More than 125 years ago, Irwin Barur, a professor of geology at Nebraska University, was interested in what he described as “agricultural movement” – the spread of creative and inexpensive homemade air mills throughout Nebraska. In 1897, Barbour documented this phenomenon, as he was traveling to the state, photographing mills, conducting interviews with its inventors and owners, and estimating costs and benefits. It was found that both the wealthy and poor farmers built a wide range of mills, and many of them from the new or experimental design, made largely made of spare parts and scrap wood. These mills are used to pump water for irrigation and livestock, and to obtain farm machines – owners often give a great advantage at the time of dryness. During a recent visit to the American National Archives, I found these photos and turned them from the 1898 photo album that had not been numbered before. Many wooden pieces used in Barbour report 1899 She was based on these pictures.
To receive email notification every time new photo stories are published, register here.