In the 1913 farming season, the Big Four Tractor was purchased. It was a 1907 model, 30-60 horsepower tractor manufactured by the Emerson-Brantingham Tractor Works, Gas Traction Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota. That year, on his way west, Robert Havlicek visited the plant for an orientation course. To avoid the sandy conditions of the Thompson Route in Utah, the Big Four was shipped by both wide and narrow gauge railways to Dolores, Colorado, and then driven over the shorter, more solid road from Dolores to Piute, Colorado. Havlicek and Marvin Lyman, as they put it, "walked it in." Once at Piute, there was renewed enthusiasm for successful dry farming, and an inauguration ceremony was held in which Marvin Lyman plowed the first furrow.
Gasoline, which cost 17 to 25 cents per gallon, was purchased in Durango, Colorado, shipped by rail to Dolores, Colorado, and then hauled by wagon to Piute. A special gas wagon, equipped with six 50-gallon barrels, along with oil and grease, made at least one trip per week—55 miles to Dolores and 55 miles back. Bill Young was the assigned freighter, and others also hauled gasoline for the Big Four.
The instruction and specification books for the Big Four are no longer available. However, in 1916, Robert Havlicek wrote a report titled Tractor Farming in Southeastern Utah, which was published in Gas Review, Madison, Wisconsin. From the draft of that report and a telephone conversation with Havlicek on May 9, 1979, several details were reconstructed about the 1912 experimentation with the 15-30 horsepower Ohio tractor, as well as the farming operations using the more powerful 30-60 horsepower Big Four Tractor from 1913 to 1915.
In 1913, a set of 26-inch disc gang plows revolutionized sagebrush grubbing in San Juan County. Set to cut 3 or 4 inches deep and weighted to prevent riding over the brush, the plows could clear a 16 to 18-foot swath the first time through. Running at about 2 miles per hour, forty acres could be grubbed in a 10-hour day. After the brush had dried for a day, the plows were set to cut 7 or 8 inches deep, and a harrow and rake were attached behind. The harrows loosened dirt from the roots, making it easier to burn the brush, while the rake piled the brush for burning. With a can of gas in one hand and a torch in the other, the rake operator was the busiest person on the crew. He would use his foot to dump the rake, pour gas with one hand, and apply the torch with the other. This second pass was slower because the plow swath was reduced to about 8 feet, resulting in a rate of about 20 acres per day.
Nighttime operations were avoided due to uneven ground surfaces and the presence of prairie dogs and badger holes. During the busy seasons, the crew worked 16-hour days, including an hour for 4 men to service and refuel the tractor. Repair parts (valve springs, magneto parts, plow castings, etc.) were in high demand, and a complete stock of these parts was maintained. The wagon carrying a week's supply of gasoline and oil was always nearby and followed the tractor from field to field. A 46-foot machine shed, equipped with a full blacksmith setup, was necessary for welding, drilling, grinding, and cleaning. New oil was added every Saturday afternoon, along with a thorough cleaning of the entire tractor. The engines were overhauled before the start of each season. Because the soil dulled the plow discs quickly, two complete sets of plow discs were always kept on hand.
On average, the Big Four consumed around 2 1/4 to 3 gallons of gasoline per acre for breaking and 1 1/2 to 2 gallons per acre for grubbing sagebrush. Kerosene and motor spirits were tested, but gasoline proved to be the most economical in the long run. Havlicek estimated the per-acre cost at $1.39 for grubbing and $2.12 for plowing during the 1912-1915 operations, which was a significant savings compared to conventional clearing and plowing costs of the time.
In 1961, the Big Four was purchased by the Chamber of Commerce and placed on the library grounds. On July 24, 1962, Utah's Founder's Day, the Big Four led the parade!