The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-07-02
KING DRAG CLUBS,
How to Organize Them and Start
Neighbors Dragging.
VALUE OF CONCERTED ACTION
Importance of Using Drags at the
Right Time Proved by Statement of
Township Observation-Disclosures of
Neighborhood Organization.

Township Supervisor-Features of
Neighborhood Organization.
copyright, 1908, by d. Ward Kingl
After the public spirited leaders in
the movement for better roads have
convinced the community the King sys-
TEN is all it is claimed to be there will
arise the question of how to get every
mile of road dragged, for the less pro-
gressive men will allow stretches Of
rough road between the smooth pieces.
Now, in times past I used to shy at
organization. was more afraid of |
the word than the average farmers !
family horse is of an automobile. The
worst fool over an auto on my farm |
today is the twenty-year-old standby |
who has helped to raise the children:
not that was foolish about it, but be- |
cause knew the ease with which good
people will elect president and sec
retary, adopt constitution and quit
1 am still opposed to organizing first.
Before such an attempt is even sug-
gested lively demand for it should be
created. When the people are convinc-
ed by object lessons. then the time is
ripe for organization.
A paper record and the formal elec-
ton of officers is not an absolute ne
cessity, for when the community has
reached the proper frame of mind the
desired end may be reached by sort
of common consent, just as villages
gradually get rid Of the front fences
and take better care of the lawns with
out the passage of a special ordinance.
In thousands of instances long stretch
es-twenty miles in some cases-are
kept in order by an unspoken under
standing. But formal organization will
do no harm and often will succeed
where the spontaneous kind has failed
to develop.
am acquainted with four styles of
| neighborhood organization, three Of
them developed by unselfish indiyidu-
ais having in view the good of the
community solely The differences in
the plans are due partially to local en-
yironments and partially to the bust
ness occupations Of the persons who
/ formulated them.
T1le organization of the residents
along suburban roads was first ac-
complished by Mr.. Clarence D. Skin
ner of Topeka, Kan Mr. Skinner in
terested the people along his own
street and used the drag to make a
boulevard which became the talk of
the city. His success was so great
that he was made assistant secretary
of the Kansas Good Roads association.
in which capacity he aided Secretary
l. D. Graham to spread the club idea
throughout the state, the newspapers
Of Topeka joining heartily in the
project.
Postmaster Filson of Cameron, Mo-,
was the author of a scheme for divid-
ing each rural route in two parts with
captain for each part He called a
mass meeting of all the patrons of all
the rural routes and after explaining
to them he divided the audience into
groups by routes and had captains
chosen. It was the business of one
captain to manage the outgoing half
of the route which passed his house
and it was the business Of the othel
captain to attend to the incoming end
About two years ago Thomas W
Larkin, secretary Of the Dennisor
Tex) Commercial club, made ant
tested King drag. He was converted
The roads were very, very bad abou
Dennison. One of them. known a:
Carpenters Bluffs road seemed mucl
the worst The Commercial club do
mated sum of money to put this roat
In order, but stipulated that the farm
ers must pledge a like amount il
r money or labor, and also must promis'
to drag the road carefully after 1t wa
repaired Mr. Larkin called meeting
at a schoolhouse or two out near th
end of the road, presented the PROPOSE
ton and organized the farmers. To
day the Bluffs road is known by repu
tation throughout Texas, and its eS
cellence is the standard by whic
other good roads are measured.
The fourth form Of organization ca
be used only in localities where tn
road officers join the movement an
take the management in charge. l ca
7 outline the workings Of this plan mos
= quickly and clearly by repeating
!: statement made by township supe
!: visor from Clayton county at the low
!: state road convention, Dcs Moines,
January, 1905. The value of the Kin
drag and the Importance of concerto
action in it's use were under discussion
and the supervisor said that on ce
tain afternoon, naming day sever;
weeks past. the roads had thaWed an
were a little sloppy. The wind s.
into the north and 1t was evident
!: freeze was coming. 80" said he.
!: stepped to the phone and ordered o.
/; every drag in the township. III
weather turned very cold that nigh
= the ground froze hard and remai1
frozen till now. The undragged roa'
we're SO sharp and rough the ne
morning they were we'll nigh impass
: Bile. but the dragged roads were
smooth as floor and as hard as ca
=. iron and have been so every since.
1t seems to me this statement co
tains in nutshell proof of the val
of the drag even in winter. eyiden
Of the Importance of using the drag
the right moment, and also points
the necessity for some form of orga
fza finn