The Huttig news., 1908-06-20
THE SPL!T-IOG DRAG.
Office of Public Roads Department of Aeri-
 culture Tells How to Build and Use It.

T AgflGHltufe treats CT the split log drag. an implement Whice num- efous experiments have conelus- ively shown to be the greatest possible boon to keep earth roads smooth and passable. Because of it's simplicity, it's 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 it's use well understood, the maintain anee of earth roads becomes a sim pie 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 eve tually be i'm proved with stone, gravel and other material. Many others which are equally important cannot be so i'm proved on account of lack of funds or suitable material, while still others will not require such treat ment 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 experiment. i've methods and the split log drag will be powerful aid 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 it with ease. a light drag re- spending more readily to various methods of hitching than a heavy one. as we'll as to thifting of the position of the operator The best material for split-log drag is dry red cedar log. though red elm and walnut are excellent, and box elder, soft maple. or even willow are su- perior to oak. hickory or ash. The log should be between ( and 10 feet long and from 10 to 12 inches in diameter at the butt end It should be split carefully as near the center as possible, and the heaviest and best slab chosen for the front In the front slab 4 inch es from the end which is to drag in the middle of the road bore a g. inch hole which is to receive a cross stake. At a distance of 22 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 connecting and half way between the two. The place the back slab in position and from the end which 1 is to drag in the middle of the road measure 20 inches from the center of one cross stake and 6 inches from the other end locate the cen ter tie opposite stake The hole for the center stake should be half way between the two. All these holes should be carefully bored perpendicular or at right angles to the face of the split log.
 If these directions are followed it will found that when the holes of the front and back slahs are brought opposite each other, one end of the back slab will be Is ineh,s nearer the center of the roadway than the front end. That gives what is knowr as set back. :" 1 The stakes, which are 50 inches long, will hold the slabs this dis tsnce apart. When stakes have been firmly wedged into their sock cts. brace about 2 inches thick and 4 inches wide may be placed diagonally to them at the ditch end of the drag A 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 a strip of iron along the lower