The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-03-20
THE SPLIT LOG DRAG.

cvangels Of the Gplit log drag. The
Santa system Is distributing with its
compliments an instructive and timely
pamphlet entitled How TO Make Good
Dirt Roads" This pamphlet is a treat.
Use on the efficacy Of the split lcg drag
in rood roads construction
Il Ia needless TO waste time ln urg
lng the necessity of good roads, for
every citizen quite understands that
good roads arc just as essential 20
perfected transportation as railways
or steamship lines. Every newspaper
In Indian Territory should engage IN
tho crusade for better public high.
ways
Tho apllt log drag is the invention
OF a Missouri farmer, Mr.. u. Ward
King. and despite It's simplicity has
proven the best method ever develop.
ed for making the finest Kind Of dirt
road at a minimum Of expense and
time. The drag II thus described:
The only tool necessary is the
drag. BY the drag we do not mean a
harrow, as many people understand
the term. but drag made Of split
log. II Is made by taking straight
grained log from seven to nine feet
In length and about ten to twelve
inches IN diameter This log Is split
or sawed lengthwise and tho two
halves set on edge. thirty inches apart,
the Fat sides facing forward. and hrm
ly fastened together by three bar
made of oak. Usage hedge. on othe.
hard wood This log should be OF light
timber: box elder cottonwood, beech
| or something OF that sort II is better
not 10 have II OF oak. MIR. King say
that the best split log drag he ever
used was made Of red elm. After using
the drag for some time Il will b.
found necessary TO shoe the front lor
with a piece OF iron three or four
inches wide. An old wagon tire makes
a good shoe for this purpose. The iron
should be put on the right side OF the
front log and extend not more than
three ffths OF ita length II should not
project morn than a fourth OF an inch
below the edge OF the log. Do moi face
the entire front log with the iron. Tho
length OF the drag can be anywhere
from seven 10 nine feet. the longer
Il Is. the heavier II will pull One good
farm team OF horBeR weighing from
100 10 1900 pounds will handle SOW
cn.foot drag nicely. A heavier team
will be required for n heavier drag
After a somewhat careful study o
the various types of drags. We are
convinced that the split log drag Il
the best. and that when for any reasor
Il Is not convenient 10 make the dra-
OF a split log the nearer you can COM
TO the split log tho better 4 will D'
In some places wneor log can not b
obtained 'cIcpiCne r'.1 nbCu
twelve inches In diameter can be SO
cured. This will make a splendid drag
Some towns are using drags Of 2xl,
inch plank These are reinforced h
pieces OF 2x6."
Recurring to the Santa Fes pam
phlet. we obtain the following convlnC
ing data concerning practical exp,
ricnce with the drag:
=. NJ. Joslyn, editor OF the Missouri
Mail, writes to George b. Ellis, sec
rotary q tive Missouri state board O
Agriculture. with regard 10 the bo'
tomlcss roads on the Missouri bottom
~ wish TO say that fo several year
I lived In The Miss1l,i bc oms, ,
Atch'son county, pnl was t,quenu
Obliged 10 travel the road from u,
farm to the county scat. some seye
or eight miles. No'hing but the mos
emphatic language and the latest iu
proved epith,is could do justice {
tho condition of the roads, especial
during the winter and spring MONTH
Frequently three or four hours wor
! |NN|A NANA NNN INNfNN' INV ANAA % H.'tA'l
was necessary 20 clean the gmh
from the wheels.
During the latter part Of March {
this year O003) ! was visiting in A
Gibson county and one afternoon NJ
, j. r. Johnson, OF Rockport the comJ
seat Of Atchison proposed driving m
over to the old farm whore formers
J. lived. He hitched one horse 30 a bu
o Ey, and at a time when the road
n there should have been impassabl
!. and the other roads In the bottol
!. actually terrible, but we drove I'm
e trot the entire distance without
break.
when we struck the bottom, IN
d beautiful. smooth appearance Of N
~oad, slightly elevated IN the cente
q slightly sloplng AZ the sides, and a
/. smooth as a floor struck mo as som,