Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-06-23

as shown in the drawing. Connect the
slabs, facing the same direction, with
three stakes or rounded three inches
by three inches about three and half
feet long, or long enough TO leave three
feet Of space between the slabs after
the connecting pieces have been driv-
en- into the holes. Two or three planks
can be nailed to these pieces, affording
a place for the driver to stand and at
the same time Strengthening the drag
Use a chain or strong rope to AFFORD
attachment for the doubletree. Sup
posing the drag TO face west and as
Stunning that chain is used, fasten one
end Of the chain to or around the left
hand outside connecting brace, letting
the chain pass over the top OF the slab.
II attached TO the face Of the slab near
the left hand end the chain would In
terfere with the movement OF dirt to-
ward that end OF the drag The drag
IS run at all angle OF about As degrees,
so that dirt can be thrown toward one
side. The other end OF the chain may
be fastened TO the face OF the front
slab near where the right hand con-
Meeting piece comes through, as at that
point OF the drag the presence OF the
chain would not cut any figure with
the movement OF earth toward the 9th
er end. Yet 1t would probably be bet
ter to secure the chain TO the drag In
the same way at each end. II the ends
OF the chain pass over the top edge Of
the front slab and are fastened one to
each outside crosspiece the draft will
be slightly downward, thereby holding
TO the ground.
Mr.. King recommends shoeing about
three feet Of the bottom edge Fright
hand side OF the front slab. A piece
OF iron or steel OF the right length.
about three inches wide and half inch
thick, with one edge sharp or 5eveled,
can be used for the purpose. Put 1t
on securely, letting the sharp edge
project about an inch below the edge
OF the slab. This sharp iron shoe will
enable the drag better 10 shave the sur
face and cut down the hard ridges
which are usually met with on roads
that have not been kept smooth. A
good drag Will cost from almost moth
ing To So 30. depending on the material
and construction, and last five or ten
years. Anybody. can make one.
The work can be done In the winter
when the surface is little soft, but In
the spring. summer and autumn the
treatment IS more effective Use the
drag soon after each hard rain while
the surface dirt is in puddled con
dltion. The drag Will smear the soft
mud over the top Of the road bed In a
sort Of layer. With sunshine. wind and
travel this layer will become hard.
Another dragging will put on another
layer To make the road still harder,
smoother and more impervious to rain.
In year or two a hide or shield Is
put on the road that you can hardly
tear mp with pick. Each dragging
lhickens and solidihes this covering.
A few draggings Will make the roads
Jmooth and improve them wonderful
". but it takes few years OF intelli-
gent dragging TO put them In tiptop
condition. II the work is kept up, re
version Of the roads TO their original
condition is impossible Every time
the drag Is used they increase In hard
ness aud lasting qualities. Mr.. King
says a road dragged often and at the
right time will acquire such thick,
compact hard easing that il VIII turn
water like a steel roof.
II costs about $40 a mile per year,
according to the figures complied by
an Iowa farmer who has employed II
with complete success 10 maintain
roads according tc the King system.