The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1908-06-19
HOW TO BUILD AND USE THE


UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE Issues a Bulletin
on this Simple Road-Buildins
Device.
One of the latest publication.
issued by the Office of Public Roads
of the United States Department
of Agriculture treats of the split-loe
drag, an implement which numerous
experiments haveconclusively shown
to be of the greatest possible boor
to keep earth roads smooth and
passable. Because Of its simplicity
its efficiency and its 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 well
understood, the maintenance of
earth roads becomes a simple and
inexpensive matter.
At the present time there are
approximately 100000 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
materials. Many others which are
equally important 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 ma ority Of
our roads must be maintained
as earth roads for many years to
come. This must be done by mex
pensive methods and the split-log
drag will be a powerful aid if econ
omy 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 it with ease, a light drag res
ponding more readily to various
methods Of hitching than a heavy
one, as well as to the shifting of the
position of the operator. The best
material for a split-log drag is a
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 |
7 and 10 feet long and from 10 to
- inches in diameter at the butt
end. 1t should be split very care
fully as near the center as possible,
and the heaviest and best slab
chosen for the front. In the front
slab 4 inches from the end which
S to drag in the middle of the road
bore a pinch hole which is to re-
,eive a cross stake. At a distance
If % inches from the other end of
he front slab, locate the center
or another cross stake. The hole
or the middle stake will be on a
inc connecting and halfway be-
,ween 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
Jhe center of one cross stake and 6
inches from the other end locate the
,enter of the opposite stake. The
lOle for the center stake should be
ocated half way between the two.
All these holes should be bored
or at right angles to
he face of the split log.
If these directions are followed
t will be found that when the holes
# the front and back slabs are
,rought opposite each other, one
nd of the back slab will be 16
inches nearer the center of the road {
way than the front one. That
ives what is known as setback"
The stakes, which are 30 inches /
ong, will hold the slabs this distance {
part. When the stakes have been |
rmly wedged into their sockets, a {
race about 2 inches thick and 4
inches wide may be placed diago- {
ally to them at the ditch end of the
rag. A cleated board is placed |
the slabs and across the c
takes for the driver to stand on. t
BY many it is deemed best to /
lace a strip of iron along the lower I
ace of the front slab for a cutting
'lade and to prevent the drag from l
wearing. The drag may be fas-
ened to the doubletree by means {
f a trace chain. The chain should i
re wrapped around the left-hand i
II rear stake and passed over the 5
ront slab. Raising the chain at G
his end of the slab permits the
arth to drift past the face of the
rag. The other end of the chain c
hould be passed through a hole in /
he opposite end Of the front slab q
nd held by pin passed through {
link. I
For ordinary purposes, the hitch e
hould be so made that the unloaded i
rag will follow the team at an $
ngle of about 40 degrees. The \
cam should be driven with one horse 4
n either side of the right-hand C
Wheel track or rut the full length lr
f the portion to be dragged, and
made to return in the same manner ]
yer the other half of the roadway. In
uch treatment will move the earth [
owards the center of the roadway c
nd raise it gradually above the [
urrounding level. q
The best results have been OBJ y
aimed by dragging roads once each {