Obed Hussey Part 18

[9] McCormick's agents.

"Mr. Parrington, having read the award, announced that a second trial of McCormick's and Hussey's reaping machines would be made, if the weather were favorable, on the following morning (Sat.u.r.day), at 9 o'clock, at Mr.

Fawcitt's farm. The jury, appointed by the committee, would give no opinion on the trial of the previous day (Thursday). That would go for nothing. They would devote the whole of next day, if necessary, to a full, fair, and satisfactory trial of the two machines. (Applause.)

"On Sat.u.r.day morning, the weather was so far favorable that there was no rain. The trial, therefore, took place. There was a numerous gathering of land-owners, farmers, laborers, etc., but not so crowded a muster as to obstruct the experiment.

"The foreman of the jury, Mr. Thompson, being unavoidably absent, his place was supplied by the Rev. W. F. Wharton, of Birmingham. Messrs.

Lister, Outhwaite, (J. and T. P.) Booth, Wetherell, Phillips, and Dobson, were also absent. Their places were filled by Mr. William Morley, Dishforth; Mr. Thomas Parrington, Marton; Mr. J. T. Wharton, Shelton Castle; Mr. Wm. Hill, Staunton; Mr. Joseph Coulson, s.e.xhow; Mr. Joseph Harrison, White House; Mr. John Mason Hopper, Marton.

"The trial commenced in a level enclosure, adjoining the road from Stockton and Middlesbrough to Ormesby Hall (the residence of Sir Wm.

Pennyman, Bart.). The wheat was laid. We have seen a crop in worse condition, but not often. The straw was damp and soft. The soil was loamy and light, and the field free from wet; it was to Mr. Fawcitt's credit that he was able to place such a field at the service of the society under the circ.u.mstances; still, the earth was in a state to clog the wheels of the reapers. Altogether, the test was a severe one for the compet.i.tors. Mr. Samuelson, Mr. Burgess, and Mr. D. C. Mackenzie (the son of an emigrant from Ivernesse) were in charge of Mr. McCormick's machine.

The other was in the hands of the inventor himself, Mr. Hussey, and of Mr. Pierce and Mr. Steevens (who represented the agents, Messrs. Dray & Co.)

"The Rev. Mr. Wharton (the jury, compet.i.tors, etc., having gathered round him on the field, on Sat.u.r.day morning) announced that after the lapse of an hour, when the corn would be in such a condition that Mr. Fawcitt, as he had just said, would, under ordinary circ.u.mstances, reap it himself, the trial would commence.

"The question was, now, which of the two machines should begin. A 'toss'

gave the chance to Mr. Pierce, and he requested Mr. Burgess to lead off.

"McCormick's machine then got into action, taking the crop in the most favorable manner--that is, leaning toward the knife. Pa.s.sing along the field (which was from two to three hundred yards in length) it cut down a breadth of little more than four feet. The corn being laid, the flier, of course did not come into practical operation; nor was it necessary that it should do so--the elements having already done its work. The corn was well cut--the stubble a little too high.

"Another breadth or two having been cut, Hussey's machine followed, and cut some breadths--somewhat wider than McCormick's, and closer to the ground.

"Mackenzie, when we pointed out the shorter stubble of his rival, admitted the fact, but said there would be no difficulty--not the slightest--in bringing Mr. McCormick's knife nearer to the ground. In America, however, where the straw is comparatively of little or no value, the stubble is no object, and there are some advantages in cutting high.

"A backer of McCormick's machine (and many bets have been laid on the two machines) urged that Hussey's would spoil clover when going among wheat.

The reply was, that Hussey's knife could be raised or depressed at pleasure.

"The next test was cutting the crop across ridge and furrow, so that the corn was lying neither to nor from the knife, but sidewise. Both the machines cut the corn under these circ.u.mstances--Hussey's the cleaner of the two.

"The jury then required the experiment to be made along the field, with the corn lying from the knife.

"Mr. Hussey consented, and the machine succeeded in cutting the corn--leaving a tolerable stubble, but not so short and regular as before.

"McCormick's machine was then tried, and failed. As it scoured over the corn, making sad havoc, there were loud cries of 'Stop! stop! you're wasting it!'

"Barley was next cut, with much the same result. In this case, Mr. Hussey adjusted his platform for discharging the corn at the side.

[Sidenote: Hussey Wins 6 to 4]

"The binders being summoned before the jury, and asked which of the two machines they preferred, so far as their particular department was concerned, decided, 4 for McCormick's, 6 for Hussey's.

"Clover was now to be tried, but at this stage of the proceedings we left the field. Clover-cutting, we should state, formed no part of the compet.i.tion. The agreement merely refers to wheat and barley. McCormick's machine is not intended for clover-cutting; but some of the land owners and farmers were anxious to see clover cut by Hussey's machine. Mr.

Thompson, we understand, had requested his proxy to have the experiment made. We were told on the ground that the machine had already been tried on clover at Newport, near Middlesbrough, and 'cut it well--if the weather had been dry it would have cut it beautifully.'

"It was pleasant to mark the anxiety and watchfulness of the gentlemen in charge of the two machines. Mr. McCormick suffered no loss from his absence, he was so admirably represented; and in Messrs. Pierce and Steevens, Dray & Co. had invaluable agents--on the Thursday in particular, when a storm, which ravaged land and sea, could not deter them or Mr. Hussey, from practically attesting the reaper's prowess in the field. The trial, throughout, was conducted with a fidelity to self which would not throw a point away, and a courtesy to rivals which should ever mark honorable compet.i.tion."

From a Correspondent.

"Stockton, Monday, September 29.--A report reached me, after I left the farm, that Hussey's machine cut the barley very much better than McCormick's. It came to me, however, through parties who might fairly be suspected of a bias, and therefore I kept my judgment in suspense until I could obtain information on which I could more implicitly rely. This I have now got. I have been to the farm again today, and made inquiries of persons who saw the completion of the trial. McCormick's machine did not cut the barley so well as Hussey's. It cut it much too high; and as the crop was very much laid, the heads only, in many cases were cut off. We had Hussey's machine in operation to-day, both on barley and wheat, and made better work than on Sat.u.r.day. Mr. Fawcitt worked it with the greatest ease. I think he would soon beat the inventor himself. Even I, townsman as I am, made fair work; and in an hour or two's practice, I would engage to cut a crop in a manner not to be found fault with. You may safely say that any ordinary workman about a farm would be able to manage the machine; and when I say this of Hussey's, it is also true of McCormick's. The one may be a better machine than the other, but the merits of either of them may be brought into practical action by a laborer of average intelligence and skill. It is the opinion of farmers and others with whom I have conversed, that the saving per acre, by the use of Hussey's machine, would be about 5s.

"At the close of the contest on Sat.u.r.day, the knives of the two machines were placed in the hands of Mr. Robinson, engineer to Mr. Bellerby, of York, that he might report thereon, and on the machinery generally, to the Jury.

"Wednesday, October 1.--The Marquis of Londonderry, and several other gentlemen, have visited Mr. Fawcitt's farm, to see the machine at work.

"The laurels so recently placed upon the brow of Mr. McCormick have been plucked off--not wholly, but in great part--by his fellow countryman, Mr.

Hussey.

"We would enlarge upon this theme, but our report has left us little room. We would only say, that while the farmers of Cleveland, and of the Island generally, are turning their attention to agricultural improvements--by reaping machines, draining ploughs, and steam ploughs--we would say to them, in the words of Mr. Hussey to the Cleveland horse-jockey, when his machine was ready for its work, '_Now, then, go ahead!_'"

REPORT OF THE JURY

"The Jury regret exceedingly the most unfavorable state of the weather on the days of trial (a perfect hurricane raging during the whole of the first day), and their consequent inability to make so full and satisfactory a trial as they could have wished.

"The machines were tested on a crop of wheat, computed at 25 bushels per acre, very short in the straw, and if possible, more laid than the wheat.

"The Jury, taking the different points submitted to their consideration, in the order as mentioned:

"1. Their unanimous opinion, that Mr. Hussey's machine, as exhibited by Messrs. Wm. Dray & Co., cut the corn in the best manner, especially across ridge and furrow, and when the machine was working in the direction of the corn laid.

"2. By a majority of eleven to one, that Mr. Hussey's machine caused the least waste.

"3. Taking the breadth of the two machines into consideration, that of Mr. Hussey did most work.

"4. That Mr. Hussey's machine leaves the cut corn in the best order for gathering and binding. This question was submitted to the laborers employed on the occasion, and decided by them, as above, by a majority of 6 to 4.

"5. Their unanimous opinion that Mr. Hussey's machine is best adapted for ridge and furrow.

"6. This question was referred by the Jury to Mr. Robinson, foreman to Messrs. Bellerby, of York, a practical mechanic of acknowledged ability, whose report is appended below.

"7. That Mr. Hussey's machine at first cost is less price.

"8, 9. The Jury decline to express a decided opinion on these points in consequence of the state of the weather.

"The trials took place on the farm of Robert Fawcitt, of Ormsby, near Marlbro'-on-Tees, who in the most liberal and disinterested spirit allowed his crops to be trodden down and damaged to a very great extent, especially on the 25th, when in spite of the storm an immense crowd a.s.sembled to witness the trials.

"The Jury cannot conclude their report without expressing the great pleasure they have derived from seeing two machines brought into compet.i.tion that were able to do such very good work, and also at witnessing the friendly, straightforward, and honorable way in which the exhibitors of the respective machines met on this occasion.

"Signed on behalf of the Jury, "W. F. WHARTON, Foreman."

MR. ROBINSON'S REPORT ON QUESTION 6.

"Having carefully examined both machines, and given the subject due consideration, I am of opinion that McCormick's Reaping Machine, as at present made, is most liable to get out of order.

"(Signed) THOMAS ROBINSON.

"York, 30th September, 1851."