[Richmond Enquirer, August 1, 1843:]
COMMUNICATED
REAPING MACHINE.
Richmond, July 28, 1843.
Mr. C. H. McCormick:
Sir: I have read Mr. C. Valentine’s account of the operation of your Reaper, as used by him, on my plantation at the Green Springs. As I was not there myself in harvest, I can say nothing of it from my own observation; but, from what I know of Mr. Valentine, who has been managing my estate for many years, I should place the utmost confidence in his judgement and candor on the subject in question.
I remain, with respect, G. WATSON
____
Green Springs, Louisa,
July 17, 1843.
I have used one of Mr. C. H. McCormick’s Reaping Machines in the late wheat harvest, and I take pleasure in stating, that it answered my highest expectation. I am of opinion, that in cutting one hundred acres of good wheat with this machine, enough wheat would be saved over and above what is saved by the ordinary mode, to pay for it. As far as I have used the machine, it does not seem likely to get out of order. I think we cut as much as 15 to 18 acres per day, and we cut on rolling land, some quite steep. It cuts as well in damp wheat as dry, and it cuts tangled wheat well. In the use of this machine, the saving of labor is an object—but the most important thing is, that it saves the wheat cleaner that any scythe I ever saw—
Many of my neighbors witnessed the operation of the machine to their entire satisfaction, so far as I know.
C. VALENTINE
[Selection and notation by Noel G. Harrison, NPS]
