Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-20
Estate HOUSE,
Highway Com'f Sargent
3 Sends Out Circular. :
Patriots Day Observed as a
Holiday by the Departments.
State House Ball Team Is Among
Seasons Probabilities.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR
Next Meeting of Governor and Council.
tuesday, May z. at 10 A. M.

! Paul ID. Sargent. State commissions,
Of highways, has been sending out IL
| the town officials of the State within
the past few days circulars containing
a reprint of al article published in the
! K. +. d. News on the work of the
| NInS road drag in keeping dirt roads
| in condition. Mr.. Sargent in speaking
| OF the drag said that il was one of the
| simplest as well as one of the best de-
vices for keeping country roads in con-
dition that he had seen
Tie use of the drag is especially
adapted to the evening up of the soft
| or DIRT roads. This is the type Of road
| lhat IS worked occasionally by be-
ing ploughed on each side and the
loose dirt thrown up toward the mid
ldlc making more or less symmetrical
oval slOping toward the ditch on either
side. In good weather when the rains
are not frequent or heavy the ruts will
be cut down by the wagon traffic, but
in rainy weather and in the spring and
fall the ruts are full of water and the
mud holes are worn into the surface
and made deeper by each new wagon
track. The water that makes mud
holes is held in by the bottom and
sides Of dryer earth or a frozen sur
face. If the water can run off it will
DO 50.
The problem is to make ii smooth
surface 50 that tine water will run off
and therefore make no mud hole and
the solution offered is the King drag.
The simplicity of the drag is such that
| any man or boy can make one in less
than two hours. All that is required
is Il log eight feet long and Il inches in
diameter. This is split i'll halves and
three two-inch holes are bored in each
half-one at each end and one in the
middle. The halves are then joined.
split sides forward. with strong braces
about three feet long. and wedge them
in securely. If a log is not handy us''
| a 12-inCh plank ana reinforce The
backs with 2X6. \ loose plank on
which to ride is placed across til"
braces. In use the drag should be
| drawn at an angle Of A. degrees. The
directions for using the drag are as
| follows:
First make the drag, and have II
four-horse evener ready for use the
first time. Wait until your roads are
very soft. The wetter and softer the
better. Then attach four horses:
straddle the right-hand rut. and begin
to drag. Then turn and come back
! along the other rut. Don't hurry;
drive slowly; the slower the better
! The effect of this frs dragging will be
/ to fill up the ruts, and to make IL
moderately smooth surface on which it
| is possible to make three tracks-pn" on
each side, and one where the old track
used tc be. This smooth surface Will
| shed water partially at least. and VIII
| give free access to the sun and wind
| causing it to dry off quicker than the
rough surface Oh either side Of the
sInoothed space When il begins t"
| tiry off. take two horses ana Z" oFrr
| tie same track again. This VIII stun
| further puddle the clay and carry ut
| tie more into the middle of the road
| which every team will both puddle and
compact still more.
If Won wish to widen the road. wait
uI.tiI after another rain and then Wi'h
III has dried off sufficiently t" p'"W
readily pillow one furrow along IN"
ont, r. mark Of the drag. take the drag
ana ,.prcad this smoothly over the sur
f,cn Of me road In this way the ROAD
| viii IL wiLcncd by the width Of the
furr,N ana viii gradually become oval
|, MAJ !. higher III the middle. and each
limo ,hc drag is used will become
tit,lo smnothcr and a little harder. IL
the road is still too narrow pro"
another f,!rrow. and 50 on. until the
road mas been Widened as much ds you
wish.