The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-06
KING ON GOOD ROADS.
Expresses Great Confidence in the Pow
ers of His Drag.

ton is so widespread at this time
that farmers everywhere are seeking
ligth on the subject. The interest
aroused by the report of ID. Ward
Kings missionary work In Iowa has
led to general discussion, the point of
doubt always arising at the question
of drainage. The editor of the Farm
er's Voice addressed letter of in
quiry to Mr.. King. and what follows
indicates the terms of that letter and
sets forth Mr.. Kings views on the
point raised:
Editor Farmers Voice: = Your
favor of recent date with it's hypo-
thetical case is here. You say: CAS-
sumo that the road is through the IL
inois corn belt over a practically
dead-level prairie through which for
a distance, we will say of five miles,
no creeks or gullies for purposes of
drainage run. A road is built with
good curvature and all the conditions
are favorable for it's maintenance in
an ordinarily dry season. But hav-
ing no drainage, the water stands in
bitches at the side up. to within two
feet of the height of the crown of
the road and would be subject to
capillary attraction. Would not some
method of drainage be required to
make the road a passable highway in
wet seasons besides what your drag
might accomplish % / answer
"Nothing more will be required if the
drag had been used faithfully for
twelve months before the wet season
set in"
You say further: 81 hope you will
give me clear answer for the bene-
fit of thousands of our readers who
are unable to pass this drainage point
and see In your drag possible cure
for the conditions existing in the
road as above described" The an
swer / have given above seems clear,
but j. Is not lily to grove satisfac-
tory. People refuse to believe. Their
Fkepticism begins at about the place
the word "curo' comes from, as used
by YOU above II your hypothetical
case the road is good. To keep it
good and getting better under ordi-
nary conditions Is very easy propo-
sition If the split log drag is used
Judiciously. Because you specified
an unusually wet season / have speci-
fed in my answer that the drag
should have been used the year be-
fore. am trying to be cautious. ]
am trying to make such mild state,
ments that part of your readers
viii believe me. Permit me to say
that the great difficulty with the
average man is his desire to do some
thing first. He wants to prepare the
road to receive the drag. But the
drag is its own best preparation
Nav / remind YOU, Mr.. Editor. that
our claim for the Missouri split log
drag is this: "The persistent use OF
the drag, after every rain or wei
spell, will improve any earth roac
from SO per cent to 100 per cent, the
amount of gain depending on the
character of the soil, clay and gumbt
showing greatest Improvement
Great claims are truthfully made fol
my own half mile of road, but youl
readers should not lose sight of th'
fact of nine years dragging, for
began in 1896.
The drag will not pull stumps
quarry rock, NOV grass, plow sod O.
build bridges, but / assert most EN-
phatically that it will easily sustain
the claim we make for it. Let an.
doubter try it; the drag is cheap, am
surely tbara CON ha no hotter Uav +,