The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-05
DRAG
CITY STREETS
DECLARES ". 8. GEORGE in
BOOSTING FOR GOOD ROADS.
TO Be DONE CnEAPLY
County Has Ordered Twelve Drass to
Be used on Country Roads and
City Should Take Measures 10 Inn
prove Public Thorouehfares.

lHNE PsOvO 10VllV O0AUJ0DC IL 1rAf&3t{s
Nov is the time to prepare for the
dragging of the streets of Billings
said w. B. George yesterday in speak
ing of the Improvement Of the streets
and roads in and about the. city.
Dragging has proven to be the cheap
est and best method Of smoothing
and leveling off roads in all parts of
the country and 1t should be done
here Immediately as soon as the
streets begin to dry up
During the last two or three years
Mr.. George has spent much time and
thought on the matter OF road inn
provement and at his own expense
has dragged the roads leading from
the city to his ranches near the rim
rocks and near Laurel. He says that
remarkable results have been OBJ
tanned by the dragging method in
making smooth slightly roads and IT is
becoming more general every year.
Drag Roads When Wet.
much better results are gained.
when the roads are dragged when the
ground is in a thick muddy state as
it is then that it packs more solidly
and preserves It's surface much longer
than If done when the earth is dry
and covered with hard clods Of soil.
AS a preliminary to dragging 1t Is
almost always necessary to first I'LL
in the holes and clear the ground of
all large rocks SO that by moving the
drag over 1t there will be left a road.
free Of obstacles SO d~isagreeable to
people driving over It.
'"The county has ordered IL steel
drags to be used on roads leading
throughout this valley and It should.
be the duty Of the city to do likewise
because our streets would then be as
enjoyable to ride over as some Of
the country roads that were dragged.
last year. With 20 drags in 8 for
a single day there would be a decided
change in the appearance and condi-
ton Of the public highways.
"By such a system Of treatment the
roads would not only be q pleasure
to automobilists and the drivers Of
pleasure vehicles but to hackmen, de.
liverymen and others who are contin-
uously driving about the city. Be
sides being a great source Of enjoy
ment to the people Of Billings and
nearby country. 1t would also serve
as a valuable advertisement of the
progressiveness of the city to visitors
who stop over here during the sum
mer.
Matter Deserves Attention.
'.This matter is one that should re-
ceive the hearty endorsement OF every
man, woman and child in Billings.
Children could render valuable assis-
lance by removing large stones and
sticks from the roads and throwing
spadefuls Of earth here and there to
fill up holes in preparation for the
drags.
Il have spoken with a number Of
prominent business men on the sub
ject and all seem to, be in accord
with it. One or two have volunteered
to drag a whole street as a means Of.
starting other citizens In repairing
the thoroughfares near their homes
and places Of business.
"a meeting OF the good roads COM
mittee recently appointed at a seq
sion Of the .25,000 club will be held
tomorrow afternoon in my office on
North Twenty-ninth street which any
and all persons interested are invited
to attend. A general discussion in
which all can take part will be held
and a general campaign for the inn
provement Of the city streets will be
inaugurated."