The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-06-02
HOW TO BUILD AND
USE THE SPLIT-LOG DRAG
. Office of Public Roads of the United
States Department of Agriculture
Issues a Bulletin on This Sim
pie Road Building Device.

I ~ DN luc pllNc OF pllDllc ROADS OIL
| the United States department Of agri-
culture treats of the split-log drag, ali
implement which numerous expert
mcnts have conclusivcly shown to be
the greatest possible boon to keep
earth roads smooth and pnssablc. Be-
cause of its simplicity, its efficiency
and its chcapncss, both in construction
and operation, 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 IL simple and i'll
expensive matter.
,, At the present timc there are APP
proximatcly 2,000,000 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 I'M
, portant cannot be so improved on ac
, count of lack Of funds or suitable
materials, while still others will not
require such treatment because Of the
> light traffic to which they arc sub
- jected. For these reasons ;he 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.
r.. 1 ,,f
b. mcnt, care should be taken to make
S it so light that one man can lift it
!" 18th ease, light drag responding
~. we readily to various methods Of
hlv hing than a heavy one, as we'll as
TO the shifting of the position of the
, OPERATOR The best material for a
split log drag is Il dry red cedar log,
though red elm and walnut are eX
ccllcnt and box elder, soft maple or
even willow are superior to oak,
hickory, or ash. The log should be
between and 10 feet long and from
10 to ~ inches in diameter at the
butt end. 1t should be split carefully
as near the center as possible, and
the heaviest and best slab chosen for
. the front In the front slab four m-
ches from the end which is to drag
in the middle Of the road bore IA =
inch hole which is to receive Il cross
stake at distance Of % inches from
the other end Of the front slab, To-
cate the center for another cross
stake. The hole for the middle stake
will be on line connecting and half
y way 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 6
inches from the other end locate the
center Of the opposite stake. The hole
= for the center stake should be To-
Gated halfway between the two. All
these holes should BE- carefully bored
perpendicular or at :.yht angles to the
face Of the split log.
If these directions are followed it
4 will be found that when the holes OF
the front and back slabs are brought
opposite each other, one end of the
back slab will be 16 inches nearer the
center Of the roadway then the front
one. That gives what is known as "sct
back' The stakes, which aros 30
inches long, will hold the slabs this
distance apart. When the stakes have
been firmly wcdgcd into their sockets,
Il brace about 2 inches thick and !
inches wide may be placed diagonally
to them at the ditch end of the
drag 4 cheated board is placed be-
tween the slabs and across the stakes
for the driver to stand ON.
..' BY many it is deemed best to place
strip of iron along the lower face
of the front slab for Il cutting blade
and to prevent the drag from wear
ing. The drag may be Fastened TO the
doubctrcc by means Of trace chain
The chain should be wrapped around
the left hand or rear stake and passed
over the front slab. Raising the cham
al this end Of The slab permits the
Is Nssst' to drift p"s' the face of the
M" Ahc othSr end of the chai'
"s 80 + 'nr"%$ '%s fE%n; x1"% h%' ,di '
s0nc <Abin passed through link
For ordinary purposes, the Intel