The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-06-11
HON TO BUILD AND USE SPL.T-LGG Drag.
Office Of Public Reads OF the u. S. De-
pariment Of Agriculture Issues a
Bulletin on this Very Simple
Road Building Device.

One of the latest publications is
sued by the Office of Public Roads O
the United States Department O.
Agriculture treats the split-log drag
an implement which numerous eX
periments have conclusively shown
to be the greatest possible boon t,
keep earth roads smooth and passa
bic. Because of its simplicity, it
efficiency and it's cheapness, both il
construction and operation, it is des
tined to come more and more int,
general use. With the drag proper
ly built and its use well understood
the maintenace Of earth roads be.
comes simple and inexpensive mat
ter.
At the present time there are ap
proximately 100000 miles Of eartf
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 i'm
portant cannot be so improved Or
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 reasons the
majority Of our roads must be main
tanned as earth roads for many years
to come. This must be done by in
expensive methods and the split-log
drag will be a powerful aid if econo-
my is the criterion demanded.
In construction Of this implement,
care should be taken to make it so
light that one man can lift it with
ease, a light drag responding more
readily to various methods of hitci
ing than heavy one, as we'll as to
the shifting of the position Of the
operator. The best material for q
spIit-log drag is dry red cedar log,
though red elm and walnut are ex-
cellent, and box elder, soft maple, or
even willow are superior to oak, ash,
or hickory. The log should be be-
tween Z and 10 feet long and from
10 to II inches in diameter It TIC
butt end. 1t should be split careful
ly as near the center as possible, and
the heaviest the best slab chosen fer
the front. In the front slab 4 inches
from the end which is to drag in rhe
middle Of the road bore 2-inch hole
which is to receive cross stake. At
a distance of % inches from the 9TH
err 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 be-
tween 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 cen
ter of one cross stake and6 inches
from the other end locate the center
of the opposite stake. The hole for
the center stake should be located
halfway between the two. All these
holes should be carefully bored per-
pendicular or at right angles to the
face 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
each other, one end of the
back slab will be 16 inches nearer the
center of the roadway than the front
one. That gives is what is known
as ''set back" The stakes, which
are 80 inches long, will hold the
slabs this distance apart. When the
stakes have been firmly W edged into
their sockets, brace about 2 inches
thick and 4 inches wide may be
placed diagonally to them at the
ditch end of the drag. A cleated
board is placed between the slabs
and across the stakes for the driver
to stand on.
By many it is deemed best to place
a strip of iron along the lower face
of the front slab for a cutting Llade
and to prevent the drag from wear
ing. The drag may be fastened to
the doubletree by means of trace
chain. The chain should be wrap
ped around the left-hard or rear
stake and passed over the front slab.
Raising the chain at this end of the
slab permits the earth to drift past
the face of the drag. The other end
of the chain should be passed through
a hole in the opposite end Of the
front slab and held by pin passed
through link.
For ordinary purposes, the hitch
should be so made that the unloaded
drag will follow the team at an an
gle of about As degree. The team
should be driven with one horse on
either side of the right-hand wheel
+,,oI, or ,.,,t tho f,,lI length of thu