Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-08-18
HAS SOLVED GOOD
ROADS PROBLEM
Simple Contrivance Which Is
Revolutionizins Travel i'm the
Mississippi Valley.

1t has remained for Missourian to
solve the good roads problem and
carry on crusade among the farmers
of the Mississippi valley which one
noted agriculture expert declares to
be the most important work done
among agriculturists for score of
years. The good roads special trains
originated with d. Ward King,
modest farmer Of Maitland, who has
conclusively proved that the meanest
dirt road in the state can be trans
formed into well-rounded. wei.
drained public highway, as hard
and solid as race track, and main
tanned in this splendid condition at
an annual expense of but 81. 80 a mile
How has this great discovery, of
inestimable value to city dwelleT as
well as to farmer, been brought
about? The story is a simple one.
Twenty years ago Mr.. King was
aroused to the necessity of improving
the load which leads from his farm
home to the nearby town of Maitland.
1t was rutty, full of chuckholes,
uneven, at certain times OF the year
virtually impossible. 1t was on a
par with other neighborhood roads,
but Mr.. King studied the problem and
how best to solve it.
Finally, he hit upon a home made
contrivance, so homely and simple
that the neighbors who watched him
work with it we're forced to laugh.
Walking through his stable yard
Mr.. King CHANGED to spy an old pump
stock which had been torn up and had
laid unused for several years. This
pump stock he took, and, laying a
log, split in half, parallel with it,
he fastened the two together with
rough boards and chains, then, hitch
ing horse to the home made drag and
standing upon it, he dragged the
road to Maitland. Twice, three
times, half dozen times, while the
road was still wet from recent rains.
he dragged the entire length, and
then dismounted to look at what he
had done.
A rolling, well-drained and com
pact road extended from the farm
house to town. Mr.. King had solved
the problem.
Every year since that Mr. King has
dragged his road regularly. ~ have
KEEP track of it as to the amount of
time and find that the average is once
month, he says. That's not
very much work to secure a good
road l dragged from my own gate
to my neighbor's, half mile it
takes about 20 minutes. don't
make many trips to .own before
have regained the time expended in
dragging, to say nothing of the gain
to my neighbors AID the general pub.
| lie. "
1t was not long until the entire
Maitland neighborhood was using
similar home made drags, and that
section of Missouri boasted of the
best country roads extant Gradually
the fame of the man who had brought
this about spread. Over year ago
Mr.. King received an invitation from
the good roads association of Sac
county, Ia, asking him to visit Sac
City and explain his system. He did
so, and was received so enthusiastic.
ally that over 30 farmers at once
pledged themselves TO try the work.
As result the highways leading in
to that progressive town, 2S miles
altogether, have been cared for at an
expense of but $3.50 mile, and in
one years time transformed from
muddy, uneven roads into thorough
fares so smooth and nice that owners
of trotting horses invariably choos,
the public highways for speedway
in preference TO the race track.
The Sac City experience was tn,
beginning Of the interstate crusade
which Mr.. King is now carrying on
Early this spring he was approached
by officials of the Chicago and North
western railroad and asked If T.,
would preach the gospel Of good road
from a special train, as the gospel o
seed-corn selection had been preached
last year by Prof p. q Holden
Mr.. King consented
The Northwestern started its specia
i train at Onawa. la. Announcement
had been scattered broadcast through
out the vicinity; the train woul
reach each station along the line at
certain hour, Mr.. King would exhibi
his drag and explain its manufactur
and use, for a half hour, then h
4 would answer all questions, and th
d train wouln proceed to the next stoI
In case of inclement weather the lee
ture would be- delivered in the aud
ence car attached to the sleeper an
diner Of the special train.
The Onawa reception was enibr
siastic. The occasion was made
! festival day. All visiting farmer
aud they numbered over 300, weI
given two good meals by the ente
pIising business men Of the towI
10 The sum Of $50 was subscribed /
N them in 30 minutes, TO be offered I
2 prizes for the best kept mile aud