

 cal skill he may require, and on behalf of the 

 Executive Boaru, award any commendations 

 said plows may merit. 



Dr. Johns appointed the committee, who 

 made the examinations, and made the following 

 report : 



■\Ve the undersigned committee, appointed "by 

 the Illinois State Agricultural society, to ex- 

 amine the plows ufon trial at Decatur, on the 

 10th and llihof Novemtier. 1858, report, that : 



We have examined the "Gang Plow arid Seed 

 Sower,' invented by Joel Lee, of Galesbargh, 





