Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-01-30
free sliding Of earth along toward

Il
the middle of the road. For this
reason 1t is necessary to attach the
chain as indicated below. The long
hitch goes over the front slab
around cross-piece, and is
fastened to the back or rear slab.
The other end of the chain or the
short hitch is passed through hole
in the front slab. 1t can be fastened
here, or to give stronger hold on
the frame it may be fastened to the
back slab. 1t is of course under
stood that the two slabs face the
same direction.
The plank drag is made of pine
timbers nine feet long, eight inches
F@i,!e and two inches thick. The two
pieces may be re.enforced on the
inner side by strips of two by six
inches, giving greater strength and
rigidity to the drag. In other re-
spects the plank drag is practically
identical with the split log. The for
mer has an advantage in that it is
lighter, more easily controlled and
easier to make. To afford the driver
a place to stand platform of one
inch plank is laid upon the cross
pieces. BY shifting his weight to
different points on this platform the
driver can cause the drag to take
hold or run practically clear at either
end. The surface of the road will
suggest how to manipulate the drag.
The railroad iron drag is made of
railroad rails eight feet long and fas-
tened two feet six inches apart with
one-inch bolts, with taps screwed up
against the face and back of each
rail. The hitch is the same as in the
case of the wooden drags. This
drag is heavy and will take hold
where lighter drags make small im-
preston. 1t is great tool to get
road ready for the lighter drags.
Both pieces cut dirt and work it to-
ward the middle. For taking off
projections and smoothing the sur
face this drag has no equal. 1t is
especially effective in dragging roads
that are slightly frozen, in which
condition they do not yield to the
work of wooden drags.
To summarize Build light drag
do it now. Run it at an angle of
forty five degrees, working little
earth toward the middle of the road
at each operation. Drive the team
at steady, even walk. Ride the
drag. Work as much of the road as
can he got at handily. Do the work
thoroughly. A boy can operate
drag. Do not drag dry roadbed
except for experimental purposes.
Drag as soon as possible after each
rain, when the surface is in a pud-
died condition. Drag at all seasons
whenever time allows-and it does
not require much time. Roads
dragged immediately before cold
spell will freeze in smooth condi-
tion. When roads are first dragged
travel should be to one side if posi-
BILE until the roadway has had time
to freeze or dry out. Ten to fifteen
applications of the drag in a year
should be given. BY making the
roadway smooth and hard travel is
distributed over the entire area, thus
increasing it's wearing qualities and
contributing to the pleasure of trav-
cling in vehicles or on horseback.
Dragged roads can be travelled with
safety and pleasure, day or night,
every day in the year.
Social commingling and neighbor-
illness are stimulated by dragged
roads. Accidents are avoided. Good
horsemanship is promoted. Land
values are enhanced. The cost of
transporting farm produce is reduced.
Thrift, neatness and progress are en-
couraged in all departments of farm
work. Every farmer whose land
adjoins the road ought to make a
drag and keep that part of the road