Anytime the subject of working on windmills comes up, we think of the tools it took to take care of the wheels, towers and engines.
Very few of the small ranch people had a full set of tools--enough to handle any job that came along, anyway. People borrowed tools.
The drilling machine usually was owned by a family who did 99 percent of the
community work toward putting a hole in the ground approximately 9 to 12 inch diameter. In the early years, this hole was made by raising a sharpened bit weighing 75 pounds in the air 3 or 4 feet and then releasing it for a free fall to the bottom of the hole. At the same time, enough water was put in the hole in order to make a slush. As the
bit was lifted and dropped, it loosened more dirt to be mixed with the water. When the slush got thick enough to slow the impact of the falling bit, a "bucket" type tool approximately 6 or 8 feet long and 4 inches in diameter was put on the cable and then lowered into the hole and allowed to fill with the thickened slush. When raised above and to the side of the hole, a lid closed off the bottom of the bucket until it was raised out of the hole and off to one side. When the total tube was then lowered, the "one way" door opened and the mud came pouring out. All of this dirt moving up and out of the hole depended on a good supply of water. This water had to be hauled from varying distances in a water wagon of 300 to 500 gallon capacity. Well drillers considered themselves very fortunate if the drilling site was close to a lake or creek from which the tank could be filled.
After getting the drilling rig set up, with the vertical beam raised and side braced, cable from the main cable drum was fed through the
drilling system and up over the tower block and back down to the platform and fastened on to the tool being used--i.e., the drill bit or the mud bucket.
The power needed to raise and lower the drill bit to let it free fall was furnished from varied sources depending on availability. The very early rigs were powered by a team of mules or horses traveling around and around the drill rig to activate an up and down raising of the drill bit or mud bucket, depending on which was being used. Later the horsepower was supplanted by gasoline or kerosene petroleum running, combustible engines for power.
After the drilling rig was through digging "hole" the casing (liner) was lowered into the hole after having had the last 20 feet perforated to permit water to seep from the natural sand veins into it. Depending on how thick the water bearing vein was, the water level rose in the well to the top of the vein.
Next came the installation of the well pipe. This pipe had to be of good quality and the diameter was determined by the depth of the well and the size of mill to be used. Diameter varied in the plains region from 3 inches on up to 4 or 5. This pipe had to be fitted with a brass cylinder of approximately 30 inches in length fitted to the lower end of the good water pipe. Into its lower end was fitted a brass cage with a brass spool or a brass ball. Many discussions around the country debated the function of the ball and/or spool and which was the better. The ball was supposed to be better when the water was carrying a lot of sand particles.
Then came the "sucker" rods made of ash and approximately 25 feet in length fitted with threaded couplings, "male" and "female" to permit disassembly. Onto what was to be the lower end of the rods was a brass
cage containing a brass ball (or spool) which floated and operated to open and close by pressure from up and down motion supplied by the windmill engine atop the tower--the engine being powered by the large wheel 6 to 20 feet in diameter. The lower end of the pump rod was also fitted with leather washers that could be replaced, diametrically, as needed--maybe once a year--depending on how much the mill was used. This arrangement of balls and leather washers made up a pump cylinder which operated within the brass cylinder which had been installed on the end of the pipe coming from the top of the ground.
The main pipe coming out of the ground was fitted with a 90 degree fitting, approximately 3 feet above ground level, and the water pumped from below was fed to a length of pipe supplying water to the
ever-present drinking barrel and milk trough and then to the stock tanks of 8 to 20 feet in diameter and 30 inches deep. The quantity of these stock tanks depended on how much livestock was being watered in the hot months of the summer. Over flow from these stock tanks ended up on a flat, open dirt tank maybe 50 to 100 feet from the mill. Cattle enjoyed wading in these mud holes.
Where the filled pipe made its 90 degree horizontal bend, headed for the stock tanks, there was usually a line of wooden tanks 24 inches wide by 6 feet long. These were often made of 2 inches by 8 inches or 12-inch boards and were cut and assembled to provide a path, 2 feet off the ground and level, for the cool, clear water coming out of the drilled well to drain on out to the stock tanks.
As this pipe left the mill, and just before it entered the milk troughs, a //2 tin can, with a "homemade" wire handle, always hung for people to get a drink of cool, clear water or to fill water jugs to carry to the field for
drinking water. The jugs were often wrapped with "gunny" sacks (burlap) or old overalls to provide insulation for the drinking water.
Maintenance was a big, constant chore as the vibrations from the turning mill head were relayed down through the legs to be absorbed into the ground. Also the engine bearings, on the older mills, had to be greased every few days, or if heavy rains had occurred the mill needed grease to replace the lubricant washed out of the open gears and bearings. On the mills with wooden towers the joints had to be re-nailed occasionally to keep them tight.
If dirt tanks were in use it was a constant job to keep the dirt banked up around the tanks to keep the livestock from wearing it off with their foot traffic.
About once a year the complete watering tank system had to be surveyed. Any leaks in the tanks had to be plugged with rubber washers and stove bolts. Maybe heavy tar would do the
job or perhaps heavy leather was good for sealing the hole.
Very few wooden mills were painted after the first paint job wore out. There were heavy opinions, especially among the lazy pioneers, that paint on the wooden towers would cause the towers to absorb and retain moisture within the legs and eventually cause rotting. Paint was accused of holding the moisture inside and rotting the wood. "Leave nature alone," was often used as an excuse to avoid outside painting.
Items, related to windmills, that seldom required maintenance were the four anchor posts to which the tower was attached. These posts, preferably made of native western cedar approximately 8 to 10 feet in length and 10 to 12 inches in diameter, were sunk into the ground 4 feet deep and leaning a few degrees toward the center. One-half-inch-diameter bolts were used to join the tower to these anchor posts. At least three of these 1/2-inch bolts were used on each corner.
The ladder to the top of the tower was always a high maintenance item and, for safety, required constant review and maintenance. Often times there was a 2 inch by 6 inch board or an iron pipe extending horizontally from the tower approximately 8 feet up the ladder. From this extended board, or pipe, could be hung a 1/2 or 1/4 side of beef during the cool months of the year. This furnished fresh meat for the pioneer family who lived below. Hanging the meat on the tower exposed it to the frigid weather and prevented spoilage. Owners could climb the ladder and cut or chop steaks, ribs or whatever cut of meat was needed for the next few days. In the warmer months, yet cool, the meat was often covered with a wagon tarp to deter flies. The alternate freezing and thawing seemed to impart a very delicious flavor into the fresh meat. Also, the ever-present gravy dish was kept busy at the rural table. "Windmill gravy" was a taste treat--no less--especially served with biscuits or fresh corn bread.
As mentioned previously, very few of the early settlers had a complete set of hand tools. However, there were enough different kinds of tools scattered among the families that by borrowing from a few neighbors, enough tools could be gathered to do most any maintenance job. One neighbor might have only one 36-inch pipe wrench and usually two were required, but could usually borrow from one or two neighbors and get enough wrenches to do his several jobs. The same was true of jacks, cable, sisal rope, sledge hammers, wire cutters, cold chisels, nuts and bolts, pliers, washers (flat and lock), wire, nails, rivets, wood screws and many
other of the everyday requirements for running maintenance on windmills.
Each settler usually had enough small wrenches and pliers to get by without borrowing.
After each maintenance job the user spent a half day gathering up borrowed tools and returning them to the owner. Everyone in the neighborhood knew which neighbor owned certain tools so, consequently, knew where to borrow them and where to return them afterwards. An unwritten law existed that everyone respected, regarding borrowed tools, and that was to keep the sisal, one-inch-diameter rope, used with big pulleys to raise and lower heavy loads,
dry at all times, even, if necessary, to bring it in the house and under the bed in the front room. "The big rope must be taken care of and kept away from rats and moistures at all times." Usually this was a rope of considerable length--often approaching at least 60 feet. Very few existed in the neighborhood. Each was a prized possession. It was usually one of the first possessions loaded on the homestead wagon headed west to the new country. The owner, being very proud of the rope, often used his major possession as a lever for obtaining special favors in the neighborhood. One incident involved a family with a good quantity of teenage boys. They urged any one of the boys to engage in courtship with the daughter of another neighbor with the idea of marrying her and thus have first choice for eventually owning the daughter's father's new rope.
Loans from the local bank were sometimes secured by a list of tools which included well ropes or 100-pound anvils. A good pair of fence stretchers was very often accepted as collateral.
Another important tool in the neighborhood was a "Fresno." This was a patented tool made especially for moving loose dirt or gravel on the ground level to dig out holes for livestock water tanks. It was about 8 feet wide with a metal floor, sharpened on the front. Provisions were made for a crossbar to which a good work team could be hitched. The box had a rocker arm on each end which would permit tilting the box to dig in and then, when full of dirt, to be flipped back and held back by a 7-foot-long lever controlled by the operator. By pulling and releasing the mechanism, the operator could load and unload loose dirt at will. The operator worked behind the implement while in operation. Another popular implement used for moving loose dirt for building livestock water tanks was called a "slip." This was a metal tub-like tool approximately 3 feet wide and 4 feet long and 12 inches deep with an open top. One end was open and on the bottom was a heavy-gauge leading edge that ran horizontally across the complete box. On each side was attached a heavy arm extending to the rear about 4 feet. These arms were guided by the operator to either dig in and loosen dirt or level out dirt and act as a container for moving loose dirt. To the front was attached a draw bar accommodating a clevis and "double tree," which a double team of mules or horses could be hitched. This implement, like the infamous "Fresno," was commonly known as a "man killer" due to the manual strength and stamina required to operate it. It taxed the limits of a good man and a good team to operate it all day. It was used mostly for building livestock water tanks from native dirt. The only fuel required in order to operate the "Fresno," or the "slip," was hay for the team and brown beans for the operator. Both implements were very unpopular with the people assigned to use them. The only alternative, at the time, was to use a hand shovel for moving loose dirt.
Any discussion about wind mills always ends up in giving the pros and cons of each brand. Over the years, from 1865 to the present time, there have been manufactured approximately 200 different brands. Each has a half dozen sizes and models. Sizes range from mills with 4-feet wheels up to 24-feet-diameter wheels. There are "solid" wheels--meaning fastened sections and flexible sections that pivoted to provide variable wind forces on the face of the big wheel. Regardless of the style, the mills were all designed to self-regulate in any wind speed to the point of being blown out of a turning position in any high velocity that might develop. As soon as the wind speed decreased, the automatic controls took over and the mill was turned back into wind. It was not until the feature was developed that the wind mill became functionally dependable on the far flung pastures of the Plains country. The mill had to "take care of themselves" with no human care for days at a time.
Brand names included "Eclipse", "Star", "Challenge," and "Aermotor", "Appleton-Goodhue",
"Baker," "Butcher", "Currie", "Dandy", "David Bradley,"
"Dempster", "Elgin", "Fairbury",
"Freeman", "Halladay", "Heller-Aller",
"Ideal", "Imperial", "I. X .L. ", "Mast-Foos", "Raymond",
"Monitor", "O. K.",
"Ozark", "Perkins", "Freeman", "Samson", "Stover",
"Wonder", "Woodmanse" and others. All of these companies, excepting "Aermotor" and "Dempster," have ceased the manufacture of mills and parts so, one would suppose that these two companies had the best products.
One item of interest, relative to the competition among companies, is the fact that very, very few windmill companies absorbed or merged with another company. When a company ceased manufacturing, it closed completely and started some other business.
The windmills provided the water necessary to keep livestock on the dry, open plains in the midwestern U.S.A. Without them the pastures were of no benefit. The mills were wonderful as long as sufficient wind velocity was available. If the wind ceased the mill could not function. It was at times like that, maybe from one to seven days when no water was pumped, that a crisis developed. The "no wind" situation might affect an area of several miles and all ranches and homes ended up in the same bad fix. The first alternative was to find a large pond, or a creek or river where livestock could be driven to fill with water at least once a day. These water facilities did not suffice for more than a few days, and, too, as a rule the owner of the water sources always had livestock of his own and was obligated to keep enough water, in reserve, for his own use--the end of the stillness no one could determine. The wind might start blowing the next hour or it might not blow again for days on end.
In the early twenties there came into use different versions of combustible engines operating on gasoline or kerosene. These were 2-1/2 to 4-horsepower engines operating from a magneto and the fuel. They were portable to the extent that they could be moved from job to job for usage. A flywheel and belt arrangement permitted transfer of power, from the engine to the place the power was needed, whether it be a pump jack at the bottom of the water tower, a feed grinder, a cement mixer or other places where dependable power was needed. "Fairbanks-Morse" made and sold thousands of these engines throughout the U.S. They filled a gap between raw horsepower and electric power. These engines saved the plight of many ranchers. One engine could be operated 24 hours a day-often dividing running time between two windmill sites. One pump could take care of 50 head of cattle or horses for one day.
One subject often neglected when compiling stories of windmill history is the great part that a byproduct of the windmill industry played, the ever-present piles of cow manure that were always available in the vicinity, 1/4 mile in each direction, from the water tanks. These were dropped by livestock as they congregated in the outlying area from the water source.
The basic food for the livestock was the native grass, which grew in large sections of the western plains where the wind, rain and snow, livestock and people gathered to live, as much as possible, from the natural elements available. This grass included, in its chemical makeup, a strong percentage of nitrogen which made the manure an especially good source of heat when piled in a 1-foot-diameter pile, 12 inches high and ignited. These could be used for heating branding irons or, more importantly, for firing, heating and cooking stoves on the farms and ranches.
The chips were of a short existence whether piled high at the corrals for branding or at the back door of the farm or ranch porch for convenience in supplying the household heating stoves. A stove full of chips could be ignited very easily when stacked on top of a handful of dry grass. They provided a fast fire to fry or bake. Usually all the work with chips, including picking up and
hauling was done by the ladies of the household, assisted by the children, age 2
to 12 years. Wash tubs, boilers and often burlap sacks were used to carry the chips to an open wagon or truck for transporting to the corral, ranch pens or the house. It was soon learned that the gray flat chips made adequate heat for heating stoves. These chips were created by older cows. The old gray chips were called "gray flats" and the less matured and smaller chips were called "round brownies." The best chips were those created by younger stock and were
more compact. New settlers were always amazed at how the family women could tolerate the often cold and damp weather and manage to collect enough chips to do all the cooking, heat wash water for the clothes and heat the cold rooms for early winter morning usage. The women folk soon ignored the source of the chips and fed the stoves with their bare hands followed, often by using the same hands, unwashed, for rolling out biscuit dough for baking. Most bread for the early settler was made "on the spot" from raw ingredients and three times a day--gravy likewise.
Often times, on the ranches especially, there was no milk available, unless there were women folks to take care of it. Range cattle produced very little milk unless a wet cow, with calf, could be penned and milked twice a day. Her calf was allowed to "suck" twice a day before and after the morning chores--all under the direction of one of the women. After 6 or 8 months the cow was returned to the big ranch herd and a new, fresh cow was exchanged and the milk continued. No attempt was made to furnish a supply of drinking milk for the entire ranch force. If small children were part of the household an attempt was made to provide them with fresh cow milk. As mentioned before, the lady folk were in charge of all chores connected with the milk work--morning and evening--including Sunday, when the family got home from church or visiting activities.
Of course, on the small farms and homesteads, milk cows, milk pen calves, chickens, cream and butter sales, were all the responsibility of the ever-faithful women, whether they be new brides or perhaps an old grandmother who lived with the family.
The men folk did all they could to stay clear of milk, eggs and butter work. They plowed the fields, worked the cattle, built the fences, kept the windmills and storage tanks in working condition and were susceptible to
being embarrassed if caught milking cows, gathering cow chips, eggs, churning butter and such non-romantic chores. Young girls learned all of those "lady" chores and by the time they married they were ready to take over. A young single man looking for a permanent partner, through life, knew how to distinguish a good prospective partner after visiting in her home a few times.
In the very early days of settling up the land, the railroads were forced to obtain water for their steam-powered locomotives from elevated, windmill-fed storage tanks which were built beside the railroad tracks and, by gravity flow, fed the thirsty steam engines. These early railroad mills, some with 24-feet-diameter wheels, served many farm and ranch families as their first water source. Trading water for an occasional side of fresh pork or beef was a practice that allowed stockmen as well as railroad people to provide for their families.
One benefit from the tall windmill, with a 7-foot square platform near the top, was that it provided an operating base for ranchers and farmers to look for lost or stray livestock. A section of land (640 acres) could be easily surveyed from the top of the platform.
Young boys could watch from the top of the tower for homecoming parents while rodeos, using the milk pen calves below, could be staged with no fear of being caught. At the same time, young girls could make up a feast of fudge or cookies under the same luxury of no parental control.
So it was, that the faithful windmill, pumping good, fresh, cool water all day and all night was a stabilizing factor in the life of the ranches and farms. This factor is, possibly, the reason that the windmill is held in such high esteem by all people. The night sounds comfort people in their sleep and the pivoting tail with the morning sun in the background, tells very
plainly the direction from which the welcome wind is blowing to start the new day.
HOMER C. BECK
2530 SENNETT
WICHITA, KANSAS 67211