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6 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.