Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-06-03
How to Use the Split Log DRAG

vi tue United states Department
OF Agriculture trerts OF the split
log drag. an implement which
numerous experiments have con-
clusively shown To be the greatest
possible boon To- keep earth roads
smooth and passable. Because of
its simplicity. its efficiency and It's
cheapness. both in construction
and operation, it 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 inexpensive matter.
At the present time there are
approximately 1000, 900 miles of
earth roads in the United States.
Some of the most Important of
these roads will eventually be i'm
proved with stone, gravel. and
other matials. Many others which
are equally important cannot be so
Improved on account uf lack of
funds cor suitable materirls. while
still! others will not require such
treatment because az the light
traffic - which they are subjected.
For these reasons thc majority of
our roads must Soc maintained as
earth roads for many years 10 come.
This must bc done by Inexpensive
methods and the splii-drag will tie
powerful and if economy is the
criterion demanded.
In the construction Of this i'm
plement. care should be taken to
make it so light that one man can
lift 1t with ease, light drag
responding moro readily TO various
methods of hitching than heavy
one, a we'll as to the shifting OF
the position of the operator. The
best material for a spit-log drag
Is 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
: and 10 feet long and from 10 to II
inches in diameter at the butt end.
Ii should be split carefully rs near
the center n possible, and the
heaviest and best slab chosen for
the front. In the slab / inches
from the end which is To drag
in the middle Of the road bore 4
2-inch hole which i to receive a
cross stake. At a distance of %
inches from the other end of the
front slab. locate the center for
another cross stake. The hole for
the middle stake will be ON line
connecting and halfway 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 & 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
bore perpendicular or ut 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 slabs are brought
opposite each other, one end of the
back slab will be Is inches nearer
the center of the roadway than the
front one. That gives what is
known as set back The stakes.
which are 30 inches long, will hold
the slabs this distance apart.
When the stakes have been firmly
wedged into their sockets, a brace
about 2 inches thick and / inches
wide may be placed diagonally to
them at the ditch end of the drag.
\ 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 strip of iron along the lower
face of the front slab for cutting
blade and to prevent the drag from
wearing The drag may be fasten-
ed to the doubletree by means of a
trace chain. The chain should be
wrapped around the left-ha 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 a pin passed through
a link.