Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-08-18

the worn-out road into we'll packed
dirt road, as fine one as there is in
the country today, rival to maca.
dam road.
So the good work has gone on. Mr..
King has trayersed more than half of
the 90 counties of Iowa, preaching
the gospel Of good roads and has ar
ranged to carry on the work in Iowa,
Missouri and other Mississippi valley
states next year ON still larger
scale. Already more thsn 5000 King
road drags are in use within a radius
of 400 miles of st. Louis. Mr.. King
advocates the homemade brand. He
had 10 contrivance to sell. a good
drag can be made by any person with
in an hour at an expense not to exceed
So. The city of Des Moines has or
dered 200 drags constructed, at cost
of 81 each and intends using them
exclusively hereafter in making and
repairing dirt streets and roads.
The doctrine as preached by Mr..
King is simplicity itself. Here are
some extracts from one of his recent
talks to prospective oad.makers;
The most difficult part of road
dragging is getting at it. All the rest
is so simple that one learns it in
doing it. The first noticeable effect
is the smoothing OF the road surface
and this in time allows the rain and
snow water to flow off and encourage
the distribution of travel over the
road from side to side.
"Teams usually follow the beaten
trail. Dragging destroys the old
trail, and the new trail. each time
broader and less definite than before,
is made on a different portion of the
highway. BY dragging while the
earth is yet moist the road finally be-
comes a series of practically water.
proof layers of pudtled earth, each
one of which is rolled and pounded by
tho NhcOln anu houln vi llhNtl ~
most imperceptibly the center of
the road is elevated to a smooth grade
that is not easily effected by bad
weather.
Dragging Kills the weeds in the
seed leaf. 1t also does away with the
bumps at each side of bridges and
oulverts. Regular dragging fills
them and they become as solid as
the rest of the road AS the wheel
tracks are wiped out the water does
not run to the bridge after every
shower, SO you can drive as swiftly
over the culverts as over any other
portion of the road.
"At first you will have to drag
when part of the road is too wet
But after awhile it will dry evenly,
and the first few times you drag it
will be better for you to merely drive
down one wheel track and back the
other, moving the dirt toward
the center Of the wagon track.
Gradually widen as you get a chance.
This will give a solid foundation. II
the wagon track is at one side of the
highway, begin right there. The rest
will follow in time. Don't be in a
hurry. Remember you eau not sue.
cessfully make fine crop by plowing
the corn four times day. First
make drag; second, use ii every
time you can improve the road by
dragging.
"The hitch is next in importance tc
the time at which the dragging 1,
done. The right time is just after
the road dries after rain or When II
is thawed on top during the winter
and spring, and it should be dragged
every time.
"Of course. u smooth surface fol
travel is thus produced. but a more
valuable result is that the road wal
shed the next rain instead OF absorb
ing IT, This is the reason why th'
road should be dragged every time
so that it will always be ready for tn,
next rain.
Mr.. King never loses an oppor
tunity to instruct his hearers thathl
expensive, complicated drag is un
necessary. Here is a bit Of persona
experience:
'Nor is an iron.faced instrumen
absolutely necessary. began with
drag in February, March or April
the drag being made Of an old pun
post and a frost bitten log held 10
gether by two or three short pieces O
beard nailed on top 1t pulled t
pieces at the beginning Of the seoon
year, and at first simply drove
team straddle Of one wheel trac
going and OF the other wheel trac
coming back, merely breaking tn
rim of earth that rises on each side {
the wheel track and leaving the roa
in good condition for teamsters I
'straddle the rut. After smashin
both ruts | remember ] used 10 loo
back down the road approyingly, pa
myself on the back and think la
the nichest road in the country, an
while did have it at the time, "
it would look very rough to me 1
present.
There is no man better know
among thankful Iowa farmers toda
than d Ward King Of Maitlanr
His work is Of far more important
than preaching the gospel Of 80,
earn selection, declares not'
agricultural expert Without GOO
! roads the farmer is stranded. vii
good roads he can control the marx
aud get the prices. without them
may have had record. breaking Gro
and be possessed Of millions, but tn
are Mulberry Sellers millions, al