The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-07-22
GOOD ROAD DRACCERS
Organization For improving High
ways Formed at Sturgeon, No.

ways Formed at Sturgeon, No.
BEGINNING OF A GREAT WORK. |
How the Members Of the Brotherhood
Of Drasgers Have Pledged Them.
selves to Work For improved Roads.
convicts 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. Rat
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 neigbbors. Accord
ingly he made drag Of oak lumber.
and to the edge Of the front piece he
bolted blade Of steel, made by the
local blacksmith, which acted as
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 III making
tho <ys3vS IN, nd nd Tn, f1,n
course Of year had made a road
which he and the residents Of the Sec
tion 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 it is at
It's worst.
1t Is as smooth and hard as boule--
ward today. though there were heavy
rains recently for two days Mt 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 few days ago and organized
a brotherhood Of good road draggers.
all agreeing to follow the example Of
attaching a drag to the vehicles in
which they drive about on ordinary
business. Several automobilists prom
ised to hitch the drag to their motor
cars. Bankers, farmers. doctoras gar
deners, lawyers. merchants and huck-
sters propose to cooperate and devote
themselves for one year in making and
maintaining good roads. no matter
what else may happen. Dragging is
the best, simplest and least expensive
method to obtain good roads. There
Is nothing which will add so much to
the prosperity and general advance
ment of the communities as good
roads," asserts one enthusiast sound
ing the keynote of the brotherhood.
This should be an example for other
communities to follow What has been
done can be done. and the best has
never yet been attained In any phase
of life. The Missouri enthusiasts have
started a great work. They deserve
not only praise. but that imitation
which Is the sincerest form OF fattery
There Is great awakening just al
present In this matter Of good reads
The Missouri legislature has passed a
resolution which proposes to submit tO
the people the question Of levying q
| state tax Of ) cents OH each hundred
| apart and apportioned to the several
| counties as permanent road fund
One Missouri county has recently put
gang of convicts to work OH the pub
lie highways, ordering several portable
steel cages. in which the convicts car
! be confined at night. SO rs not to lost
time transporting them to and from
work. All over the country super
vlsoral boards and city councils arr
getting together and deciding to d,
something besides talk. All thes,
things are good. but there Is somethin,
even better. and that is activity on tn,
part of the farmer in road dragging
Let him set an example and prov,
the system Is good and feasible ant
legislatures. supervisors and city coun
ellis will fall In line quickly enough
There has been plenty of talking. 1t 1
time now to go to work individuall,
and collectively,
The Whole World For Good Roads.
The motor car naturally suggeste,
the good road. and all the world ha
taken up the building of good roads i
response to the suggestion. 1t Is
new idea with us I'm California. hut
Is growing like the weeds by the road
side these warm. damp spring day,
The single county Of Los Angeles
getting busy to spend S3.5OO.GOo In th
construction Of 800 miles Of fine road