The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-05-24
FOR GOOD ROADS.
The Split Log Drag Which Does the Best of
Work.
Useful Instrument Now in Popular Demand
in all Parts.

From all over the country come
most excellent accounts Of the quail
titles possessed by the split log drag in
road building. In fact, in many
places this humble piece of machinery
has taken the place of the more ex-
pensive road graders. In Wisconsin
every farmer has one OF these handy
and cheap contrivances and the roads
show the beneficial results.
For the benefit of those interested
the Miner herewith produces a de-
scription of the drag. D. w. King Of
Maitland, Mo-, is the inyentor of this
famous road-making utensil. He has
placed the device at the disposal Of
all who need good roads and he has
exacted neither fee nor royalty. Prac-
tical work with the drag has been
going on about Hibbing for the past
few weeks and the results have been
beyond the most sanguine expecta-
tions.
The problem given is the soft or
dirt road. 1t is worked" OCCASION
ally by being plouglIed on each side
and the loose dirt thrown up toward
the middle making more or less SYM
metrical oval sloping to 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. 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
every new wagon track. The water
that makes mud holes is held in by
the bottom and sides of drier earth or
a frozen surface. If the water can
! run off it will do SO. The problem
then is to make a smooth surface so
that the water will run off. Then
of course there will be no mud holes.
The solution is the King drag here
with illustrated.
Any man or boy can make drag
In less than two hours.
Get a log eight feet long and twelve
inches in diameter. Split itin halves.
Bore three Pinch holes in each half
one at each end and one in the mid
die. Joint the halves, split sides for
ward. with strong wood braces, about
three feet long; wedge them in Sc
curely.
If log is not handy use 12-inch
plank. Reinforce the backs with 2x6.
A loose plank, on which to ride, is
placed across the braces.
Wrap one end of the chain around
an end stake, carry it over the top of
the slab out to the double-trees, and
then back co the other end of the slab
where it should be fastened by poking
an old bolt or spike through one of
the links into hole bored three or
four inches from the end of the slab
and about its center, up and down.
Hitch up and drag-at an angle Of
forty-fve degrees-and you will be
surprised at the results.
First make the drag and have a
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 the first dragging will
be to fill up the ruts, and to make a
moderately smooth surface on which
it is possible to make three tracks
one on each side, and one where the
OLD track used to be. This smooth
surface will shed water partially at
least. and will give free access to the
sun and wind, causing it to dry off
quicker than the rough surface on
either side of the pace. When it
begins to dry off, take two horses and
90 over the same track again. This
will still further puddle the clay and
carry little more into the middle OF
the road which every team will both
puddle and compact still more.
If you wish to widen the road, wait