Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-16
Retter Roads at Less Cost.

There can be no doubt that the high
| ways of the State of Maine could ot
| better than they are, and the feeling
is quite general that there might bt
very much Improvement.
Improvement, however, has hereto
fore carried with it an immense item
of expense which has blocked the patf
of extensive betterment of the roads
| throughout the State. Progress
has been made, and highly com
mendable progress, too; but the fact
remains that the vast majority of oui
roadways do not grow better.
The system advocated by D. Ward
King of Missouri will, 1t is claimed
obviate both these difficulties by i'm
proving the highways to an unbelieVa-
BILE degree and by the same act reduce
the expense of roadmaking and road
maintaining far below the present cost
Not often is the public invited to spend
less money and receive increased ben
efits at one operation. Yet this Is the
promise made by Mr.. King, and he
and his work are endorsed by the
highway departments of numerous
states; by the United States office OF
public roads, and by private individu-
ais throughout the length and breadth
of the continent.
He has nothing to sell. Each man
builds his own implement at practical
" no cost whatever beyond few
hours labor.
The King split log-drag system has
proved of value to great numbers of
the cities and villages of the middle
West and South. and is making it's way
slowly among Eastern cities.
In Des Moines, the capital city of
Iowa, more than a score of these drags
are used. saving the city several hum
dred dollars a year and keeping the
improved portion of the streets in fine
condition. The street commissioner of
Des Mones has published an enthu-
siastic report, stating among other
things that the King drag does as good
work on the cinder streets and gravel
as it does on the earth streets, and
declaring that he would be at a loss
now if they We're taken from him. A
remarkable conclusion in his report is
the opinion that the King system will
add from five to 10 years to the life
of a, gravel street.
In conversation with Journal man
yesterday Mr. King referred to a re-
port that the drags used in certain
Maine town We're drawn by six
horses. If this is true, he says,
they are too heavy. They should be
built strong. but of light weight; many
good ones are not too heavy for an or
dInary man to lift from the ground.
Made thus one team will take a drag
over the road with ease.
Mr.. King will speak at the Court
He will relate the story Of how he
happened to make this important dis
covery and will explain the details of
the construction of the implement and
tell how to use it and how to meet the
difficulties which occasionally are met.
At the close of the address an oppor-
turity will be given for asking any
questions that the audience may wish,
so that no one should go from the
meeting without completely under
standing the proposition.
Mr.. King expresses a desire for the
presence of professional and business
men; on them, he says, will depend in
large measure, the length of time
that will elapse before the new sys-
TEN will 60 into operation in the city.
Public opinion, he declares, governs the
time lirnit and the physicians, clergy
men, lawyers and business men
are leaders in molding opinion. Mr..
King asks us, therefore, in extending
the general public a cordial invitation
to be present to specially invite the
professional and business men.