The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-06-02
Objects to Dragging the Roads.

One Of our farmer readers has written |
the following communication after read
ing the article published last week in
regard to an inexpensive machine for
working the roads which has been built
by Mr.. Biddison of this city, and as we
believe in giving both sides of every
question we publish this article although
we believe that many of the progressive
farmers of the county will not agree
with all it says. The article is as fol-
lows:
EDITOR REPoRTER:-My attention is
called to an article published in THE
REPORTER last week entitled drag the
Roads," 1t seems that it was dictated
by A. Biddison and written by the
editor. 1t seems that Mr.. Biddison has
| become very much interested in the
good road movement, which in my mind
would be quite commendable under
normal conditions. 1t seems that the
present system of road making would
not warrant much enthusiasm especially
| to tho man who pays for the work and
then is dictated to do the work himself.
! 1t occurs to me that Mr.. B. has new
(, way Of reasoning. If should buy of
him any article of machinery and then
demand Of him two articles for the
price of one or the equivalent of
one in labor, don't you think
that he would state with emphasis,
"No.' Would it not be better to labor for
the repeal of our obnoxious law rather
than throw support to the devouring
octopus? The idea seems to be prevail
emit to get a thing no matter how you
get it. There is principle that is Of
vastly greater Importance that we
CHI MT Gol &c,
wisdom put to work his machinery to
almost any farmer would go out and
ywork untiringly: The mere matter of
fact that man is liberal is no reason
should do. When the legislature of
Iowa said that the farmer and his sons
did not have the ability to make good
roads then and there they surrendered
with reluctancy. This machine Mr..
Biddison has is no doubt the invention
Of D. Ward King, of Missouri, which is
no doubt good thing for that purpose,
as it is practical to suppose the more
elevated and free from ruts the road is
the sooner it will dry. Missouri is a
state where still the farmer retains his
ability for road making. | understand,
by reliable men who pay in both states,
that their taxes are on the average not
to exceed one-half those of Iowa, and
now as we have rural free delivery we
perhaps do not need roads so good as
when our fathers had to draw their
supplies from Keokuk. Another CLASH
fication, but we will not object to the
name so long as we get prompt service.
1t is true we have nearby markets, etc.,
but after all when we reckon the cost of
production, pay our interest, commits
sion and taxes, we find that after all we
| have nothing to take home but our
, selves. For long time have been a
believer in dragging cultivated land
with what we call a surfacer, made OF
planks spiked in riding pillow, which are
great clod smashers. Last spring
, wanted something more effective fol
sod, and made the following, which is
: ahead Of any disk for sod: take two
SxS IA feet long, use % inch bolts
} center and end use inch blocks o.
' spools to hold in place, use foot pull
I rods IS inches from ends, and load will
i driver and otherwise to get desiret
}. effect. This you see is double the rapid
), ity and more satisfactory than the disk
F as you have no sod upturned, drive ex
' actly as plowed and in no case deviat
q until all sods are level. A SUBSCRIBER
- During the summer kidney irregu
4 larities are often caused by excessiv
;, drinking or being overheated. Atten
p to the kidneys at once by using Foley