The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-07
[|T-L0G DRAG
FOR GOOD ROADS.
One. of the Most Effective Appli-
ances Knownfor Keeping Road
ways in Good Order.
Bo7H. SIMPLE y. AND CHEAP
May Be Made by Any Farmer in
a Few Hours and Operated
by One Man.
Especial TO The Times-pl.patch.1

I II. y .
WASHINGTON, D. c., June Cone
of the latest publications issued by the
office of public roads of the United
States Department of Agriculture
treats of the split-log drag. an i'm
plement which numerous experiments
have conclusively shown to be the
greatest possible boon to keep earth
roads smooth and passable. Because of
Its simplicity, It's efficiency and its
cheapness, both,in construction and
operation, II is destined to come more
and more into general use. With the
drag properly, built, and its use we'll
understood, the maintenance of earth
roads becomes simple and inexpen-
sfve matter.
AT the present time there are APP
proximately 100000 miles of earth
roads in. the United States. Some. OF
the most important of these roads will
eventually be improved with stone,
gravel and other materials. Many
others, which are equally Important.
cannot be SO improved on account of
lack Of funds or suitable materials;
while still others will not require such
treatment because of the light traffic
to which they are subjected. For these
reason 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 a powerful aid If
economy is the criterion demanded.
In the construction of this Implement,
care should be taken to make it. so
light that one man can lift 1t with
ease, a light drag responding more
readily to various methods of hitching
than a heavy one,fsas we'll as to the
shifting of the position of the opera
tor. The best material for split-log
drag is a dry, red cedar log though
red elm and walnut are excellent, and
box elder, soft maple. or even willow
are superior to oak, hickory Or ash
The log should be between seven and
ten, feet long and from tentto twelve
inches In diameter at the butt end. 1t
should be split carefully rs near the
centre as possible, and the heaviest
and best slab chosen for the front.
In the front slah,, four inches from
the end which is to drag in the middle
of the road bore a two-inch hole,
which Is to receive. q cross stake. AT
a distance OF twenty-five inches from
tho other end Of the front slab. locate
the centre for another cross stake. Tho
hole for the middle stake ,will be on
n line connecting and halfway bc-
tween the two Then place the back
slab In position ana from the end
whichYis to drag in the middle OF the
road measure twenty inches for the
centre of ono cross stake, and SLY
inches from tho other end locate the
centre OF the opposite stake, The hole
for the centre stake should BIO located
halfway between the two. All these
holes should BIO carefully bored perpen-
diculara or at right angles to the face
of the split log, H
II these directions arc followed 1t
will BIO found that when the holes Of
the front and back slabs are brought
opposite each other one and OF tho
back slab vii abe sixteen inches nearer
n, Continued on Fiflh Pagc,) 5 n 4.