The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1907-02-01
VIII la,l.vl lr. Rod.

d. Ward King, a good roads ex-
pert, employed by the State Of Mis-
sour, TO lecture on this subject and
10 agitate the Improvement Of roads.
and whose work We have seen de-
mcnstrated with excellent results,
gives the following method for i'm
proving ordinary dirt roads, at prac-
tically no cost.
We hope every farmer in our ter
ritory will give this a trial.
THE Problem.
The problem given is the soft or
dirt road. II is worked" occasion
ally by being ploughed on each side
and the loose dir, thrown up toward
the middle, making a more or less
symmetrical 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 trafi,. 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 mudh0les is
held 10 by the bottom and sides of
dryer earth OF frozen surface. II
the water can run of 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 mgdhole.
The SOLUTION.
Any man or boy can make a drag
in less than two hours.
Get leg eight feet long and twel-
We inches in diameter. Split Il in
halves. Bore three tvo-inch holes
in each half-one at each end and
one in the middle. Join the halves,
split sides forward, with good strong
braces about three feet losg; wedge
them in securely.
II log is not handy, use a twelve
inch plank. Reinforce the back
with a 2x6.
- i.sSs. rieaA, VH ~nicn TO ride,
is placed across the braces.
Wrap one end Of the chain around
an end stake. carry il over the top
of the slab, out to the double-trees,
and then back to the other end Of
the slab where il should be fastened
by poking an old bolt or spike
through one Of the links into a hole
bored three or tour inches from the
end Of the slab and about its center,
up and down.
Hitch up and drag-ai an angle
of forty-fve degrees-and you will
be surprised a, the results.
HOW TO USE THE DRAG.
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 ard be-
gin TO drag. Then turn and come
back along the other rut. Do not
hurry drive slowly; the slower the
better. The effect OF this FIRST drag
cling will be 10 al up the ruts and 20
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 wafer
partially at least, and will give free
access 10 the sun AMI wind, causing
10 dry OFF quicker than the rough
surface on either side OF the smooth
ed space. When il begins to dry off,
take two horses and go over the
same track again. This will still
further puddle the clay and carry a
little more into the middle OF the
road which every team will both
tuddle and compact still more.
II you wish to widen the road,
wait until after another rain. ard
then when il has dried OFF sufficient
ly to pillow readily one furrow along
the outer mark OF the drag take the
drag and spread this smoothly over
the surface Of the road. In this way
the road will be videned by the width
of the furrow and will gradually
become oval that is, higher in the
middle, and each time the drag is
used will become a little smoother
and a little harder. II the road is