i89i 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Business. 
ELECTRICITY FROM WIND POWER. 
Windmills For Generating Electricity. 
TAMING THE “FREE FORCE” OF THE AIR. 
It is evident to all thoughtful persons that electricity is 
to play an important part in the work of the future. Not 
only will it do the bidding of the vast corporation or man¬ 
ufacturing company, but it will do much of the farmer’s 
work as well. We are on the eve of an industrial revolu¬ 
tion. We are now paying too much for the force which 
keeps the world’s wheels in motion. The use of steam 
revolutionized the world because it cheapened the cost of 
power. Electricity will effect another revolution because 
it will enable man to utilize power which is now wasted. 
The force of the wind and of falling streams will, some 
day, be sent about the country as easily and cheaply as 
water is now supplied to our towns and cities. The 
R. N.-Y. hopes to keep its readers fully informed re¬ 
garding these industrial changes, from the standpoint of 
the farmer: 
1. Where can the farmer obtain electricity ? 
2. What appliances will he need to store and use it ? 
Two plans have been proposed. One is to connect a 
geared windmill with a dynamo and thus generate a home 
supply of electricity, as it were. The other plan is to tap 
the electric wires which run from town to town and use 
motors much the same as one would use the fixtures for 
electric lights. In one case the individual provides the 
entire capital; In the other the individual pays rent. Is 
the rent greater than the interest on the capital ? Let us 
first consider the possibilities of the individual method 
and wind power. The following information is sent from 
the manufacturer of windmills : 
Not Practical Without Cheap Storage. 
I am not familiar enough with the process of storing 
electricity to give an opinion. Windmills run only when 
there is wind, and hence I do not think it will be practical 
to generate electric power by wind power, unless there 
is a very cheap process for the storage of electricity. 
Windmill power is the cheapest power known and in this 
country is used principally for pumping water into the 
tanks when required; and also for grinding corn and other 
grain for farmers. It may possibly be practical in suit¬ 
able places to use a windmill for elevating water to a high 
hill and then use pipes to convey the water back to run a 
water wheel. It could also be used to good advantage 
where a deep well or rather reservoir could be dug into 
the earth and the water be lifted up and then allowed to 
run back into the well, if a sufficiently large excavation 
were made in the earth or a large enough tank were pro¬ 
vided for holding the water until required. Either of these 
uses would, of course, depend upon the nature of the 
ground and the chances for wind. In our Northern 
States we have a good deal of wind and the wind force is 
much larger than it is in the Southern States, but on the 
coasts I think there is more wind than there is inland. 
American Well Works. M. T. CHAPMAN. 
Not at All Feasible. 
We would not consider windmills a very good motive 
power for generating electricity, at least we have never 
had any experience with windmill work in that line. In 
my own experience with electricity I have found that it 
needs a power that is very steady and that would run 
when wanted, and this one cannot say of wind power with 
windmills; they run fast and slow according to the wind, 
and it has often seemed to me that when one wants to use 
the mill most there is no wind, and then the mill Is use¬ 
less. We could not advise anything of the kind for 
generating electricity. M. M. FISHER. 
Perkins Windmill Co. 
A Suitable Storage Battery Needed. 
For a number of years we have been of the opinion that 
when a successful storage battery is produced, the wind¬ 
mill can be utilized to a marked advantage in generating 
electricity. We are fully convinced that a storage battery 
would be absolutely necessary in connection with a mill, 
and the dynamo could be a part of the mill, the wires run¬ 
ning only from the mill to the ground. 
MAST, FOOS & CO. 
Expects To Perfect Such a Mill. 
None of our windmills has yet been successfully tried 
for generating electricity, but we expect to have one 
ready soon, that will accomplish the purpose, as we 
have been for the past six months carefully studying 
the matter, and we believe that we shall be able to accom¬ 
plish our object, with use of the storage battery system. 
We are fully aware of the importance of bringing out a 
windmill adapted not only for this purpose, but one that 
can also be used for pumping and running light farm 
machinery. A windmill for generating electricity must 
be constructed on a different principle from our present 
style of mills. That the windmill will be the coming 
power for generating electricity for the use of from one to 
ten residences, there is scarcely a doubt. 
LAMB & COMPANY. 
A Successful But Expensive Experiment. 
The only windmill that we know of used for this pur¬ 
pose in this country was constructed by Mr. Brush in 
Cleveland, Ohio, and is used in connection with lighting 
his house. After the plant is installed, the expenses of 
running it are not very great; but the original costs are 
very large. We doubt very much whether the average 
user of windmills could manage such a plant, even though 
it were installed for him for nothing. 
THE BRUSH ELECTRIC COMPANY. 
R. N.-Y. From the Scientific American we learn that 
this mill was specially prepared for Mr. Brush. It stands 
on a tower 60 feet high. The wheel is 56 feet In diameter 
and is provided with 144 blades, which are twisted like 
those of a screw propeller. The sail surface is about 1,800 
square feet. By means of a series of pulleys the power of 
the wheel is transmitted to a dynamo, while electric bat¬ 
tery cells store and convey the electricity. The Scientific 
American says of this mill: “ The reader must not sup¬ 
pose that electric lighting by means of power supplied in 
this way is cheap because the wind costs nothing. On the 
contrary, the cost of the plant is so great as to more than 
offset the cheapness of the motive power. However, there 
is a great satisfaction in making use of one of Nature’s 
most unruly motive agents.” 
Thinks He Has It In View. 
I do not know of an actual case of the application of 
wind power to the generation of electricity. It is not 
possible to operate any electrical appliance I know of by 
the ordinary pumping windmill. A geared mill, which is 
much more expensive, might be used; but with not very 
good results. I have for some time been giving this mat¬ 
ter my attention, and am prepared, with proper financial 
backing, to put on the market a specially designed wind¬ 
mill electric plant, suitable for rural homes and suburban 
residences. From present indications I have no doubt 
that there would be a great demand for such a plant 
should it be possible to get it on the market at a reason¬ 
able price. o. E. winger. 
Illinois Steel Company. 
Wind Lights the Sandwich Islands. 
Although there is a very extensive business in windmills 
in this State, they are used principally for pumping 
water, and such mills are suitable for electric purposes 
only as they convey their power vertically. There are but 
few geared mills in use here; but there is no reason why 
electricity can not be generated by mills of this class. The 
only instance I can give is that of Mr. James Campbell, of 
Honolulu, Hawaii. It Is about two years since we sent to 
him a 25-foot geared Althouse windmill. He proposed to 
run a dynamo with it, and by using storage batteries il¬ 
luminate his house and grounds. We understand that his 
plant has proved an entire success, and as yet we have 
not been called upon for any repairs for his mill. Although 
a very wealthy man, the gentleman is a very practical 
one and, we judge, a mechanic. With regular winds, like 
the trades, we can see no cause to prevent the generation 
of electricity to a considerable extent by windmills. 
San Francisco County, Cal. WOODIN & LITTLE. 
The R N.-Y. expects to hear from Mr. Campbell later. 
Compressed Air Promises Best Results. 
The subject of “ the turning of wind-power into elec¬ 
trical force ” has engaged my attention only in a general 
way, but I have no doubt of its feasibility. What is wanted 
is some practicable Intervening agency between the wind- 
motor and the dynamo for storing the wind forces, which 
are too Intermittent for the regular running of the dynamo. 
The electrical accumulator, compressed air, and stored 
water have been suggested as means to this end; but little 
has been accomplished in either of these directions, for the 
reason, probably, that the attempt has not been made in 
good earnest. I am inclined to think that compressed air 
promises the best results. The art of using it as a motive 
force has, it is said, been greatly advanced of late years in 
France. I have no particular information, however, on the 
subject. EDWARD A. DANA. 
Suffolk County, Mass. 
An Austrian Experiment with American Mills. 
Over six years ago we shipped to our windmill agents 
at Vienna, Austria, a 22 foot-diameter Halladay geared 
windmill to be used in connection with running a dynamo 
and the storing of electricity to be taken out from a 
storage battery for use in the way of running electric 
motors and for lighting purposes. The report received 
from our agent regarding the working of this mill seemed 
quite satisfactory at that time, although it was to the 
effect that storage batteries were then so expensive as to 
make it almost impractical to use wind power for this 
purpose. Again, considerable trouble was experienced in 
controlling the current of electricity to the storage battery 
on account of the irregular motion of the windmill. We 
ourselves have experimented somewhat with wind power 
for generating electricity and as yet have not made up our 
mind regarding the practicability of its use. We intend, 
in the near future, to experiment further in this direction, 
and if wind power can be made a practical success for the 
purpose specified above, we have no doubt that our experi¬ 
ments will prove successful. w. H. BURNHAM. 
U. S. Wind Engine & Pump Co. 
NOVELTIES AND STAPLES. 
From the Catalogues. 
Stores & Harrison Co., Painesville, Ohio.— This 
is a splendid catalogue—one of the best; one of the 
costliest—175 pages, finely illustrated with many wood- 
cuts and a colored picture of two roses, viz., Duchess of 
Albany and Mad. Hoste. It is a catalogue that combines 
all kinds of seeds with all kinds of fruit and ornamental 
trees ; small fruits, roses, tender and hardy border plants, 
etc. It is a “complete” catalogue for the country and 
suburban home and for the city person that loves a few 
plants in his back yard. Among new fruits, we note the 
Idaho and Wilder Pears; the Colerain, Moore’s Diamond, 
Green Mountain, Eaton, Leader, and Mills Grapes; the 
Michel’s Early, Parker Earle, Crawford, and Great 
Pacific Strawberries ; the Carman, Parmer's Seedling, and 
Progress blackcap raspberries. Among tender bedding 
plants the Geranium Souvenir de Mirande is alluded to as 
very distinct, while the new carnations, chrysanthemums, 
cannas, sweet peas, hollyhocks, etc., are too many even to 
mention. Among vegetables, The R. N.-Y. is a trifle dis¬ 
appointed to find a Yellow Peach Tomato offered. It was 
assuming that its own white sport would prove to be a 
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novelty for 1892. Well, ours is nearly white (a creamy 
white); this is a “deep yellow.” The three sorts will 
look admirable together. The Peach Tomato is not fully 
appreciated. It is soft, but, nevertheless, it will keep for 
a longer time than many of the firmest varieties. We see 
for the first a Red-cob Evergreen sweet corn offered. It is 
earlier by a week than Stowell’s and of the very best 
quality. When dry the kernel as well as the cob is of a 
deep red color. The catalogue offers pecan and English 
walnut trees, Japan and Spanish chestnuts, etc. The list 
of roses is long and well selected. The R. N.-Y. hopes 
that all of its readers will examine this catalogue, which 
it would be difficult to overpraise. 
James Vick, Rochester, N. Y.—A beautiful catalogue 
in every way. It may well be said that it is equaled by 
few—surpassed by none. The three favorite potatoes of 
this firm are the Ohio Junior, Vick’s Perfection and 
Vick’s Champion, early, intermediate and late. Among 
flower novelties we would mention the new geranium 
Souvenir de Mirande, which is said to be entirely distinct; 
Vick’s Caprice, a striped hybrid perpetual, already des¬ 
cribed in these columns, as it grew In the Rural Grounds 
last summer; the new carnation, Nellie Lewis, specimen 
flowers of which were shipped to the R. N.-Y., January 
17. Though received not until the 21st, they were fresh 
and perfect. The flower is about two inches in diameter. 
The ground color is a light rose, penciled and flaked with 
carmine. It Is a charming pink in color and in shape, 
while its clove-like, musky odor is delicate and yet pro¬ 
nounced. It is a sport from J. J. Harrison and the color 
is a shade different from that of any other carnation. The 
new amaranthus, Sunrise, is distinct and distinctly beauti¬ 
ful, as we judge from the description. The lower part of the 
plant is a deep, dark maroon, while the top is a brilliant 
crimson. A colored page lithograph shows it to fine ad¬ 
vantage. Vick’s Early Chinese is mentioned as two weeks 
earlier than other cucumbers. It grows from one to two feet 
long, is of fine quality, with few seeds. The catalogue is 
beautifully illustrated,and should be examined by all who 
have seeds or plants to purchase. 
New “ Planet Jr.” Tools. —Everybody knows the value 
of the “ Planet Jr.” horse-hoes and cultivators, but not all 
know that several new tools have been designed which are 
valuable enough to bear the famous trade name. They 
are fully described in the new catalogue of S. L. Allen 
& Co. of Philadelphia. The “ Planet Jr.” furrower, 
marker, hiller and ridger can be used for a variety of pur¬ 
poses. It will make furrows or trenches narrow or wide 
as desired, while “marking ” the next furrow accurately. 
It has two plow-like attachments which can be used for 
hilling, ridging or leveling. Ths Sugar Beet horse hoe and 
pulverizer is another unique tool. There are three hoes 
of peculiar shape, followed by a row of long steel teeth, 
which fine and smooth the surface. This long-tooth 
device Is now found on most of the “ Planet Jr.” tools. It 
is a hint from Breed’s weeder, and a good one. The Sweet 
Potato hoe has a “ vine lifter attachment a stout rod 
which runs from the front tooth so as to lift the fallen 
vines and pass under them. It is needless to say that these 
goods are made in the best possible manner. 
A circular of the Kraus cultivator is sent by the Akron 
Tool Co., Akron, Ohio. This is a sulky cultivator with 
several new attachments and connections which enable it 
to do special work. Boys and girls seem able to manip¬ 
ulate it easily. The work is done by the team, and the 
operator is not obliged to strain himself to keep the shovels 
in place. It is highly praised for working hill-sides, where 
many cultivators fail. 
Alfred Bridgeman, 37 East Nineteenth Street, N. 
Y.—A plain, clearly printed catalogue of seeds of all kinds, 
bulbs and roots, small fruits, shrubs and vines. This house 
was established in 1824 and has ever borne an excellent 
name for liberal dealings with its patrons. The catalogue 
consists of 66 pages, illustrated by wood cuts true to nature. 
J. J. H. Gregory, Marblehead, Mass.— Among the 
vegetables catalogued for the first time may be mentioned 
the Stone Tomato, Lackey’s Early Sweet Corn, Mitchell’s 
New Tomato, Faust’s Early Crimson Beet, Nott’s Excelsior 
Early Pea, Rothselburg Cabbage, Delmonico Musk-melon, 
Livingston’s Standard and Woodbury’s White Potatoes. 
Monroe County Prize is offered for $4.50 per barrel; R. N.- 
Y. No. 2 for $5 per barrel. Mr. Gregory says that his crop 
of the No. 2 was one of remarkably large, handsome pota¬ 
toes. Gregory & Son have and have had for many years 
extensive trial grounds of their own and care is taken to 
try most new things before they find a place in the novelty 
list. For cabbages, onions and the like, it is doubtful if 
any other firm may be relied upon to supply choicer grades 
of seed. In fact the firm is trustworthy in every way and 
The R. N.-Y. takes pleasure in saying so. 
Aspinwall Potato Planter. —It is always a pleasure to 
call attention to this machine. It is one of the most in¬ 
genious devices on the market, and saves an immense 
amount of hard work. Dropping potatoes by hand is a 
job frequently given to the “ boy ” because the man finds 
it too hard for his back. With an Aspinwall planter, 
however, the man wants the job, because he can ride at 
his ease and let the steel fingers below him do the hand¬ 
ling. The circular sent by the Aspinwall Manufacturing 
Co., Three Rivers, Michigan, tells the facts regarding this 
machine in a modest and accurate manner. 
The Elkhart Carriage & Harness Co., of Elkhart, In¬ 
diana, wish to deal directly with consumers and save the 
“ middleman’s share” as far as possible. Here are a few 
of their business principles which buyers may well heed : 
One price only ; no credit. 
Ship anywhere; examine before buying. 
Warranted for two years. 
Freight paid both ways if goods are unsatisfactory. 
The new catalogue tells the whole story. Every man who 
desires to save the “ cost of credit” ought to aend for it. 
