The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-06-25
The Split Log Drag
Directions for Making This
Simple but Effective Device
for Working the Public
Roads-Bulletin Issued by
the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.

Roads-Bulletln Issued by
the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.
= One OF the latest publications Is
sued by the office of public roads OF
the United States Department OF Ag-
ricuIture treats of the split log drag,
an implement which numerous eXpe-
riments have conclusively shown to
be the greatest possible boon to keep
earth roads smooth and passable.
Because of it's simplicity and its
| cheGDness. both in construction and
| operation, it is destined to come
more and more into general use.
With the drag properly built and its
use we'll understood, the mainten-
ance of earth roads becomes a SIMPLE
aud inexpensive matter.
At the present time there are APP
proximatelv 1000, 900 miles OF earth
roads in the United States. Some OF
the most important of these roads
will eventually be improved with
stone, gravel and other materials.
| MANY Others which are equally i'm
portant cannot be so improved on
account of lack of funds or suitable
materials, while still Others will not
requires such treatment because OF
the light traffic to which they are
subjected. For these reasons the
majority of our roads must be main
tanned as earth roads for many years
to come. This must be done by i'll
expensive methods, and the split-log
drag is the criterion demanded.
I'm the construction of this nipple
ment, care should be taken to make
it so light that one man can lift 1t
with ease. a light drag responding
more readily to various methods OF
hitching than a heavy one, as we'll as
to the shifting of the position of the
operator. The best material for a
split-lOg drag is dry, red cedar log.
though red elm and walnut are ex-
celIent, 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 II inches in diameter at the
butt end 1t should be split carefully
as near the center as possible, and
the heaviest and best slab chosen fOl
the front. In the front slab, 4 inches
from the end which is to drag in the
middle of the road, bore a 2-incl
hole which is to received crOss-stake
At 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 6
line connecting and half way between
the two. Then place the back slal
in position and from the end which i,
to drag in the middle Of the rOat
measure 20 inches for the center o
one cross stake, and 6 inches from
the other end locate the center of the
opposite stake The hole for the cen
ter stake should be located hslf way
between the two. All these hole.
should be carefully bored perpendicu
lar or at right angles to the face o
the split log.
. If these directions are followed i
will be found that when the holes o
the front and back slabs are brough
, opposite each other, one end OF TIL
back slab will be Is inches nearer TIN
center of the roadway than the from
one. That gives what is knowIl-a
''set back" The stakes, which ar
30 inches long, will hold the slab
this distance apart When the stake
, have been carefully wedged into thei
sockets, brace about inches thicl
and four inches wide may be PLACED
diagonally to them at the ditch enc
of the drag. A cleated board i
placed between the slabs and acros
the stakes for the driver to stand on
By many it is deemed best to plac
Il strip OF iron along the lower face q
the front slab for a cutting blade an
to prevent the drag from wearing
The drag may be fastened to tn
I doubletree by means of a trace chain
The chain should be wrapped aroun
the left. hand cor rear stake an
passed over the front slab. Raisin,
the chain at this end of the slab pei
mits the earth to drift past the fac
l. of the drag The other end of tn
e chain should be passed through
hole in the opposite end of the from
slab and held by a pin passed throug
: a link
For ordinary purposes the hitc
: should be so made that the unloade
drag will follow the team at an angl
, OF about 45 degrees. The teal
should be driven with one horse o
either side of the right hand whet
track or rut the full length of tn
portion to be dragged, and made t
!. return in the same manner over TIL
= other hall OF the roadway. Sue
treatment will move the earth tc
wards the center of the rOadwa
. and raise it gradually above the SUI
rounding level.
The best results have been Obtaine
by dragging roads once each wa
I after each heavy rain. In some cases
: however, one dragging every three Q
four weeks has been found sufficien
, to keep a road in good condition.
!, When the soil is moist but no
= sticky the drag does it's best work
i AS the soil in field will bake
;, ploughed wet, so the road will bak
If the drag is used OH it when it
wet. If the roadway is full of hole
: or badly rutted, the drag should
n used once when the ground is sol
- and slushy. This is particularly al
:. phcable before cold spell in winte
when it is possible to so prepare I'll
surface that it will freeze smooth.
!, Not infreqpently conditions al
. met which may be overcome by
&c slight change in the manner of hitcl
: ing. Shortening the chain tends t
~ lift the front slab and make the Gu
:; ting slight, while a longer hitc
u causes the front slab to sink mo,
IL deeply into the earth and act on tt