What performance characteristic was prioritized in the American water pumper design for operation on the Great Plains?
Answer
Maximum starting torque at low wind speeds
Since surface water was scarce, the requirement shifted from high power output to maximizing starting torque so the pump could engage and begin lifting water even during a mild breeze.

Related Questions
What was the primary engineering focus for American windmills compared to European mills?What characterized the typical European windmill design used for heavy work?What fundamental challenge in the Great Plains spurred the iconic American windmill innovation?Which individual is most closely associated with patenting the self-regulating, multi-bladed archetype of the American windmill?What feature pioneered by Halladay drastically reduced the maintenance burden on remote windmill systems?What mechanism allowed Halladay's windmill to automatically slow down when the wind became too strong?What performance characteristic was prioritized in the American water pumper design for operation on the Great Plains?Where did Daniel Halladay develop his groundbreaking design technology?What replaced the initial wooden towers on American windmills to further increase pump efficiency?How did the focus of wind energy in the US diverge from global trends in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?What was the direct mechanical result of Halladay using many thin, curved blades (16 to 32+) compared to older designs?