The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-02-19
Use OF the Road Drag.

use VI IuG HO0U III oys
The successful operation of a drag
involves two principles, which when
Thoroughly understood and intelligently
applied, make road working with this in
plement very simple. The first concerns
the length and position OF the hitch,
while the second deals with the position
of the driver on the drag. Each in
fueuces the other to large extent, and
successful manipulation of the drag is
dependent upon an understanding of both
of them.
For ordinary purposes the snatch link
| or clevis should be fastened far enough
toward the blade end of the chain to force
the unloaded drag to follow the team at
an angle of as degrees. This will cause
the earth 10 move along the face of the
drag smoothly and will give comparatively
| light draft to the team, provided the
driver rides in the line of draft. Some.
times, however, conditions are met which
require special treatment, and in roll
ing country such conditions are not in.
frequent. Often a fiat place several rods
in length or seepy spot needs special
attention.
The distance from the drag at which
1.-THE team is hitched affects the depth of
the cutting. Shortening the chain tends
to lift the front slab from the ground; a
longer hitch causes the blade to cut more
deeply. The length of hitca may be
regulated by lengthening and shortening
the chain at the end which runs through
the hole in the blade end of the drag.
il small weeds are 10 be cnt or furrow
of earth is to be moved, the doubfetree
should be attached rather close to the
ditch end ofthe drag. The. drag will now
move nearly ditch end foremost, and the
driver should stand with one foot on the
extreme forward. end Of the front slab.
This will swing the drag back TO the
proper angle and will cause the blade to
plow This hitch requires slow and care
full driving in order to prevent the drag
from tipping forward. If the blade should
pillow too deeply, as it may do in wet
spot, the driver should shift his weight
toward the back slab.
Ifstraw and weeds clog the blade. they
can usually be removed if the driver shifts
his weight TO point as far as possible
from the ditch or blade end. Similarly,
if he steps quickly away from the ditch
end, the load of earth may be dropped
into low place or mudhole.
Some attention should be given to the
edge of the blade. In the beginning, the
average earth road requires 10 steel plate
on the drag, though the drag will be
better preserved if the steel is applied at
first. At the end of years work, ifthe
dragging has been faithfully done, a steel
plate will be needed.
Usually two horses are enough to pull
a drag over an ordinary earth road.
When four horses are used, they should
be hitched to the drag by means of a
four-horse evener. The team should be
driven with one horse>on either side OF
the right hand wheel track or rut the full
length of the portion to be dragged, and
the return made over the other half of the
roadway.
. The object of such treatment is to move
earth toward the center of the roadway
and to raise it gradually above the sur
rounding level. While this is being &C.
coulplished, all mudholes and ruts will be
filled, into which traffic will pack the
fresh earth.
The drag does the best work when the
soil is moist. but not sticky Theearth
then moves freely along the faces of the
slab. Ifthe roadway is very badly rutted
and full of holes, it may be well to use
the drag once when the ground is slushy.
This treatment is particularly applicable
before cold spell in winter when it is
possible to have roadway freeze smooth
A smooth road surface is secured by
this method. Clay, when mixed with
water and thoroughly worked, becomes
remarkably tough and impervious to
water. If compacted in this condition it
becomes extremely hard.
Another valuable result of dragging is
the reduction of dust, for the particles of
clay cohere so tenaciously that there is
but little wear when the surface is smooth.
Dust on an earth road is due to the break
ing mp under traffic of the frayed and up
turned edges OF rnts and hoof prints. If