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Steam Traction Wagons.
We are indebted to Messrs. L. & A.
11. McLaws, of Augusta, Ga, for the
following interesting article on “Steam
Traction Wagons.”— Eds. Banner of
the South <fc Planters’ Journal.
The great want of the day is a ma
chine that can be nsed on our roads for
carrying passengers and freight—on
our fields for ploughing, sowing and
reaping, and, also, as a stationary
power for threshing grain, ginning cot
ton, or grinding meal for the use of
the farm. The great expense of farm
ing, as every planter knows, is the cost
and feeding of plow stock. The Eng
lish and Scotch farmers have Tesorted
to steam wagons and plows as a sub
stitute for horses, and with what suc
cess the following excerpts will show.
The ‘-Artisan," of January 24,
1870, says:
“While Great Britain has over 3000
steam plows successfully at work, on
comparatively small farms, there are
but five in use in the United States,
four of which have been imported from
England, while one, the “Standishdig
ger,” is now being tested in California.”
Prof. Brainard, Agricultural Report,
1807, says:
“The application of steam power to
the propulsion of machinery for the
purposes of travel and transportation
has been proved a success far beyond
the most sanguine expectations of its
wannest advocates. Animal power
cannot com[»ete with. It is as untiring
as the sun in its course, and when its
day’s work is done, it needs no rest, but
is ready at a moment’s warning to re
new its task.”
advantages of steam flows.
Extracts from reports to the “High
am Club,” England, Dec. 1868. Mr.
Greig says:
“Regarding the application of steam
as a pulling medium, I think there can
bo very little discussion, where steam
power can be applied there is no doubt
of its being done at one-tenth the cost
of horse-power. One of the great ad
vantajAi of steam ploughing is, that
in the drainage is thereby ma
terif, and it is a not..
w<why fact, that in several instances
where steam plow proprietors, having
experienced great difficulty in getting
work from farmers the first year, the
second year they had more applica
tions than they could supply."
Mr. Cockburn said:
“That a gentleman of Hylton, farm
ing about 700 acres, had got a single
ten-horse power engine, and was now
able, as a result, to do with one half
the horses."
Mr. Goodrich said:
“Mr. Crow had reduced his homes
from 30 to 16 or 18 by use of steam.’’
The Chairman said:
“It was stater! that the operation of
ploughing an acre by steam was eight
shillings, and wished to know how the
estimate was arrived at."
“Mr. Cockburn replied, “that a field
of 21 acres had been ploughed to a
depth of 10 or 12 inches in two days, at
a cost of £3 155."
Mr. Smith, of Molston, estimated
“the cost of preparing land, including
sub-soiling, at 6s. 10|d. per acre.”
The Oxford Steam Ploughing Com
pany say, “they prepare on an average
20 to 22 acres per day, 6 to 8 inches
deep.”
The London Times reports “a yield
of 45 bushels per acre on steam drain
ed ploughed land, while the adjoiniug
land, also drained, but horse ploughed,
produced but 30 bushels, and a neigh
boring farm neither drained or steam
ploughed, gave but 20 bushels.”
Mr. Lawrence of Louisiana, U. S..
reports “an increase of 1000 pounds of
sugar per acre on steam ploughed laud
over land of same quality horse plough
ed.”
ERRORS OF CONSTRUCTION.
The Commissioner of Agriculture.
1869, says:
“American sod is successfully turned
by a steam plow, but that plow is of
foreign origin. We are compelled at
immense outlay, even after Congress
remits the duties, to send our orders
3000 miles across the ocean to procure
steam plows. A steam locomotive for
farm purposes should be so constructed
as to be available lor other purposes
than simply ploughing and cultivating
the soil. ' Its failure in this regard
BANNER OF THE SOUTH AND PLANTERS’ JOURNAL.
would be fatal to its profitable employ
ment. The errors in the attempts yet
made in steam ploughing have arisen
from making the steam engine (loco
motive) too heavy and on too large a
scale. That the steam engine is yet to
supply the place of animal power, at
least in a great degree, there can be no
doubt. That engines can and have
been constructed, jtosseusing the re
quisite amount of power, no one will
for a moment question. The main ob
ject to lie arrived at is to make them
less unwieldly, and this can be done
only by following out the indications ol
the nature, both by the reduction of the
weight of individual machines and the
relative increase of traction surface.”
I have quoted thus extensively from
the best authorises at command in or
der to show that I appreciated these
difficulties and endeavored to avoid
them in the invention placed before
you and for which letters patent were
granted to me on the 26th Sept., 1871.
A more extended traction surface is
presented by making divisions of all
four of the wheels instead of two as is
the case in other machines. This change
enables me to reduce the weight of my
wagon by distributing the same on
front and rear axles, instead of placing
it on one axle and one set of wheels.
The traction surface being increased a
large portion of the superincumbent
weight, which is only necessary to give
adhesion to the ground, can be dis
pensed with, and yet retain strength
enough in its various paits for all prac
tical purposes. Whilst the Thompson
steamer weighs 25 to 30,000 lbs., and
some American inventions as much as
40,000 lbs., mine weighs about 7,O(K>
lbs. with water aboard. The amount
of traction power to be obtained is
simply a matter of calculation. For
this purpose we will assume that four
horses weighing 4000 lbs. are compe
tent to draw 3000 lbs. exclusive of
wagon, or say 4,500 lbs. in all, up a
gradient of 1 foot in ten feet, which
is steeper than the highest grades of
any length on our common roads. Now
giving the advantage of having all four
of their feet in contact with the ground
continuously, and allowing 12 square
iuches to each, then 12x16-192 square
iiftpg* us Biiiluy \\mmr
by the four homes—and 4000 pounds
as their aggregate weight. If you can
give 192 square inches of frictional
surface on the wheel of a wagon
weighing 4000 lbs. and apply the
power of a 4 h. p. engine, will it not
produce practically the same result in
driving 4,500 lbs. up a gradient of
one foot in ten feet, or if you add the
weight of the horses, for they have to
go up also, in order to draw the load,
then add to the engine or locomotive
its weight, and the result is the same,
8500 lbs. for each. Does it make any
difference whether the power is con
fined in an iron cylinder in the shape
of steam, or exists in more force or
vital power, enclosed in the hide of the
animal ? In the investigation of the
subject of steam traction, three difficul
ties presented themselves in each case
examined. Ist. The excessive weight
of the locomotive, rendering it practi
cally useless on our common roads and ■
dangerous to cross bridges, as our
country bridges are ordinarily construct
ed. 2nd. Being centined to two driv
ing wheels, it was next to impossible to
avoid heavy weight in order to obtain
the adhesion to the earth, necessary to
move heavy loads 3d. Inability to
carry sufficient supply of water and
fuel to last any considerable time—say
over three hour’s supply.
The first and second difficulties have
been overcome, by securing in a simple
mode, the free use of the forward
wheels, in aid of the rear ones, as
drivers, whereby an extended frictional
contact with the ground is obtained,,
and the necessity for a great superin
cvmbent weight in the locomotive pro
portionately lessened. The third ob
jection will be more difficult to over
come, but as the use of four wheels, as
drivel's, have heretofore been regarded
as impossible of attainment without so
great an increase in weight of wagon
and of machinery, as tp render the
machinery too complicated, I feel
sanguine that the question of fuel and
water will ere long find as simple a
solution as the others have done. *
The value and convenience of a good
traction wagon to the country can
scarcely be overestimated. Every rail
road depot or steamboat landing, every
large plantation or combination of
small farms, every stage route, will re
quire them for use. There are many
sections of the country through which
the costly railroad cannot be built,
where the traction wagon can be used
to great advantage by carrying freight
and passengers at as low rates as are
charged on railroads. Forty passeu.
gers will weigh say 6000 lbs. Is there
anything impracticable in drawing 6000
lbs. by steam, at the rate of three to
five miles per hour; six miles have
been accomplished; I put the estimate
low that the figures may be satisfactory
to the most incredulous- The same
wagon can be used to exert as much
fiower in drawing plows or reapers and
as readily used for stationary puiqmses,
such as threshing grain, ginning cotton,
<fec.
The question may now lie asked: I
If these statements are reliable, would |
it not be too the interest of all, to,
manufacture these machines at home,
rather than permit foreigners to reap
the enormous profits to be derived from
it? They can be manufactured so as
to pay a very handsome profit when
sold at s2.soo—whilst the English
wagon is priced to us at from $2,750 to
$5,000 in gold, besides freight and in
eidental expenses.
PROFIT TO PROPRIETORS OF STEAM
Wagon.
The expense of running an 8 h. p.
locomotive, per day, with two passen
ger coaches attached, would be about
as follows:
Engineer per day, $2.50
Fuel, j corn of wood, V 1.50-
Oil 50
Two brakesman (boys), 1.50
Total $6.00
Transportation of 24 passengers
40 miles, at 5 cents per
mile each $48.00
Nett profit per day $42.00
CHANCES OK FAILURE OF SUCCESSIVE
MANUFACTURING.
The manufacture of traction wagons
is evidently paying handsomely or else
it would not increase so rapidly. Ten
years ago and a steam wagon in Eng
land_ would hyyxcited ns m..eh cn
riosity as would now be excited by the
appearance of one on our thorough
fares. The estimate is that at present
there are 4000 steam wagons or plows
in use in Great Britain. If we assume
the average cost to be $2,500 it will
give $8,000,000 as the investment in a
country scarcely so large as the single
State of Georgia, and among a people,
the very large majority of whose farm
ers cultivate on a small scale as com
pared With those of the South. If a
company could be formed for the manu
facture of 100 wagons per annum, a
profit might be derived of at lesst 50
per cent, on the investment over the
same amount invested in any establish
ed factory of cotton or woolen fabrics.
The risk would simply be one of sale
for the wagon. They have found sale
iu other countries where manufactured,
and why not here ? It is often said
that our farmers are too poor to pay
for these improvements. They can
better afford to do so than those hav
ing more efficient labor; because there
is a greater necessity for machinery
and greater profit in its use, the more
inefficient the labor for which it is sub
stituted. The cotton crop of the past
year will probably sell for the sum of
about $300,000,000—a sum greater
than falls to the lot of the same num
ber of people on the globe—so that in
stead of being the poorest, they are
the richest people, and able to buy and
pay for any improved machinery that
will still further enhance their wealth.
The true secret is, money lias been
made so easily that "necessity, the
mother of invention,’ has not had the
opportunity of being consulted and
called on for the improvements, which
would more rapidly increase their
wealth. They have rather preferred
to “let well enough alone," and confine
themselves to the “good old-fashioned”
negro and horse-plow plan of break
ing their land. New the oppor
tunity presents itself to place every
man’s farm convenient to a line of
transportation, by- which he can trans
port daily, and cheaply, his products to
market; to furnish himself with a me
dium by the use of which he can in a
few- days and when his land is in order,
have the same well and deeply plough
ed at small' cost, instead of "having a
negro and male all the long Winter
! scarifying the surface, to prepare for
planting, the most of which work, the
heavy rains has rendered almost value
, less, before he had completed his Win
ter task. Let them but be shown that
more money can be made by using a
steam plow or wagon and the wagon
and the funds will be promptly found
with which to make the purchase.
Correspondence.
Augusta, May 14, 1872.
j Messrs. L. A- A. H. McLaws, General
! Agents Confederate Monumental As
j social ion, Augusta, Ga.:
Gentlemen —lt affords me pleasure to
j state that during a two months’ tour, in
j various parts of the State, I found that
| the objects of the Association met a
j general approval of the people. The
| sentiment is universal to keep in per-
I petnal remembrance our brave and fallen
| Confederates. I was kindly received
everywhere, and found no difficulty in
securing the services, as agents, of gen
tlemen of character and intelligence, in
all the professions and callings of life.
Thousands in due season will cheerfully
contribute to the good cause.
That none may be excluded from grat
ifying their patriotic feelings by contri
buting to a permanent testimonial in
honor of the Confederate dead, I would
respectfully suggest that, while whole
tickets be continued at five dollars,
agents may be allowed to dispose of
fractional interests from one dollar to
four dollars, in any numbers which may
|be yet unsold. And I would further
suggest that the purchase of one-fifth,
or any interest, in a ticket less than five
dollars, shall confer life membership
upon the purchaser. No one then can
have reason, for want of opportunity, to
regret that he had failed to honor, in a
substantial way, the memory of those
who died for their country, principles,
homes and people.
] I remain, gentlemen, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
James M. Smtthe,
State Agent C. M. A.
Augusta, May 14th, 1872.
Hon. James M. Smgthe, State Agent
for Georgia :
Dear Sir— We can see no objections
to the plan you propose, and you are
authorized to direct agents to issue frac
itihiiij 1 fell k-ov; .Ur
(one dollar). You will please enjoin up
on them great caution in numbering |
such tickets. The amount received
must be plainly written on the face of
,the ticket and endorsed on the back.
Where the amount is contributed, no
commissions will be deducted by agents
—as the object of the scheme is to pre
vent any taxation whatever upon such
donations.
The time for the drawing—the first
Wednesday in December next—will not j
bepostponed.
The Magruder Gold Mine, and the
City Hotel in Augusta, having, at our i
request, been withdrawn, the owners’ J
price in currency will be substituted i
therefor.
Acknowledging the success of your ef
forts in the noble cause in which we are
engaged, we remain, tralv,
L. &A. H. McLaws, |
General Agents, j
Remedy fob Cerebro-Spinai; Menin
gitis.—We learn there have been several
very severe cases of this much to be
dreaded and fatal disease recently in Dr.
T. W. Sims’ practice. One, a negro girl,
was taken while in the field at Isham
Weaver’s, a few days since, and carried
home insensible. The Doctor being sent
for at once, found her neck and shoul
ders as stiff as a board. Having nsed
all the usual remedies for twenty-four
hours, the patient continued to grow
worse until she was almost in a state of
collapse; then, as a last resort, the Doc
tor applied a red hot iron to the back of
the head and down the spine till the
skin was well charred, and in ten min
utes the symptoms all passed off, and
she is now well, except the effects of the
burn. —Coinngton Enterprise.
More Bloodshed in the Indian Ter
ritory.—Leavenworth, Kan., May 9,
1872.—A gentleman who has just arrived
here from the Indian Territory reports
that on Saturdav last Deputy United
States Marshal Joe Peevy, of the West
ern District of Arkansas, with a posse of
his men, came up with the outlaw Zeke
Proctor, at the head of Bird Creek, in
the Cherokee District. A terrible fight
ensued, resulting in five of the Marshal’s
party being killed and eight wounded.
Six of the outlaws were left dead on the
ground, and several others, it is thought,
were, wounded. Marshal Peevy was
slightly wounded in two places, and had
his horse killed under him. Proctor es
caped unhurt. The wildest excitement
prevails throughout the country.
The Columbus Ice Company have re
solved to increase its capital stock $5,000.
NEW YORK DEMOCRACY IN COUN
CIL.
The Cincinnati Platform Approved—
A Virtual Endorsement of Greeley.
Rochester, May 15. —The Democratic
State Convention was called to order by
Samuel J. Tilden in ar short speech.
Thos. Kinsella was appointed temporary
Chairman. He made a short speech, in
which he knew he was not chosen for
individual considerations, but because
he was one of the earliest and most
earnest advocates of a reunion of liberal
elements. A committee from each judi
ciary district were appointed, to which
all resolutions and platforms be referred
without debate. Committees on resolu
tions and contested seats were appointed
and the convention adjourned till three
o’clock.
On reassembling, Mr. Farnell moved
that the delegates should be appointed
by the Congressional District delega
tions, which, after discussion, was lost—
-53 to 64, the majority representing the
friends of the unit system.
Committee on Permanent Organiza
tion reported the names of Mr. Kinsella
for permanent President.
Mr. Kinsella, on taking the Chair per
manently, remarked : It seemed that the
Young Men’s party I was coming to the
front. He hoped they would keep its
purity as unsullied as bad those great
men who had gone before them.
The Committee on Contested Seats
reported in favor of the delegation from
New York, headed by John Foy. The
report was adopted.
Air. Clarkson N. Potter, from the Com
mittee on Resolutions, made a report.
He said the committee had given the
subject the most careful and thorougli
consideration. The resolutions are as
follows :
“The Democratic party of the State
of New York assembled in regular Con
vention to elect delegates to the Nation
al Convention to be held in Baltimore,
to nominate candides for President and
Vice-President, declare and resolve that
we recognize the changes in the nature
and Constitution of the Government
which have taken place, and without re
opening questions of the past are now
ready to co-operate with those, whatever
their previous party affiliations, who fa
vor limited and localized governments ;
who seek to restrain the exercise by
Congress of absolute and general pow
ers, to prevent its entering on private
legislation, to restrain the growth of
vast corporations and to work a per
manent civil service reform ; and be it
further
declaration
of political principles by the Conven
tion of Cincinnati is evidence of a pro
gress of public opinion toward sound,
wholesome views of government, that
we believe all patriotic citizens may
unite on that platform for the purpose
of restoring an honest administration of
national affairs and enforcing the obliga
tions of the Constitution, and our dele
gates to Baltimore are instructed to
take the course best calculated to secure
the triumph of these principles and the
selection of any candidates representing
them who shall meet the approval of
the Democracy in National Convention
assembled.
The resolutions were adopted.
Much discussion ensued on a resolu
tion offered by Mr. Dayton, to the effect
that a committee be appointed to select
delegates to Baltimore.
The following were appointed a com
mittee to select delegates to the Balti
more Convention : James C. Spencer,
Oliver Charlick, Robert Christie, Robert
Turrick—names, B. Olney, John H.
Colby, Josiah Fuller, E. M. Holbrook,
G. A. Gayton, Ira, B. Kerr, Diedricli
Weller, Jr., W. A. Bowan, R. B. Par
son, C. T. Bissil.
The Convention adjourned till 10 to
morrow morning.
Mr. Pendleton’s Position. —The Cin
: einnati Volksblatt speaks of Hon. Geo.
H. Pendleton as being against Mr.
! Greeley. We think we know his views
[ better than our Republican contem
porary, and believe we do not misrep
resent him when we say that he is for
Mr. Greeley.
The Cle\ eland (Ohio) Plaindcaler
says : “In conversation with Mr. Pen
dleton soon after the nominations were
made at Cincinnati, he expressed the
opinion that the Democrats should await
the action of the Democratic National
Convention, and abide the result. As
between Grant and Greeley, he would
be for Greeley. ”
A Curious Country. —That this is a
curious country, aside from politics,
one has but to turn from the Wisconsin
papers to those of the East to see. Wis
consin is suffering so severely with
drouth that the crops are seriously
threatened, and all logging operations
have been suspended. Maine has had
so much rain that the fanners are glum
and discouraged, and the rising streams
are carrying off the bridges. The woods
of New Jersey are on fire, while the
fields of Massachusetts are under water.
Ohio has more hot weather than is
wanted, and Louisiana complains of cold
winds and frosts.