Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-10-15
Road Grading Machines &c.

| I@' Atcytctcf fOuI fhIuabi6 paper
culates largely amongst farmers and people
who live in the country, and are therefore
greatly interested in the Improvement of our
| public roads, it occurs to me that brief ac-
| count of the proceedings of the State Board
OF Agriculture in testing road grading ma
chimes last week at Mexico, Audrain county,
Miss ouri, might be of interest to your read
ers.
Regarding the improvement of the public
roads throughout the State as of the very
first importance to the farmers OF the State,
the Board, at previous meeting, arranged
to invite the manufacturers of improved
road grading machinery in all parts of the
United States to hold competitive contest
and exhibition of their machines, at which
tneJudges of County Courts, Roadoverseers,
Engineers, and all interested in the subject,
could attend, examine the machines, see
them operate and judge of their value as
modern aids in the usually slow process of
road making and improvement.
The exhibition and contest Was held on the
10Th, 10th and 18th at Mexico, and it vas at
tended by nearly dozen machines, and
their manufacturers from New York, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois. None of them were
made In Missouri, but that is not likely long
to be the case, as they are being largely in
troduced and used in North Missouri.
The test was made on each day under diff
ferent soil, and on different "lay of the land"
as one of the judges expressed it.
The first day was on a hard clay, tough
piece of road. Each machine was given a
space of 300 yards to operate on, or grade.
Six horses were used to each machine, aud
it was sight to gladden. the heart of any
one who takes pride in good roads to see
each of those stretches of road transformed
in about three hours from its rough. chaotic
condition to beautifully graded roadbed,
elegantly rounded up in the middle, with
good bitches on each side, and end to end,
as could be desired. so graded as to produce
the best possible drainage, and most regu-
lar and even surface. The driver and the
man who operates the machine ride on it,
and they never dismounted during the oper-
ton, nor was there pick or shovel or other
tool used in the process.
1t was estimated that each machine did the
WORK of fully fifty men, and did it better!
The second day we went about five miles
from town to some steep stony hills, or rath-
er the two steep slopes of a deep,wide ravine.
The soil was very hard tough, clay, full of
rocks from the size of an egg to the size of
bucket. l expected the machines would
speedily be broken and torn to pieces, but
was astonlshed to see them perform good
work, and after three hours work, not one |
was broken or injured, showing that they
were made of the finest steel, and capable of |
doing desperately hard work.
On the third day they were given 800 yards |
each, on a level, smooth piece of road, grown |
up with grass and weeds. This test was to |
be against time, and as to perfect work and |
finish Of grade. A little over two hours on
ly was consumed by them from the signal to
start until they wheeled off the road and left
1t for inspection.
While there is considerable difference in
the mechanical structures of the machines,
there was not one of them but did splendid
work.
They vary in price from $3.50 to 1925 each.
They are simple in structure, consisting of a
four wheeled wagon, with the blades and
machinery suspended from a steel frame or
open bed about 8 to feet above the earth.
Every part is made of steel to secure the
greatest strength and least weight.
was told that every road district in some
counties in North Missouri, had machine
If this kind. all within last five years, be-
cause it is only since then that these WON
ierful machines have been invented, and
'ince steel has become cheap enough TO make
hem.
There were crowds of people from hum
lreds of miles to witness the contest, and it
vas inspiring TO see the enthusiasm mani
ested in the prospect of better roads.
Every night a public meeting was held
md speeches made on the subject of our
public roads.
OF course, these machines are better fitted
or prairie country free from rocks and
Jumps, and yet there is not a county in
southeast Missouri where some of them
ould not be used to advantage. That they
re destined to revolutionize the public
Dads in this western country, there can be
10 doubt, and every farmer will gladly haste
he day of deliyerance from bad roads, for
heir general bad condition is now the prin-
ipal terror and disadvantage of rural life.
f good, hard, smooth roads could be had ev-
rywhere, there would be no life so sweet,
o quiet and happy as life in the country.
There have been published lately, items
harging the CuratoTs of our State Univers-
~ with deductlng over 100000 from the
tate Agricultural College that rightly be- {
Dnged to the latter. The State Board ap
'ointed Coy. Francis, Judge Emerson of ,
ron county, and Capt. Abel Leonard of s
alne county, to investigate the charges and
eport. If there be any truth in it, the Leg I
stature will likely take lively hand in the c
natter when it meets.
J. W. EMERSON. .
Ironton. Sept. 81, 1891. :
A Safe Investment.