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No. 201-From Humphrey's importation, by S. Atwood sheep.
No. 202-From Jarvis' importation direct, Good Nurse.

No. 203-From Hammond flock.

No. 204-From original flock.

No. 215-Sold to J. Davidson, Oregon, in 1867.

No. 216-Sold to G. Leithbridges, Australia, in 1866.

No. 217-Coupled with Gold Drop, No. 24, September 8th, 1867.
No. 221-Humphrey and Atwood blood.

No. 225-Coupled her with Gold Mine, No. 80, in 1867.
No. 230-Sold to Captain Wilcox, San Diego, in 1867.
No. 234-Killed by dog, June 17th, 1867.

No. 238-Sold to George Boker, Red Bluff, in 1867.

EXPLANATION.-Except in columns for numbers, age and weight of fleece, the figures imply relative degree of quality-1 is assumed as the maximum and 5 as the minimum degree

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of quality.

[In the book kept by Mr. Patterson "Remarks" occupy a column to the right hand of those given above.]

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Entertaining the opinion that the market for mutton in California would be limited, and that the feeding of sheep valued chiefly for their meat, such as South Downs, Liecesters, Cotswolds, etc., could be overdone, but the whole world being open as a market for wool, wool growing would be a business that could not be overdone, so long as there was sufficient range for the sheep, for unlike most other kinds of agricultural productions it requires but a small percentage of its value to transport it to any foreign market, it was and still is my opinion that good wool-growing sheep, which are also good mutton sheep (though for that purpose alone not equal to the English breeds mentioned above), are best adapted to the wants of the wool growers of this coast, and have paid more particular attention to the breeding of the Merinoes, both French and Spanish.

I however imported and have brought to this State at different times some of the finest specimens of the English breeds of sheep before mentioned, my South Downs being selections from the flocks of the late Jonas Webb, Lord Walsingham, Mr. Elman and the Duke of Richmond, and my Liecesters and Cotswolds were purchased of English breeders of the highest reputation.

My sheep have been on exhibition at most of the State Fairs of California since and including the Fair of eighteen hundred and fifty-nine, and if you will refer to the records of the society you will find that my sheep and those imported and sold by me to others have always been awarded the highest prizes at all the Fairs where they have been exhibited.

I have taken some pains to ascertain the percentage of increase in the production of wool in this State for several years past, and from the most reliable statistics within my reach I find that the clip of wool in California in eighteen hundred and fifty-six was about six hundred thousand pounds; in eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, about one million one hundred thousand pounds; in eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, about one million four hundred and thirty thousand pounds; in eighteen hundred and fifty-nine, about two millions three hundred and eighty thousand pounds; in eighteen hundred and sixty, about three millions three hundred thousand pounds; in eighteen hundred and sixty-one, about four millions six hundred thousand pounds; in eighteen hundred and sixty-two, about six millions four hundred thousand pounds; in eighteen hundred and sixty-three, about seven millions six hundred thousand pounds; in eighteen hundred and sixty-four, about eight million pounds; in eighteen hundred and sixty-five, about eight millions, five hundred thousand pounds; and the improvement in the grade of wool caused by the introduction of the Merino sheep has been nearly equal to the increase in quantity.

No other section of this country was ever so successful in sheep husbandry; and yet it should be borne in mind that wool growing is but just in its infancy in this State, and also that there has been great mortality among sheep as well as other animals, during some of the years referred to.

JOHN D. PATTERSON.

SECOND DEPARTMENT-MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS, ETC.

STATEMENT OF HOWLAND, ANGELL & KING.

SAN FRANCISCO, September 24th, 1867.

To the Committee for the award of Gold Medal on Machinery : GENTLEMEN: The claims of the Hicks steam engine as a machine presenting the greatest number of new, important and valuable features, adapted in a superior degree to the various purposes for which it is intended and to the extremely varied requirements of the State of California as well as the whole of the Pacific Coast, entitle it to the gold medal to be presented in the department of machinery by the State Agricultural Society.

Its advantages over other machines exhibited, taking into consideration the purpose for which it and they are intended, are:

First-Its economy in price.

Second-Its economy in space occupied to perform its duty. Third-Its economy in foundations--the cylinders and frame forming one casting, making the whole perfectly rigid apart from its foundation. Fourth-The economy in weight of material used.

Fifth-Superiority in the disposition of the least possible amount of metal, securing the greatest amount of useful effect. Sixth Economy in freight required for transportation. Seventh-Matchless simplicity of construction.

Eighth-Comparative non-liability to become out of repair, which is due to the few parts of which it is composed.

Ninth-Impossibility of the derangement of the vital parts directing and controlling the transmission of steam.

Its advantages over other steam engines embody the whole of the above as well as:

Tenth-A wider and more general adaptation to the varied require

ments of the State.

Eleventh-Having no dead centres, which has been well proved by its action in the Fair.

Twelfth-Greater convenience and simplicity in reversing. Thirteenth-Dispensing with all valve gear and complex valve motions, which are always so liable to become out of repair, especially so in the interior of the State, where opportunities to repair are difficult to be obtained.

Fourteenth-Impossibility of the cylinders to become out of line. Fifteenth-Requiring less skill in its attendance than any other engine, which on this coast, especially in the interior, is a most important feature.

HOWLAND, ANGELL & KING.

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To the Committee appointed by the State Agricultural Society to award Gold Medal:

GENTLEMEN: I have the pleasure to lay before your honorable body the specifications and their drawings of my improved balance valve for steam engines, and mode of operating the same.

The nature of my invention consists in dispensing with the slide valve usually employed in steam engines, together with all of the attachments and machinery known or used to operate such valves, and substituting in lieu thereof a simple, plain cylindrical valve, which is operated by the direct action of the steam in its exit from the engine cylinder without the aid of any other devices or arrangements being employed to operate the said valve, thus economizing the use of steam to a great extent, and also obtaining the full power or force of the supply steam in driving the work.

The valve is perfectly balanced in all its movements, is very durable and can be easily removed from its chamber, examined and replaced by You will also observe with simply taking off the valve chamber bonnet.

what immense velocity the valve is driven when the moment arrives to reverse the main piston, and the ease with which the valve is balanced and brought to rest after it has completed its stroke, its motions being regulated with the greatest certainty and governed entirely by the motion of the main piston.

The manner of cushioning or arresting the main piston at the ends of the stroke is easily understood; as the piston passes or covers the ports at the ends of the main cylinder, the air confined between the piston and cylinder cover is made to shut the small valves inserted in the ends of the main cylinder, the compressed air acting as a spring and gives back to the piston the power imparted to it by compression the instant the valve changes and the direction of the piston is reversed.

The small valves inserted in the ends of the valve chamber, together with their connecting rod, work in unison with each other and with the majn valve in such a manner that the steam, in the act of escaping and reversing the main valve, shall shut one of the small valves, and by means of the connecting rod hold the other open, the object being to allow the confined air at the opposite end of the main valve to escape and oppose no hindrance to the flight of the valve until it has passed or opened the opposite supply and exhaust port, when the escaping air is cut off and the valve is balanced by the pressure of the exhaust steam being equalized at both ends of the valve and the valve cushioned on The travel of these small valves is very slight, onecompressed air. sixteenth of an inch being sufficient for the largest engines.

The flight of the valve when in the act of supplying and exhausting the steam to and from the main cylinder is immeasurably great as compared with the velocity of the main piston, consequently the supply and exhaust ports are opened instantly and the load to be driven receives the full effect of the steam; the exhaust is also free to pass to the external air and moves the valve in its exit from the engine cylinder.

The recesses in the valve are made very small and are intended to be only of sufficient area to make a steam-tight joint between the valve and valve-seat.

The recesses in the main piston are similar to those in the valve and are intended to be of sufficient area to raise the piston and thereby prevent the bottom of the cylinder from wearing and also make a steamtight joint where the piston covers the small ports in the main cylinder. The main valve and piston are provided with packing rings, in the usual

manner.

By dispensing with the slide valve, usually used, I overcome the friction of the same and obtain a quicker action of the steam consequent to a quicker action of my valve, and the engine can be driven at an immense velocity. It will also work as slow as one stroke per minute, and make its strokes with unerring accuracy.

There are no dead points or centres that the valve will stick on; but as either one or the other of the supply ports are always open, the engine will always start when the supply steam is admitted to the valve chamber.

The simplicity of this engine will be apparent without any further explanation. The cost of manufacture is greatly reduced. The engine can be taken apart and put together much quicker than any engine yet known. It is certain in all of its movements, durable in all its parts, composed of fewer pieces than any other engine yet invented, easily managed by any person of ordinary intelligence. It is peculiarly adapted to steam fire engines. It completely supplants the Giffard Injector, both as to cheapness, greater range, capacity and certainty of movement as a boiler feeder; adapted also to driving rock drilling machines, steam hammers, and any position where a direct action is required.

This arrangement of engine is easily adapted to a rotary as well as a reciprocating movement, by adding the crank and fly-wheels, and can be reversed and run in opposite directions by simply reversing the valve by hand, as will easily be understood without further explanation.

It is a California invention, and first exhibited at the State Fair in Sacramento. It is an entirely new and novel valve arrangement; its patent has been allowed me. There were other machines exhibited at

the State Fair of intrinsic merit; but all of them have been on exhibition before, either in this country or Europe, and medals and diplomas have been awarded them frequently.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

WILLIAM D. HOOKER.

STATEMENT OF THOMAS HANSBROW.

SACRAMENTO, October 29th, 1867.

To the Committee on Awarding the Gold Medal of the State Agricultural Society:

GENTLEMEN: As many of the exhibitors in the machinery department of the late Annual Fair of the State Agricultural Society have called your attention to the qualities which they claim for the machines entered for premium by them, I also respectfully ask your careful consideration of the merits of the following described machinery, invented and manufactured in California, which I exhibited there:

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First-Hansbrow's Planet Pan-a new invention for saving gold. This pan was invented to supply a want long experienced by miners and those interested in mining in this State; that is, a reliable and effi. cacious machine for saving gold and silver. To produce something of this kind, a large amount of capital has been invested in machinery, without bringing to light anything which has really commanded the confidence of miners. Mining statistics show that in California, within the last fourteen months, upwards of two hundred and thirty thousand dollars have been expended alone in experiments and improvements on grinding and amalgamating pans of the old patterns now in operation. I believe my Planet Pan to be the best machine in the State for saving gold and silver. Twenty-three of them are running in Nevada County, and are considered by those to whom they belong as far superior to any gold-saving pan now in use.

Second-The Hydrostatic Engine, a working model of which was on

exhibition.

A

This engine has proved itself to be one of the most economical water powers in the world. Two of them have been built-one with a cylinder of seven inches and another with a cylinder of twelve inches. seven-inch cylinder engine was exhibited by me at the Mechanics' Fair in San Francisco, to which a committee of scientific gentlemen, without hesitation, awarded the first premium over all other water power on exhibition.

Third--The Hansbrow Pump-the superiority of which over all other pumps is acknowledged by those who use it.

Seven different kinds of this pump are manufactured, viz: Mining pump, fire engine pump, windmill pump, ship's pump, deep well pump, house pump and direct-acting steam pump, all of which are secured by four patents. It is believed that more of these pumps are used in California and on the Pacific Coast than in all the other States combined. They continue to be in great favor and the demand for them seems to be constantly increasing.

The Hansbrow Pump exhibited by me, and which was placed in the upper hall; is the same to which was awarded, over three hundred and eight competitors, the grand prize medal of the London International Exhibition of eighteen hundred and sixty-two, not only upon its merits as a pump, but as being one of the most finely finished pieces of mechanism at that Fair,

I claim to have exhibited in the mechanical department the greatest number of articles of importance to the State shown by any one individual, consequently I believe myself entitled to the award of the gold medal.

The following is a list of the several articles I had on exhibition :
One hydrostatic engine (running).

One Planet amalgamating pan (running). The only piece of machinery relating to mining in complete running order.

Two fire engine pumps.

One mining pump (running).

One ship's pump (running).

One deep well pump (running).

Two hand pumps (running).

One World's Fair pump (entered as the best piece of mechanical work on this coast). THOMAS HANSBROW.

STATEMENT OF REDSTONE BROTHERS.

To the Committee to award the Gold Medals of the State Agricultural Society: GENTLEMEN: In our claims for the award of the gold medal by the Awarding Committee appointed at the late State Fair for the production of a generally useful and important machine, you will please bear in mind and do us the favor to bring the following statement before the said Committee:

First We claim the production of an entirely new device. Second-This device, with various fittings, can be used (and is preferable) whenever a crank movement is desired over a straight axle. Third-That the changing of rotary into reciprocating and reciprocating into rotary motion is accomplished with less bearings, forming its own bearings on its center of motion.

Fourth-That it is used to greater advantage in a greater number of machines than anything on exhibition at the last State Fair. We wish further to call attention to our model steam engine, also worked by the same movement or device. The device economizes the entire length of the Pitman in the sawmill, engine, pumps, morticing machine, shingle cutter, and all other places where a straight line movement is to be had from the ordinary crank. We will be brief in this specification, and trust the rest to the mechanical ability and intelligent decisions of the Committee, trusting further that, as we have lately entered into competition with the inventive genius of this State, we will have a respectful examination and the awards we merit.

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SAN FRANCISCo, October 15th, 1867.

To the Committee on Gold Medals: GENTLEMEN: I would state for your information that we put in a claim for one of the gold medals on these grounds: That we are now manufacturing circular, cross cut, and in fact all descriptions of saws that can be used in the manufacture of lumber; that we have entirely stopped the importation of saws, both from the Eastern States and from Europe; that we manufacture our saws from the raw material just the same as all other saw manufacturers do in the United States, for there is not one of them that make their own steel (though I understand that there is one shop in Philadelphia which is just about to commence doing so). We would also state that before commencing the manufacture ourselves we were the heaviest importers on this coast; that for the past eighteen months we have not imported any kind of a saw either from the Eastern States or from Europe. Also, that Messrs. Jacob Underhill & Co., of San

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Francisco, were the agents for Messrs. Hoe & Co., of New York, for the sale of their saws here, and that they have shipped back to New York all the stock of saws they had on hand here, for the reason that we could sell a better saw at a less price than they could.

In conversation with some of the parties connected with the Fair, whilst in Sacramento, they seemed to have an impression on their minds that the sawmill business on this coast did not amount to much. In answer to that objection we refer you to "Langley's Pacific Coast Directory" for 1867; see pages 88 to 95 for California, and pages 123, 135, 139, 145, 149 and 153; also that we ship saws to the British possessions. To nearly all of these mills we have sent circular and other saws, from time to time, and there is no doubt but that we shall continue to fill their orders with our own manufacture for the future.

All of which is respectfully submitted for your consideration.

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To the Committee to award the Gold Medals of the State Agricultural Society: GENTLEMEN: A gold medal being offered by the society at the recent State Fair to the exhibitor of the most meritorious display in each department, and we being one of the exhibitors, the following are the articles shown by us, and the reasons why we should be awarded the gold medal in the Second Department. The variety of articles exhibited by us renders it imperative that we should be brief in noting the use and usefulness of each:

First-A Wood & Mann's portable steam engine, six by twelve inch cylinder, driving a Pitts improved threshing machine having a fortyinch cylinder and a forty-six-inch separating capacity. This engine has the newly invented water bottom, which entirely surrounds the firegrate and ash-pit-forming underneath the ash-pit, as well as up the sides of the furnace, a three or four inch water space, by which additional heating surface is obtained, the accumulation of sediment around the fire-box or furnace is entirely prevented, and renders it perfectly safe to use near any barn or in any grain field, or in any building where a stove would be allowed, as no sparks can possibly escape from the furnace or ash-pit. The sediment has a free passage to the bottom of the fire-box and can be blown off daily by the blow-off cock underneath the the ash-pit, by which the boiler may be kept clean much longer than under the old system. This engine is particularly adapted to all the requirements of the farmer.

The threshing machine is of very early origin. Before threshing machines were invented the threshing floor was used. It was a flat surface of ground, covered with clay, rolled smooth and hard. The grain, in

bundles or sheaves, was spread on this floor, and cattle driven over it until the grain was beaten out by constant trampling upon. The Egyptians usually muzzled the ox while threshing, and the Greeks, it is said, besmeared the mouths of the animals to prevent their eating the grain. In Chile at the present time the threshing floor is still used, but instead of the ox a large number of horses are used. The flail is also in common use in all countries by small farmers, and is supposed to be the first mechanical device for threshing.

The first machine for threshing was merely an adaptation of suitable mechanism to drive a large number of flails by water power. Though unsuccessful in practice, this machine attracted considerable attention. It was the invention of Michael Menzes, of Scotland. In seventeen hundred and fifty-eight a Mr. Leckie, of Sterlingshire, invented a rotary machine, which consisted of a horizontal shaft with a set of cross-arms attached, and the whole inclosed in a cylindrical case. It proved tolerably efficient for threshing oats, but was not adapted to wheat, as it knocked off the entire head without separating the kernels.

The superiority of a rotary motion having been demonstrated, it was comparatively easy to remedy some of the defects and perfect the invention.

In seventeen hundred and eighty-six, Andrew Meckle, of Scotland, made an improvement in Leckie's machine by substituting a drum or cylinder with projections on its surface by sticking in short pins. This is the origin of the threshing cylinder in present use. A patent was procured in Great Britain by Mr. Meckle in seventeen hundred and eightyeight, in which year he constructed his first working machine. He afterwards improved it by raising the cylinder on the second, floor, and by means of open grates for the grain and chaff to drop through. He connected underneath a fanning mill, by which means the grain was separated and cleaned from the chaff. From this beginning Americans. have perfected the machine to its present state, so that the wheat is now as it comes from the thresher fit for either the miller or for sowing as seed, being freed from all fine or foreign seeds. The most prominent American inventors connected with the threshing machine were twin brothers, John A. and Hiram Pitts, natives of Maine. The principles of separating the straw from the grain and combining the threshing cylinder and fanning mill therewith was their invention, and is the only practicable portable thresher and cleaner now in use in the United States. This machine is used in Chile, South America and Australia. From a very small beginning the manufacture of threshing machines has grown to be a very important branch of business.

The capacity of the Pitts thresher on exhibition is three thousand bushels of grain per day. The immense quantity threshed and perfectly cleaned make these machines economical for the farmer's use, putting his grain in market cheaper than by any other process.

We also had on exhibition, as worthy of special attention as laborsaving machines, two Buckeye mowers, Nos. 1 and 2, one Buckeye combined reaper and mower, one Russell's mower, one Union mower. These machines are each adapted to a peculiar kind of cutting, and as a whole are calculated to cut any kind of grass or grain perfectly-mowing with one man and one span of horses ten acres per day, and reaping from ten to fifteen acres, laying it in compact bundles for binding, with two men and one span of horses.

The wheeled wire horse-rake on exhibition was a recent invention. The driver rides and drives one horse; a brake applied to the wheels by

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