1862. 



THE ILLE^OIS FAEMEK. 



231 



Wiekersham's Excavator. 



When at Springfield, a few days since, we 

 were shown the above machine, now nearly 

 ready for operation, and, as the inventor thinks, 

 as near perfect as it can be made. 



Mr. Wickersham has been to work oaH^Ts ma- 

 chine since 1854, when, if we recollect, he had 

 one on exhibition at the State Fair, but quite 

 a different affair from the present one. The 

 Union Herald of that city says of it: "The 

 operator, with this machine, is able to cut, in one 

 day, a ditch half a mile long, fiye feet wide, and 

 two feet deep ; it being at a cost of four cents per 

 rod, or in that proportion ; for ditches of greater 

 depth, as follows : 



"One plow team, $2.60; one double team and 

 shaft horse, $3 00 ; one man to tend the ma- 

 chine, $1.00, making $6.50 for 160 rods. It 

 will throw the dirt on either side of the ditch, 

 or, if desired, by cutting two ditches and throw- 

 ing the dirt to the center, will make a beautiful 

 wagon rond, hedge row or fence row; it is, also, 

 most economical in excavating or grading for 

 railroad purposes, or it may be attached to a cart 

 at an expanse of about a dollar, in which case, 

 the dirt is deposited directly in the bed of the 

 cart, which is loaded in about half a minute ; 

 when loaded, the cart is driven off and another 

 takes it place. This machine will keep from 

 eight to twelve carts constantly moving (accord- 

 ing to the length of the haul), at the same cost 

 per day, with the additional cost of one boy to 

 every two carts. This machine is very simple in 

 its construction, it being entirely without com- 

 plicated work of any kind, and not liable to get 

 out of order except the possible breakage of 

 the endless chains and elevators, which can be 

 made of any reasonable capacity as well as the 

 Bcraper that fills them. 



" The propelling power of the machine is two 

 cast-iron truck wheels, four feet in diameter, on 

 a stationary axle, around a cylinder. Between 

 these wheels runs the endless chains, thence 

 overhead, a round pulley under which is another 

 endless belt which receives and conveys the dirt 

 on the bank when ditching ; upon said chains 

 and two feet apart and bolted firioly to them, 

 there are fourteen elevators made of heavy sheet 

 iron; directly behind the wheels and of the 

 same circle, is a heavy ii:on scraper attached 

 loosely to each end of the axle, and rises and 

 falls with the wheels to suit the surface ; when 

 in motion, the wheels running each side of the 

 furrow, and the ecraper pushing the dirt lightly 

 into the elevators which cany it up as before 



ii^entioned. This is all the machinery there is 

 in it except the necessary frame work to hold it 

 together. Only one man is required to attend its 

 entire operation." The machine looks as though 

 it might be useful in excavating for railways and 

 roads, but of its value for farm ditching we have 

 less faith, though in the making of open ditches, 

 where the ground is dry and in good condition 

 to plow, there is no reason why it will not work 

 to good advantage. Open ditches on farms are 

 becoming more and more unpopular and the 

 blind ditches, either mole or tile, are rapidlly 

 taking its place. The open ditches takes up too 

 much space, are generally filled with weeds, and 

 soon become the eyasores of the farm, while on 

 the other hand the blind ditches are out of sight, 

 the surface pan be cultivated and no long rows of 

 weeds are seen. Wherever it is practicable we 

 recommend the covered drain. Should this ma- 

 chine work as well as anticipated by the inven- 

 tor, it can be so modified that it will cut a deep, 

 narrow ditch for tile, but more particularly val- 

 uable for covering and filling with stone, as the 

 width can not be much if any less than a foot on 

 the bottom. 



One of these machines is to be at the State 

 Fair where it is to have a through trial, and we 

 shall be disappointed if it does not, in many re- 

 spects, prove valuable. 



MoBB Shbbp for Winnkbago Oountt. — We 

 colled a few days ago at the farm of Horace 

 Miller, Esq , of New Millford, to take a look at 

 his Suffolks, Leicester and other grades of hogs. 

 Mr. Miller himself, we learned from his son, was 

 absent in Michigan to purchase a large lot of 

 sheep for himself and some of his neighbor. 



We were shown a buck now belonging to Mr. 

 M., of a cross of Cots well and Southdown, which 

 had sheared a few days ago a fleece of 12^ lbs. 

 of wool, and the animal himself, alter shearing, 

 weighed over 200 lbs. 



Mr. Miller has, as usual, a large stock of 

 hogs, of the most improved grades — about eighty 

 of which are large store hogs, and about as many 

 pigs. 



— We copy the above from the Bockford Regis- 

 ter to show that it is sheer nonsense to send out 

 of the State for hogs. The State of Illinois to- 

 day can show better hogs than any State in the 

 Union ; we have just as good Chester Whites, 

 just as good Berkshires, just as good Suffolks, 

 and, on the whole, a little better than can be got 

 up outside of Suckerdom. If any one doubts 

 this let them come to our State Fair and they 

 will have the conceit taken out of them. 



Ed. 



