More Steam and Petrol in Patagonia.
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The first attempt at motor haulage in Southern Patagonia, where bullock traction is almost impossible because of the scarcity of grass, was made by Messrs. Greenshields and Douglas who introduced a steam tractor. This, as it achieved too great a consumption of coal and water, was an economic failure, although since then as a stationary engine it has done good service in pumping, etc., for a freezing works established here.
The farmers, having then fully realized that. they must find some more economical means of carting than by bullock wagon, formed a company and introduced two American internal-combustion " Hart Parr " tractors, which, however, owing to their light construction and the roughness of the roads have given no practical results and are now in a state of ruin.
The machine shown in one of our illustrations is of the same class, and it belongs to Mr. Von Heinz, who has done some very good work on his farm with it. The engine is one built specially for ploughing purposes, but it will not stand the vibration caused by travelling over hard roads. The consumption of petrol is very high and the load drawn is inadequate to pay expenses on long journeys.
Another of the photographs [Reproduced below.— En.] shows the steam tractors belonging to the Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego, and used on their Ultima Esperanza section. These up to the present have given excellent results, as in that part of the country there is abundance of fuel and water.
Another illustration is of a F.I.A.T., which has been working here at intervals for about three years. Besides working round the town of Rio Gallegos, it has made runs out to a place called Guer-Aike, a distance of about 21 miles, carrying some three tons of cargo each way. It made the journey from Punta Arenas to Gallegos with two tons of cargo. However the engine is antiquated and it is impossible to judge of its suitability for use in this country without seeing a modern type tried.
The next engine to be brought out was a " Mann" belonging to Messrs Townsend Bros. of London and sent out under the management of Mr. Arthur B. Townsend, since deceased. An illustration shows this engine, which runs up to 7 m.p.h. with a seven-ton load. She is a steam lorry with trailer. The last tractor to be introduced is a " Marshall " brought out by Mr. Bernard Aylwin. [See an illustrated article in our issue for 25th August, 1910.—En. She has been specially constructed for this district and is internal-combustion and draws a load up to 25 tons. So far the trials have been very satisfactory and she has made several trips to Guer-.Aike, 21 miles distant, with full cargoes and on very low con
sumption. J. D.