The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-06-12

HOW TO BUILD And
Use SPLIT.LOG drag
Office of Pnblic Reads of the
United States.
Issues a Bulletin on This Simple
ROad---Bnilding
Device.

One of the latest publications issued
by the Oiice of Public Roads OF the
United States Department of Agricul.
ture treats q The split-log drag, an
implement which nume. Gus experiment
have conclusively shown 10 lc the
greatest possible boon to keep Ga. n
roads smooth and passable. Because
of its simplicity, it's efficiency and its
cheapness, both in construction and
operation, 1t 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 simple and inexpen-
sive matter.
At the present time there are ap-
proximately 100000 miles of earth
roads in the United States. Some
of the most important Of these roads
will eventually be improved with
stone, gravels, and other materials,
Many others which are equally impor-
tant 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 reasons 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 pow
erful aid II economy is the criterion
demanded.
In the construction of this implement
care should be taken to make it so
light that one man can life it with
ease, light drag responding more
readily TO various methods of hitch
ing than heavy one, as well as to tn
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 elder, sol, maple, or even VIII
low are superior 10 oak, hickory, or asi
The log should be between I and 10
feet long and frcm 10 10 II inches IN
diameter al the but, 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 inches from the end which
is to drag in the middle of the road
bore a pinch hole which is 10 re-
ceive 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 a line connect
ing 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 hallway between the two.
All these holes should be carefully
bored perpendicular or al right an
giles to the face VI the split log.
If these directions are followed Ii
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 10 inches nea-
er the center of the roadway than the
front one. That gives 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 wedged into their
socket, brace about 2 inches thick
and 4 inches wide may be placed di-
agonally to them at the. ditch end of
the drag. A cheated board is placed
between the slabs and across the
stakes for the driver TO stand on.
BY many it is deemed best 10 place
a strip OF iron along the lower face
OF the front slab for cutting blade
ana 10 prevent lHS ulaS iiohi "O"iAHto'
Inc dray may be fastened to the
doubletree by means OF a trace chain.
The chain should be wrapped around
the left-hand 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 engle
of about 40. The team should be
driven with one horse on either side
of the right-hand wheel track or nut
the full length of the portion to be
dragged, and made to return in the
same manner over the other half Of
the roadway. Such treatment will
move the earth towards the center OF
the roadway and raise 1t gradually
above the surrounding level.