Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1906-05-10

is true in Idaho. Three methods
Of working roads commend them
selves to us here. On grades and
hillsides where it is at all possible
culverts should be constructed
every hundred yards or less to
carry off the water. In grading
around steep and narrow grades or
curves, have the inside OF the road
thu ee or four inches lower than the
outside wagon track so that the
weight Of heavily loaded wagons
will not break and cut away the
outside wagon rut. Build grades
for permanent and much travelled
roads on solid ground, not Of GILL
ed in" work unless it is impossible
for none but filled in work to be
done. Every possible means should
be used to prevent water running
in the wagon ruts on grades, and
washing same out thus causing
damage and loss. A good invest
ment for the county to make would
be two rock crushers and rollers,
keeping them to work where most
needed; where roads are both rocky
and muddy. A large percentage
of the prairie roads Of the county
can be worked much less expen-
sively than either the grades or
rocky roads. In the Saturday
Evening Post" of July 1905, was
an article written by D. Ward
King, entitled: Spreading the
Gospel of Good Roads," in which
appeared the following:
''There is something startling
in the statement that drag
made Of split log and costing
only the price Of pocket
knife, is the implement that
is going to revolutionize the
wagon roads Of this country, aud
save many millions of dollars to
the rural population of the United
States; yet l make this statement
and put upon it all the emphasis
Of which l am capable"
The split log drag method by
reason OF it's absurd simplicity, it is
said, does not commend itself to
fashionable philanthropists nor as
a popular diversion" and a good
deal Of fun has been poked at it.
In the east during the past three
years, thousands have pledged
themselves to make and use split
log drag; hundreds Of newspapers
have taken up the movement and
hundreds if not thousands of dol
lars have been raised and offered |
in prizes for the best miles or half
miles of "drag roads," and the
public sentiment of scores of COM
has been stirred to energy
by this movement. During the
past year the split log drag method
of working roads has been talked
here, but only very few people
have thus far paid any attention to
It. Assuming that numerous read
ers may be interested in the mat.
ter, the following drag road in
,tructions are given: To make u
drag. Take the two halves of a
split log nine feet long and twelve
inches through and fasten them to-
,ether 30 inches apart set on edge
with the fiat sides to the front
With strong hardwood bars, the
.nds Of which are wedged in two
nch auger-holes bored through the
labs. Iron bars OF rods may be
Used, in which case have shoulder
IN the rod ON the insides where
he same passes through the slab
md have taps screwed on the ends
II these rods on the outside.
About one foot from each end of
he fiat side of the front slab on
he outside of course, fasten the
wo ends Of a chain, about 10 feet
ong, to which, about two feet
part have been fas tened rings to
which doubletree clevis may be
By hitching the team
o different rings in the chain, the
rag is drawn at different angles.
To use the drag. The time to
Use the drag is just after rainy or
vet spell. Fasten plank or two
cross the cross-pieces and stand
r ride on the drag. For ordinary
$50 stand in the middle. Hitch
he team to the drag by means Of
he doubletree clevis and ring that
closer to the drag on the right
ide facing to the front to throw
be dirt to the left. Experience
ill soon discover the way in which
he dirt is moved and the effects of
he dragging.
First drag the wagon ruts or
heel tracks and the ruts. After
,ree or fonr rains or wet spells
low a shallow furrow just outside
he dragged part, and spread this
irt over the road with the drag,
low only one furrow. After drag
ng and after another rain or wet I
'ell pillow one more furrow Just
Inside the dragged part again. {
he dirt is dragged to the middle =
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