Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-06-11
PREMIUMS GIVEN
FOR GOOD ROADS
PIERCE COUNTY FAIR ASSOCiA-
TON TAKES PROGRESSIVE
ACTION.
SPLIT LOG DRAG USED TO GOOD
EFFECT NEAR REEDS
BURG.

The use of the split log drag as the
cheapest and most effective method Of
making good roads is becoming popu-
lar all over the state. The Pierce
county fair board recently decided to
offer a list Of four substantial prizes,
the smallest of which is S. for the
best split log drag exhibited In
awarding the prizes the judges are
instructed to take into consideration
the amount of improvement whica
each drag has accomplished on
stretch Of road during the summer
The board is to hold a meeting aC
which a member Of the highway divis
ion of the state geological survey at
Madison Will instruct the contestants
on how to make their drags, and how
to use them A pamphlet on the drag
issued by the highway division Will
be distributed at the same time The
fair board is urging town officers 10
grade up the roads which are to be II
the contest and to credit the contest
ants on their road taxes for the time
put in dragging.
This progressive board has worked
out a scheme that cannot fail TO be o.
great benefit TO the roads OF the
county. Every farmer and farmers
boy within miles of the fair grounds
will either learn the usefulness OF the
drag by taking part in the contest pr
by seeing and driving over roads
which his neighbors have made with
it in the contest
1t is to be hoped that many other
organizations will adopt this plan
With about a third of the money now
spent on clay or loan roads or the
state, they could be kept in first class
condition by using the drag. There
ought to be such drag on every
mile Of clay or loan road in the state,
and the farmeds paid by the town for
using it after every rain. If this
were the case the Improvement OF
such roads would be almost beyond
belief. If any of readers are inter
ested they can get free a pamphlet tell
ing how TO make and use the drag by
writing to the highway division Of the
state geological survey at Madison.
In Practical Use.
Reedspurg TImes.-As an example
OF what the right kind of a roadmaste.
can do the section OF road extending
from what is known as the Grote nil
to August Meyers corner, in the Mar
rows prairie district, is worthy o.
mention. August Won der one is
oyerseer of this section and he has
shown exceptionally good judgement
III planning and executing the work
on the ROAD. He decided to give the
SpliLlog road drag a trial This spring.
With drag OF his own make, he has
gone over his section OF road five
different times after rains when the
ground was soft The result is truly
surprising. The drag has u tendency
to force the. loose earth to the mid
die OF the road, thus building the mid
die up and filling the ruts. As re-
suit the water runs to the sides and
ruts and mudholes are disappearing in
a surprisingly rapid manner 1t re-
quired about three hours TO drag the
road each time, and the result is far
superior to that obtained with the
heavy road scraper, and at much less
expense Some needed ditching az
the sides Of the road and the persis-
tent use of the road drag will make
this section of road a yeritable race
track. This will prove true all
through the Narrows prairie section,
the clay soil lending itself to this
method of road improvement.
Herman Lindloff in the town OF
Westfield has experimental on his
own account with the spIitIog drag.
He has not had time to do much but
the highway adjacent to his farm
shows plainly the good effects of his.
work The land is low and Subject
to overflow. During the recent high
water this road was submerged and
subjected to erosion but the section
worked by Mr.. Lindloff suffered less
damage than the adjoining sections.
The experiments made by Mr.. Won
der Ohe and Mr.. Lindloff in NarroW5
prairie should leave no doubt as to
the value of the road drag. Proper
ditching and the use of the drag
should transform the heavy clay roads
into highways that will rival pave
ment. Narrows prairie is a prosper
Gus and beautiful country and de-
serves good roads. All it's citizens
need DO is to take advantage Of the
object lessons before their eyes.