1877.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
93 
Steam Engines for the Farm, Cheese-fac¬ 
tory, and Workshop. 
We have previously described a few of the popu¬ 
lar portable engines which are more especially 
Fig. ECONOMIZES” BOILER WITHOUT ENGINE, 
adapted to the light uses of farms, cheese-factories, 
and workshops. We now add to the list some 
which offer at least equal advantages, and some 
which are especially designed for certain uses. 
For instance, the “Economizer” boiler, shown at 
figure 1, is made expressly for use in cheese-fac¬ 
tories and on farms, for steaming feed as well as 
Fig. 2. — “ ECONOMIZER ” ENGINE AND BOILER, 
for use with an engine, for furnishing power for 
any purpose where that of 2i up to 8 horses 
may be required. This boiler received the highest 
award of the Committee on Boilers and Engines, at 
the American Dairymen’s Convention, at which 
several others were exhibited. This boiler is care¬ 
fully made of heavy boiler iron, has no mason work, 
is ready for use when received from the manufac¬ 
tory, and is easily portable. It is shown in the en¬ 
graving, (figure 1), with the lid over the flues open. 
The flues are seen to be easily accessible. The fire 
is built in front, and passes along the bottom of 
and around the boiler to the back, where the flame 
strikes the water-back, and returns through the 
flues, which are covered with water, to the smoke- 
pipe. Either coal or wood may be burned under 
the boiler. This peculiar arrangement secures the 
greatest economy of fuel, whence the appellation 
of this boiler. At figure 2 is shown the Economizer 
boiler with engine. This machine of 8-horse-power, 
may be run at a cost of 40 cents a day for fuel. It 
is now in use in sixteen States, and in Canada. The 
cost of boiler and engine complete, is from $275 for 
2i-horse power, up to 8575 for 8-horse-power. A 
larger machine, known as the “Economizer Im¬ 
proved,” from 5 to 18 horse-power, is also made, 
having a water-back attachment, and an arrange¬ 
ment by which the deposit of scale from the hard¬ 
est water is prevented. Figure 3 represents an 
“ Agricultural Engine,” designed for farm work, 
being easily moved from place to place, for thrash¬ 
ing, sawing, and other work. It is the only return- 
flue boiler and engine made for farm work. An 
8-horse-power engine costs 8800, or but 8100 per 
horse-power. Many of these engines are in use for 
thrashing in California. The manufacturers of 
these boilers and engines are Messrs. Whitman & 
Burrell, of Little Falls, 
Herkimer Co., N. Y. In 
addition to this branch of 
their business, these par¬ 
ties are extensive manu¬ 
facturers of dairymen’s 
supplies and machines, 
and of all sorts of appli¬ 
ances for cheese-factories 
and creameries. At figure 
4 is shown a small porta¬ 
ble engine and boiler, used 
for a large variety of light 
work, such as ginning cot¬ 
ton, sawing, grinding, 
pumping, etc. This is an 
upright tubular boiler, 
which occupies but a very 
small space, and is very 
simple and easily man¬ 
aged. It is known as the 
Bookwalter Engine, and is 
made by James Leffel & 
Co., of Springfield, Ohio. 
The Bigelow Semi-porta¬ 
ble Vertical Engine, made 
by H. B. Bigelow & Co., 
New Haven, Ct.,is shown 
at figure 5. This engine is 
made of different sizes, from 6 up to 20 horse-power, 
costing from 8430 to 8980. The same parties manu¬ 
facture a portable engine on wheels for farm work. 
The use of steam is rapidly extending through 
every branch of industry. So far, there has 
been less use made of it upon the farm, than 
might have been expected, and, as we believe, 
might have been made profitable. It is clear that, 
to a great extent, agriculture could be made more 
profitable by the investment of more capital in its 
operation. It is those who are able or willing to 
use all the labor-saving and economical appliances, 
which they can turn to advantage, that are making 
the most money from farming, or in fact from any 
mechanical employment. Thus we find a farmer, 
who employs gang-plows, drills, and rapid seeders 
to sow his crops upon hundreds or thousands of 
acres, and steam engines to thrash and clean his 
harvest, sometimes makes profits each year equal 
to the first cost of his land and machinery. This 
has been done of late years in Minnesota, Kansas, 
and to a very large extent in California. Without 
the capital to do this, of course, it could not have 
been possible, neither could it have been done with 
Fig. 3.— WHITMAN & BURRELL’S AGRICULTURAL ENGINE. 
the money, unless the machinery had been procura¬ 
ble. The fact is, that the possibility of using all 
the mechanical aids in agricultural industry, that 
are now at work in the field, the barn, the elevator, 
Fig. 4.— THE BOOKWALTER ENGINE. 
the dairy, and the cheese-factory, has attracted an 
immense amount of money to the business of culti¬ 
vating of the soil, feeding and raising stock, and 
manufacturing the raw products of the farm into 
articles of merchandise, for home use and export. 
That this adaptation of steam-power to the uses of 
agriculture is bound to be largely extended, we do 
not doubt, and to learn how to run a steam-engine, 
will soon be as necessary a part of the education of 
a farmer, as to learn how to sow crops or rear stock. 
Fig.5.— BIGELOW SEMI-PORTABLE VERTICAL ENGINE. 
This is a part of the practical education of a young 
farmer, who desires to be accomplished in his busi¬ 
ness, that should enter into the course of instruc¬ 
tion at Agricultural Colleges, and should in no wise 
be neglected, for he cannot tell how soon he may 
be called upon to put his knowledge into practice., 
