The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-17
FOR GOOD ROADS.
The Split Log Drag. A Missouri Inycn-
ton Said to be n Great Road
Maker.

To the Editor:- The following ar
ticle is prepared from communica-
ton written by ID. Ward King, of Mis-
souri, for the Saturday Evening Post,
of July 1st. The article is entitled
spreading the Gospel of Goods Roads
by the Use of the Split Log Drag,
which is revolutionizing the roads of
many parts of the Union. Mr.. King
tells of the invention and the sue
cess that has attended the use of the
Drag on various kinds of roads in his
own state and also in Pennsylvania
New York and several other states.
This is a subject of practical i'll
terest in every community and TO
every citizen as all are Interested 10
some extent at least, and all feel the
inconvenience of impossible roads.
The article referred to seems 20
prove the claim that nearly all the
roads of any state can be put IN good
order by the use of the Split Log Drag,
provided it is used with intelligence
and that the road can be kept in good
condition by a small expenditure Of
time and labor, each week or month
as circumstances require. This Will
be a great boon to our farmers and
will increase the value of all farm
property. Mr. King has no machine
to sell and gives his experience for
1
proves to be correct will cause his
name to be remembered with the
name of McAdam, the inventor of the
broken stone roads of the last CEN
fury.
There are three conditions neces-
sary in order to make a perfect earth
road, the lack of any one of them
will be fatal to the required result.
The road must be oval it must be
H. nd ref hn
All of these conditions can be had by
the proper use of the Split Log Drag
in almost any soil or location. If the
road is properly rounded by the use
of the drag, even two weeks ram
will not put the road in bad condl-
tion at a time when the highway at
either end will be impossible for wag-
ons. A small puddle will soon make
soft place by the action of wheels
, passing over it, The use of the drag
smooths and fills such places and
travel packs.th surface so that water
will run off instead of soaking in.
making the road almost equal to ma
cadam and at a very small cost or
labor, of one man and two horses or
mules
The cost of dragging an ordinary
road for one year after 1T is once put
in good shape need not exceed five
dollars per mile.
How to Make and Operate "a Drag.
Use a log about nine feet long and
about twelve inches in diameter. Split
or saw it open, make three holes two
inches in size in center of slabs, one
in middle and others about two feet
from the ends. Use three pieces of
oak three feet in length to fasten firm
ly the two slabs, having both fiat
sides to the front. On these cross
bars lay a plank on which to stand
when driving. In order to prevent
wear and to give cutting edge, the
lower edge of each section should have
a strip of thin tire iron about two
inches wide. secured by screws, nails
or bolts. Attach a chain at or about
the two cross bars near the ends, put
several strong lap links at different
places in the chain in which to nook
the clevis of your double tree, at
suitable place to give you the proper
angle or slant which will be from for
tv to fifty degrees, i'm order to draw
the earth to center of the road. III
one angle does not suit try another.
Use two horses or mules, drive SLOW
ly. stand on the portion needing most
weight. Don't load too heavily. Don
wait for the road to get into bad con-
dition before using the drag. Almost
any road will be benefited by going
over it once a week or oftcner until
it is in good condition. Don't plough
the road, the drag can be maze 10
do all the work if properly managed.
If each farmer will own drag and
use it on the road through his farm
and towards town-thc good roads
question will be solved. Don't be afraid
of your neighbours laughing at you.
Try it, This is the invention OF
farmer and is used by farmers in 9TH
er states. Every road supervisor
should try it.
GEORGE ALLEN.
Raleigh, n. G. sH