Obed Hussey Part 13

"THOS. D. WARREN."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Modern Rear-Delivery Reaper.

(From "Who Invented the Reaper?" by R. B. Swift.)]

From the Richmond Planter.

HUSSEY'S AND M'CORMICK'S REAPERS

"It is very painful to be compelled to inflict a private injury in the discharge of a public duty; upon a particular system of cultivation we can talk and write without restraint; but when we are called on to discuss the merits of an invention, upon which the fortunes of the originator may absolutely depend, it is a much more responsible and delicate office. We are aware, too, that in introducing a subject of the kind, we are opening the floodgates of a controversy that is often hard to close; we have had the strongest evidence of that fact in the controversy that once occurred in this paper between Messrs. McCormick and Hussey, and yet it is to the relative merits of the reaping machines of these two gentlemen that we are compelled again to draw the public attention. Probably not less than fifteen thousand dollars has been spent in Virginia this summer for reaping machines, and it becomes a subject of great importance to the wheat growing community at least, to ascertain how such a sum is annually to be dispensed to the greatest advantage. We shall express no _opinion_ ourself in the discussion which must necessarily follow the introduction of this subject, and we would greatly prefer that neither of the gentlemen more particularly interested in the subject would appear in our columns. We will publish statements of facts for either, provided they are made over responsible names, and are short and permanent. As one of these facts we feel bound to state that we acted this year as the agent for McCormick's machine, and we have heard great complaint of the manner in which it was gotten up; but it is but fair also to state, that we believe Mr. McCormick himself has been superintending the manufacture of his machine in the State of New York, and that probably his work has not been as well done as it would have been could he have seen to it in person. The following communication is altogether in favor of Hussey's machine:

[Sidenote: Hussey's Machine "Vastly Superior"]

"I have had in operation on my plantation this year both Hussey's and McCormick's reapers. Now, as you have asked me to furnish the _Planter_ with the result of my own experience and opinion as to the comparative merit of the two machines, it is now at your service. I have had them both in operation (as the weather would permit) for the last fortnight, and have cut with the two rather upwards of two hundred acres of wheat. Both machines have been, I think, very fairly tested in all qualities of grain, from wheat five feet and more in height, both standing up, and lodged and tangled, and averaging, as is supposed, from thirty and forty bushels, down to light, thin wheat, not averaging more than four bushels (being some galled hills) and I am _candidly_ and _decidedly_ of opinion that Hussey's machine is _vastly superior_. I deem it superior, not only in the execution of its work, but in the durability of the machine. So well pleased am I with its performance that I have ordered another machine of Hussey's for my next harvest, and also one, and probably two, for my father's plantation. I consider this machine invaluable to the grower of wheat, and would recommend every farmer who grows even fifty acres of wheat, to purchase one. He may rest a.s.sured that he will be pleased with his purchase. I shall probably be in Richmond shortly.

"Yours very respectfully,

"T. POLLOCK BURGUYN.

"Occonichee Wigwam, near Halifax, N. C., "June 20, 1846.

"For 1849 and 1850 we will return and see how the invention progresses on the broad prairies and fertile lands of the West, where it first operated--in 1833 and 1834--and where, too, although the most luxuriant crops are _grown_ with comparatively but little labor, it would in many cases be next to impossible to save _them_ without the aid of this invaluable invention.

"These certificates embrace the mowing of large crops of gra.s.s as well as grain, and in addition, the cutting of more than three hundred acres of _hemp_ in the harvest of 1849 and 1850, by 'the same single machine.'

"Hussey's complete success in cutting gra.s.s and hemp was no new thing ten years ago; but we suppose, like the grain cutting, in the view of Philip Pusey, Esq., M. P., 'Its _perfection_ depended on its being _new_ only in England,' full eighteen years after it was effected in America.

[Sidenote: A General Opinion]

"Blackberry, Kane County, Ill., "August 28, 1849.

"This may certify that I have had one of Mr. Hussey's mowing and reaping machines on my farm this year cutting wheat, oats, and gra.s.s for a short time. I think nothing can beat it cutting timothy gra.s.s, and I intend to purchase one for that purpose. While the machine was cutting prairie gra.s.s in my field, I cut off a dry poplar stake, one inch in diameter, which had been sticking in the ground after it had been laid off for a ditch. I am of the opinion that it will cut wheat well, where it is so much lodged, or so foul with stiff weeds or corn stalks that it cannot be cut with any other machine I have seen in this country. Some of my neighbors say that they intend to have Mr. Hussey's reaper in preference to any other; and from what I can learn this opinion is pretty general in my neighborhood amongst those who have seen this machine work, and are acquainted with other machines. My brother farmers have had great trouble with McCormick's machine, by the breaking of sickles, and the great difficulty or rather the impossibility of getting them repaired, or getting new ones made when broken, whereas the blades of Mr. Hussey's machine can be made by any common blacksmith. I have no doubt but Mr.

Hussey's machine will come into general use.

"D. W. ANNIS."

"Franklin Precinct, DeKalb Co., "August 13, 1849.

"This may certify that we have seen Mr. O. Hussey's machine cut about an acre of wheat, so badly lodged that McCormick's reaper could do nothing with it, nor could it be cradled. Said Hussey's machine cut it handsomely, and laid it in very good bundles for binding.

"JOHN SCHOOMAKER, ALBERT FIELD, JOHN M. SCHOOMAKER, DANIEL MILLER, ALBERT FIELD, JR., ISAAC CRILL, JOHN MILLER."

"Berkshire, Kane County, Ill., "August 6, 1849.

"We, the undersigned, having seen Mr. Hussey's reaper work at cutting gra.s.s and grain, think it preferable to McCormick's or any other machine that we have seen. It cut wheat that could not be cut with McCormick's reaper or a cradle. We are well acquainted with McCormick's machine.

"P. A. HIXBY, JOHN GRIGGS, JR., JOHN GRIGGS, HARRY POTTER, JOHN SHIRWOOD, SETH SHIRWOOD, DAVID SHANKS, ABRAHAM SHIRWOOD, JAMES HESS, ALSON BANKER, D. C. WRIGHT, ELISHA WRIGHT."

"Oswego, Ill., "August 2, 1849.

"This may certify that I cut a lot of Black Sea Wheat with Mr. O.

Hussey's Reaper; the wheat was so badly lodged that no McCormick Reaper or Cradle could cut it; Mr. Hussey's Reaper cut it clean and laid the bundles out of the track in good order for binding. I have seen the work done by this machine in gra.s.s; it was as good work as ever I saw done by a scythe, or better. For my choice I should rather have my gra.s.s cut by the Reaper than by the scythe. Every farmer ought to have such a machine, and every farmer I hear talk about it says the same.

"PHILIP YOUNG."

"Sugar Grove, "August 8, 1849.

"This may certify that we have seen Mr. O. Hussey's machine operate in clean grain, and where weeds were very tall, large and thick. In the former, it operated as well as any machine we have seen; in the latter, it worked to a charm, even where it was impracticable to cut with one of McCormick's Reapers.

"HARRY WHITE, L. B. SNOW, CHAUNCEY SNOW, SULLIVAN DORR, HIRAM TUBS, DWIGHT SPENCER, SAMUEL WARD, A. LOGAN."

"Springfield, Ill., "Dec. 25, 1850.

"_Mr. Obed Hussey, Baltimore, Md.:_

"Dear Sir:--I have used one of your Mowing and Reaping Machines, and consider it the best machine I ever saw, and never intend to do without one, if it is possible to get one, even if I have to go to Baltimore and remain at the shop till one can be made. I do candidly believe if I had had one ten years ago I would now feel like a much younger man; and cheerfully recommend them to all who have gra.s.s or grain to cut, as a machine that will do their work in perfect order, neatness, and with ease to all employed.

"JOHN SIMMS, "Four miles west of Springfield, Ill."

"Utica, Lasal Co., Ill., "Dec. 14, 1850.

"_Obed Hussey, Esq.:_

"Dear Sir:--I received your Reaping and Mowing Machine in time for harvest, and used it for harvesting and for mowing. I am fully satisfied that your machines are the best yet offered to the farmers of this State. I have mowed about four hundred acres, a great portion of which was wild prairie, very frequently running against stones and ant heaps with sufficient force to throw both driver and raker off the machine, without injury to the machine. Why your machine is preferable to any other, is, after you have cut your different kinds of grain, fully as well as can be done with any other machine, with not over fifteen minutes' work, you can take the same machine into your meadow or on to the prairie, and cut your gra.s.s at the rate of ten acres per day, cutting closer and cleaner than can be done with a scythe. With proper care, your machines will last fifteen or twenty years, with trifling repairs.

"Respectfully yours,

JAMES CLARK."

"Island Grove, Sangamon Co., Ill., "December 25, 1850.

"_Mr. Obed Hussey, Baltimore, Md.:_

"Dear Sir:--Last summer I received two of Hussey's Mowing and Reaping Machines; one from your own shop in Baltimore, and the other manufactured in this State. Unfortunately for me, I retained the one manufactured in this State, and with some difficulty succeeded in cutting about two hundred acres of wheat and gra.s.s. The one from your shop I let Mr. John Simms have, who cut his wheat, oats and hay (about seventy-five acres) with perfect satisfaction and ease, most of it with two horses, and without being obliged to grind the knives. After Mr. Simms finished his harvest he let Mr. James D.

Smith, of Island Grove, have it, who cut about three hundred acres of gra.s.s with it, the machine giving perfect satisfaction.

"Very respectfully yours,

"EDWARD J. ENO."

"Carrolton, Green Co., Ill., "Dec. 27, 1850.