The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-05-02
THE KING ROAD DRAG.
Timely Circular from the State Road
Commissioner.

Almely Circular from the State Road
Commissioner.
Paul D. Sargent, State commissioner Of
highways. has been sending out to the town
omclals Of the State within the past few
Jays circulars containing reprint OF an
article published in the R. F. D. News on
the work of the King road drag in keeping
dlrt roads in condition. Mr.. Sargent in
speaking of the drag said that it was one of
t!e simplest as well as one OF the best de-
wees IOr keeping country roads in condition
that he had seen.
Inc use of the drag is especially adapted
70 me evening up of the soft or dirt roads:
occasionally by being ploughed on each side
anu me loose dirt thrown up toward the
miudie making more or less symmetrical
oval sl0plng toward the ditch on either
size: In good weather when the rains are
not frequent or heavy the ruts will be cut
uowh Dy the wagon traffic, but IN rainy
weather and in the spring and fall the ruts
are 19ll OF water and the mud holes are
wornint0 the surface and made deeper by
each new wagon track. The water that
makes mud holes is held in by the bottom
ana SIDES OF dryer earth or a frozen surface.
Ii Ine water can run off it will do so.
Inc problem is to make a smooth surface
so that the 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 re-
CURED is log eight feet long and u inches
IN IN diameter. This is split in halves and
tnree tWo-lnch holes are bored in each half
mone at each end and one in the middle.
Inc halves are then joined, split sides for
ward, with strong braces about three feet
long, and wedge them in securely. If log
IS not handy use Pinch plank and rein
force the backs with 2x6. A loose plank on
In use the drag should be drawn at an an
gle OF 10 degrees. The directions for using
the drag are as follows:
First make the drag, and have 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 first dragging will be to to fill
up the ruts, and to make 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
smoothed space. When it begins to dry OF,
take two horses and 20 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.
Ii you wish to widen the road, wait until
after another rain, and then when it has
dried off sufficiently to pillow readily, pillow
one furrow along the outer mark of the
drag, take the drag and spread this smooth
ly over the surface of the road. In this wa!
the road will be widened by the width O
the furrow and will gradually become oval
that is, higher in the middle, and each tint
the drag is used will become little smooth
er and little harder. If the road is still
too narrow, pillow another furrow, and so on
until the road has been widened as much a
you wish.