Milford chronicle., 1908-06-05
How to Build and Use the Split.
log Drag.

ouSu ny lue Olnce OF BuDllC Road
OF the United States Department o
Agriculture treats of the s,lit-lo,
drag, an instrument which numer
Gus experiments have conclusivel,
shown to be the greatest possibi,
boon to keep earth roads smooth
and passable. Because of its sim.
plicity, its efficiency and its cheap.
ness, both in construction and oper.
alton, it is destined to come more
and more into general use. With
the drag properly built and its use
well understood, the maintenance
OF earth roads becomes a simple and
inexpensive matter.
At the present time there are ap-
proximately 100000 miles of
earth roads in the United States.
Some of the most important of
these roads will eventually be i'm
proved with stone, gravel, and other
material. Many others which are
equally important cannot be so i'm
proved on account of lack of funds
or suitable materials, while still 9TH
ers will not require such treatment
because of the light traffic to which
they are subjected. For these rea-
sons the majority of our roads must
be maintained as earth roads for
many years to come. This must be
done by inexpensive methods and
the split-lOg drag will be powerful
aid if economy is the criterion de-
manded.
In the construction of this imple-
ment, care should be taken to make
it so light that one man can lift it
with ease, light drag responding
more readily to various methods of
hitching than heavy one, as we'll
as to the shifting of the position of
the operator. The best material for
a split-log drag is dry, red cedar
log, though red elm and walnut are
excellent, and box elder, soft ma
pie, or even willow are superior to |
oak, hickory or ash. The log should |
be between Z and 10 feet long, and
from 10 to u inches in diameter at
the butt end, 1t should be split
carefully as near the centre af pos
sible, and the heaviest and best'slab
chosen for the front. In the front
slab inches from the end which is
to drag in the middle of the road,
bore Pinch hole which is to re-
ceive a cross stake. At a distance
of % inches from the other end of
the front slab, locate the center for
another cross stake. The hole for
the middle stake will be on a line
connecting and halfway between
the two. Then place the back slab {
in position and from the end which
is to drag in the middle of the road
measure 20 inches for the center of
one cross stake, and six inches from t
the other end locate the center of
the opposite stake. The hole for the l
center stake should be located half t
way between the two. All the holes t
should be carefully bored perpendi- I
cular or at right angles to the face t
Of the split log.
If these directions are followed it
will be found that when the holes of
the front and back slabs are brought
opposite each other, one end of the 4
back slab will be 16 inches nearer :,
The center of the roadway than the :,
ront one. That gives what is known =
Is "set back" The stakes which y
ire 80 inches long, will hold the T
labs this distance apart. When :
he stakes have been firmly wedged :
nto their sockets, a brace about 2 :
inches thick and 4 inches wide may 8,
,e placed diagonally to them at the &
Itch end of the drag. A cleated /
,oard is placed between the slabs !.
nd across the stakes for the driver :
o stand on. ~
By many it is deemed best to y
lace strip of iron along the lower -
ace of the front slab for a cutting ~
Jade. and to prevent the drag from .
rearing. The drag may be fasten- -
to the double tree by means of a n
race chain. The chain should be =
raped around the left-hand or al
ear stake, and passed over the front :,
lab. Raising the chain at this end 10 10
the slab permits the earth to drift -
asst the face of the drag. The 9TH 81
end of the chain should be pass as
through a hole in the opposite 10
I'd of the front slab, and held by 'u
in passed through a link.
For ordinary purposes, the hitch
lould be so made that the unload
drag should follow the team at m
1 angle of 45 degrees. The team e e6
lould be driven with one horse on
ther side of the right-hand wheel %
ack or rut the full length of the pc
ortion to be dragged, and made to =,
turn in the same manner over the oe
her half of the roadway. Such la'
will move the earth to- Pc
ard the center of the roadway, and 'n