The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-06-02

vi uDout fo degrees. he team should
be driven with one horse on either
side of the right-hand wheel track or
lmt the full length Of the portion to
1c dragged, and made to return in
the same manner over thc', Ter half
Of the roadway. Such treatment will
move the earth towards the center Of
he roadway and raise it gradually
above the surrounding level
The best results have been obtained
by dragging roads once each way af-
ter each heavy rain. In some eases,
however, one dragging every three or
four weeks has been found sufficient
to keep road in good condition.
When the soil is moist but not
sticky the drag does its best work.
rs the soil in IL field will bake if
ploughcd wet. so the road will bake
if the dra" is used on it when it
| Is wet. II the roadway is full of holes
or badly ruttcd, the drag should be
used once when the ground is soft
and slushy. This is particularly ap-
pllrablc before Il cold spell in winter,
when it is possible to so prepare the
surface that il will freeze smooth.
Not nircnucntly conditions are met
which may be overcome by slight
change in the manner Of hitchiny.
Shortening the chain tends to life the
front slab and make the cutting slight
while a longer hitch causes the front
slab to sink more deeply into the
earth and act on The principle of ii
plow.
If Il furrow of cartI: is to be moved.
the doublctrce should be attached
close to the ditch end Of the drag,
and the driver should stand with one
foot on the extreme forward end of
the front slab.
Conditions are so varied in DIFF
fercnt localities, however. that ii is
quite impossible TO lay down specific
rules. Certain sections Of roadway
will require more attention than 9TH
crS. because of steep grades. wet
wcathrr springs. soil conditions. cx
posurc to sun and wind washes. etc.
There is one condition. however, in
which special attention should be
given. Slay roads under persistent
dragging frequently becomes too high
in the center. This may be corrected
by dragging the earth toward the cen
ter of the road twice, and away from
it once
There is no question as to the eco,
nomy Of this road-making implement
either in first cost or in operation. II
six counties in Kansas in 1906 the cost
of maintaining ordinary earth roads
without the aid Of the split-log drag
averaged $42.50 a mile. These figures
were furnished by Prof. W. c. Hoad
of the University Of Kansas, who Sc.
cured them from official records OF
the counties.
Some figures furnished by f.. P
Sanborn and r. II. Ashton, genera
manager of the Chicago and North
western railroad, have revealed the
wonders of this simple device. Mr.
Sanborn said, "thc least expense PEI
mile per annum for spit-log dragging
was $l.30, the greatest a little over $6
and the average expense per mile fo,
; ID miles little over So. | have
lived along this road al my life and
never in forty yeaE have / seen il
frcer from mud and dust, despite the
fact that during the season we have
experienced the extremes of weather
conditions.
The testimony Of Mr.. Ashton is
equally strong. Learning that IL town
ship in Iowa had been making an in,
vcstigation of the Split-log drag and
had been experimenting with it fol
a year in % miles of highway, h,
sent an agent to secure information
1t was reported that although the
'town board had paid the cost of max
ING the drags and of hiring men tt
operate them, the total expense ts'
one year averaged t2.-lO mile. an,
the roads were reported to have bee,
i"liic race Track the greater por
ton Of the year.
Bnt how the South Carolinians vii
look down upon the humble. ignorant