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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1918)
T H E CHEM AW A AM ERICAN A CHANGE IN M A C H IN E R Y Man in loosening the soil found that the grain grew better. He at first used a forked stick and with the help of the working beast he stirred up the soil as best he could. Later on came the wooden plow, which soon after developed into the plow with a steel plow share. There are many different kinds of these plows, but all are made upon the same principle. They have now what is called the tractor, which runs by gasoline. There are five or six plowshares attached to this, therefore less labor and time are required. The single plow is greatly used yet, which is all right on very small farms. After a field is plowed it has to be broken up more so that the plants can run their roots into and about the earth more easily. The disc-plow, which at first was run by horse power, is run by gas or steam power, which takes less time, less labor and is especially valu able on a large farm. The discs, which are of steel, the edges being sharpened, when run over the plowed earth, cut and break sods, clods and large lumps of soil. Instead of raking as man does on the very small garden, to smooth and crumble the earth to a fine de gree, a harrow is used; the spring tooth harrow is the most widely known. The cultivating done formerly by hand, then by hoe, is also done by various kinds of cultivating machines, their different powers being the horse, steam or gas, which do work where lots of it is required. H arvesting of grain which formerly was done by a knife with a curved blade of steel, later a larger and more improved blade attached to a long handle called the scythe, is done by the more modern, labor-saving mowing machine. It does more work in less time, and is, like the others, run by horse, gas or steam powers. Improvements are constantly being made on different tilling, cultivating and and harvesting ma chinery so as to reduce labor, expense and time. To the business-like farmer, proper equipment, for farm work, is the most im portant factor of farming and he realizes well that his greatly valued time is saved through using the machinery that is made for some individual purpose, as plowing, cultivating, etc., and not only the proper equipment, but good work cannot be done with poor machinery, if good work cannot be had first good results cannot be ob tained, and as much or more labor is expended. There is much waste in surplus machinery, as thbre is in surplus labor. If it cannot be used it should be sold or given away so that it may do some good—ma chinery is always depreciating in value with age. If the farmer, especially the one who farms on a large scale, has all the machinery he needs, the shed where it is kept will have to be quite large in order to hold all necessary implements, so the surplus, if not thrown PAGE 3 out or got rid of in some way, would take up lots of room and being in the way would probably cause some damage. As weather causes a rapid decaying of machinery, a sheltered place should be set aside on every farm for the storage of farm machinery. A farmer of today must necessarily be somewhat of a mechanic in order to keep farm machines in good working order. All breakages should be repaired at once, and duplicate parts kept on hand to save delay. The failure to repair farm machines promptly, often causes a loss of much time and sometimes the discarding of valuable ma chinery.—Alicia Kimball, Senior. LOCAL Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Jaquins and the Sigma Phi Delta girls, wish to thank the many kind people who so gen erously helped them to make the “ wedding” such a success Saturday evening. David Forsman, one of Chemawa’s boys who en listed in the Engineer Corps last fall, died a few days ago at Fort Bliss, Texas, from scarlet fever. Anothei gold star in Chemawa’s Service Flag. At their special meeting the members of the Excel sior Literary Society decided to give their annual party soon. Everybody declared themselves much pleased with the concert of the band last Friday evening. Here is an aggreation of youngsters who have been instructed by their bandmaster, Mr. Loos, and whose work is incst creditable in every way—in fact, few average city bandmen can “ follow the stick” as well as these boys. All of the music rendered on this occasion was written especially for this band by Mr. Loos and it is certainly is a strong testimonial in his favor. His de scriptive number, “ A Day at Chemawa,” is splendid. The evening was happily spent. EA STER Easter was celebrated at Chemawa with appropriate exercises in the auditorium on Sunday evening. The stage was nicely decorated and the girls on the plat form in white uniforms presented a pleasing picture. The program was as follows: 1. Selection by G irls’ Mandolin and G uitar Club 2. Exercise—“ N ature’s G reeting” - - . Six T hird Grade Girjs 3. “ Summer Days” - - - G irls’ Octette 4. Selection—“ On Mountain H eights” School Orchestra 5. Vocal Solo—“ Four Leaf Clover” Rose Deschamp 6. Exercise— “ A gain” - - - - - Three Third Grade Girls 7. Selection by G irls’ Mandolin and Guitar Club 8. Reading— “ Building of the S hip” Elwood Towner 9. A nthem —“ Sing with all the Sons of Glory ” Choir
