The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-08-20
GOOD ROAD DRAGGERS
Organization For improving High
ways Formed at Sturgeon, Mo.
BEGINNING OF A GREAT WORK.

Of Drasssrs Have Pledged Them
selves to Work For improved Roads.
conviets For Road Building.
There was a good roads crusade re-
Gently started at Sturgeon, Mo-. which
is deserving of warmest praise. At
the head Is a farmer, George w. Bat
terton, who has been an enthusiast
on the subject for the past forty years
and who four years ago decided it was
time to practice some Of the principles
he had been preaching and set good
example for his neighbors. Accord
ingly he made a drag Of oak lumber,
and to the edge Of the front piece he
bolted a blade Of steel, made by the
local blacksmith, which acted as a
light scraper to throw the dirt COL
lected in front Of the drag to the cen
ter Of the road. When he visited Stur-
geon, three miles distant, he attached
this drag to the rear Of his wagon or
buggy and dragged the roads both
coming and going. In this way he con-
sumed very little more time in making
the trip to and from town and in the
course Of a year had made a road
which he and the residents Of the Sec
ton claim to be superior to rock roads
eleven months in the year. while at no
time does it become so muddy as to
impair seriously its usefulness in haul
ing heavy loads over it when 1t is at
its worst.
1t is as smooth and hard as bouie-
ward today, though there were heavy
rains recently for two days at Stur-
geon and in its vicinity. Mr.. Batterton
is so afflicted with rheumatism he can
hardly walk. Still he has made three
miles of country boulevard practically
with his own efforts in four years.
With this inspiring example as an
incentive the business men Of Sturgeon
and the farmers of the country got to-
gether a few days ago and organized
brotherhood Of good road draggers
all agreeing to follow the example Of
attaching a drag to the vehicles II
which they drive about on ordinary
business. Several automobiles prom
ised to hitch the drag to their motol
cars. Bankers, farmers, doctors. g;sr
deners, lawyers. merchants and buck
sters propose to cooperate and devote
themselves for one year in making ant
maintaining good roads, no matter
what else may happen. Dragging il
the best, simplest and least expensive
method to obtain good roads. Their
is nothing which will add so much t.
J the prosperity and general advance
} ment Of the communities as goot
; roads," asserts one enthusiast sound
ing the keynote of the brotherhood
This should be an example for othe
communities to follow. What has beel
done can be done, and the best ma
never yet been attained in any phas
of life. The Missouri enthusiasts hav
started great work. They deserv
not only praise, but that limitation
: which is the sincerest form of fattery
There is a great awakening just a
present in this matter Of good roads
: The Missouri legislature has passed
resolution which proposes to submit
, the people the question Of levying
;. state tax Of s cents on each hundre
dollars of assessed valuation, to be sc
apart and apportioned to the severs
counties as permanent road fun(
One Missouri county has recently pu
, gang of convicts to work on the pull
: lie highways, ordering several portabl
steel cages. in which the convicts ca
, be confined at night, so as not to los
time transporting them to and frol
work. All over the country supe
visoral boards and city councils ar
getting together and deciding to d
Il something besides talk. All thes
It things are good. but there is somethin
! even better, anL that is activity on I'll
: part Of the farmer in road draggin,
l. Let him set All example and prov
l. the system is good and feasible an
legislatures. supervisors and city coul
e ellis will fall in line quickly enoug
u There has been plenty Of talking. 1t
Is time now to SO to work Individual
Il and collectively.
- The Whole World For Good Roads.