The sun., 1908-06-14
HOMEMADE ROAD MACHINE.
Tho Department Of Agriculture Ia Boom
ing the Split Log Drag.


ing the Split Log Drag.
WASHINGTON, June l3.--The public roads
bureau Of the Department Of Agriculture.
having figured out that there are 1000 900
miles Of earth roads In the United States, has
hit upon an inexpensive' way for their
Improvement. The split log drag ID Its so
luton Of the problem, and the bureau Ia
, telling the farmer how to make II.
The main thing needed is dry red cedar
log. although red elm and walnut are good.
while box elder, soft maple or even willow
may be used. Oak. hickory and ash are
not recommended. ,as
The log. seven to ten feet long and ten
to twelve inches in diameter at the butt, Ii
split as near the centre as possible, the larger
piece being used as the front Of the dag
and sometimes being shod with iron along
the lower or cutting edge.
The two slabs on edge and thirty inches
apart are fastened together by stakes In
such way that when the drag is in use on
one side of road the end Of the back slab
is about sixteen inches nearer the centre OF
the driveway than the end OF the front
slab. This gives what il called the setback.
Between the heavy slabs and resting on the
COuucCtiuB btdhtS ID a DOdiu oh VhiSh WIG
driver stands.
A team Of horses is hitched to this COM
pleted drag in such a way that the drag
unloaded will follow at an angle Of about
forty-fve degrees. The team should be
driven with one horse on either side OF the
right hand wheel track or rut the full length
of the part to be dragged. and made to
return in the same manner over the other
half of the roadway Such treatment will
move the earth toward the centre Of the
roadway and raise it gradually above the
The Department recommends the use Of
the split log drag after heavy rains, when
the road should be gone over once each
way. but much depends on the quality Of
the soil. some roads requiring frequent
treatment.
How economical the method is is shown
by figures Of actual tests submitted by the
bureau. In six counties in Kansas in 1905
the cost OF maintaining ordinary earth
roads without the aid of the split log drag
averaged $3.50 o mile. These figures were
furnished by Prof. w. c. Hoad Of the Uni
official records OF the counties.
Other figures are credited to F. p. San
born and R. H. Ashton, general manager
of the Chicago and Northwestern. Mr..
Sanborn said athe least expense a mile
per annum for split log dragging was Sl.5o
tne greatest niue over ~, ana tne aVeraBe
expense a mile for five and half miles
a little over s.. have lived along this
road all my life and never in forty years
have I seen it freer from mud and dust,
despite the fact TINT during the season we
have experienced the extremes Of wea ther
conditions"
The testimony Of Mr.. Ashton is equally
strong. Learning that township in Iowa
had been making an investigation Of the
split log drag and had been Experimenting
with it for a year on twenty eight miles
of highway. he sent an agent to secure
information. 1t was reported that al
though the town board had paid the cost
of making the drags and Of hiring men to
operate them the total expense for one year
averaged but $40 q mile. and the roads
were reported to have been like a race
track" the greater portion Of the year.