Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-06-05

| Otner END OF the cnaln snOuld De passeu
through hole in the op9Tite end of
the front slab and held IAy pin passed
| through link.
For ordinary purposes, the hitch
should be so made that the unloaded
drag will follow the team at an angie
of afout $50. 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 man
ner over the other half of the roadway.
Such treatment will move the.earth to-
wards the centre of the roadway and
raise it gradually above the surround
| ing level.
The best results have been obtained
by dragging roads once each way after
each heavy rain, In some cases, how
ever, one dragging every three or four
weeks has been found sufficient to keep
a road in good condition.
| When the soil is moist but not sticky
/ the drag does its best work. AS the
soil in field will bake If ploughed
/ is used on it when it is wet. If the
roadway is full OF holes or badly rut-
ted, the drag should be used once when
/ the ground is soft and slushy. This Is
particularly applicable before cold
i spell in winter, when it is possible to
prepare the surface that it VIII freeze
/ smooth
| Not infrequeptly conditions are met
which may be overcome by a slight
change in the manner of hitching-
Shorteninglthe chain tends to lift the
front slab and makethe cutting slight,
while a longer hitch causes the front
slab to sink more deeply into the earth
and act on the principle of a plow
| If furrow of earth is to be moved,
thesdoubletree should be attached close
tc:the ditch endgof the drag, and the
driver shculdistand with one foot on
the extreme forward end of the front
slab.
| AConditions are so varied in different
| localities, however, that it is quite i'm
possible to Jay down specific rules.
Certain section. of a roadway will re-
/ quire more attention than others, be-
cause of steep 2grades, wet weather
springs, soil conditions. exposure to
sun and wind, washes, etc. There is
one condition, however, in which spec
ial attention should be given. Clay
roads under persistent dragging fire.
quently become too high in the center.
This may be corrected by dragging the
earth towards the center of the road
| twice, and away from il once.
There is no question as to the econ
amy of this .roadmaking implement,
either in first cost OF in operation. In
six counties in Kansas in 1906 the cost
of maintaining ordinary earth roads,
without the aid Of of the split-log drag
averaged S42.50 mile. These figares
were furnished by Professor w. G.
Hoad, of the University of Kansas,
who secured them from official records
OF the counties.
Some figures furnished by f. p.
Sanborn and r. II. Ashton, of the
/ Chicago and Northwestern Rail-
road, have revealed the wonders of
this simple device. Mr.. Sanbnrn said
"the least expense per n lie per annuln
for split-log dragging was 81 so, The
greatest little over IS, and he aver
age eXpensei per3 mile for 81 miles q
little over So. | have lived along this
road all my life al never in 40 years
have | seen it, freer from mud and
dust, despite the fact thst dur ne ne.
season we have experienced the OK re-
mes of weather conditions
The testimony Of Mr.. Aishroe is
equally strong. Learning th n
ship IN Iowa had been maxim a.
vestigation OF the split-log Cey I'd
had been making an investig If
the split-log drag and had be- er-
lmenting with it for year on les
OF highway, he sent an agent te ire
information. 1t WAS repore at
although the town board had p, he
cost OF making the drags and OF hirng
men to operate them, the total eN Sc
/ for one year averaged but $40 nile,
and the roads were reported to lave
! been "liKe a race track" the greater
pDrtioa of the year.