The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-01-02
Road Drags
Hou Made
Hou Used
STATE HIGHWAY INSPECTOR Is-
SUES BULLETIN CONTAIN
ING VALUABLE iNFoR.
NATION.

CHARLESTON. Jan. Estate High.
way Inspector H. r. Williams has just
issued a bulletin from his department
relative to the road drag, It's construc-
ton and use. The bulletin states that
as 81 per cent. Of the roads In this
country are earth roads, 1t Is apparent
that the cheapest as we'll as the most
satisfactory methods of keeping these
earth roads in tho best possible con-
dition, should be learned. II
The highway inspector illustrates
his bulletin with many illustrations OF
the beneficial effect OF the road drag.
some constructed Of logs and others
of steel. The drag is more effective,
says. the Bulletin, when used Just a
little while before the farm land is
dry, enough to be worked, thus giving
the farmer a chance TO use the drag
and work the road when It is little
90 wet TO pillow. In many cases the
best results are secured when the road
surface Is very wet aud soggy, as the
padded earth will then dry harder
when exposed TO the sun and air.
State Inspector Williams says in
part in his bulletin:
After tho road grader has done its
work the grass and weeds soon
spring up. I have observed this for
years but recently with more careful
observation can sec the damage
done. Especially do We see this along
the Ohio and Kanawha and other
streams Of the State. The grass and
low weeds penetrate and loosen the
shoulders OF the road they catch all
the dust and mud they elevate the
shoulders and thus prevent the escape
OF water from the Travelled road bed.
With the loosened condition Of the
shoulders OF the road, all water which
happens TO fall or happens to escape
among the grass aud weeds will quick.
ly rim into the road and thus dnmpen
the foundation and the whole struc-
ture will give way under the trave.
In working roads, have been
much enjoyed by careless drivers
who let the horses drive themselves.
The beaten rut is the place. Wagon
after wagon, team after team follow
in the same path. The drag destroys
the .ruts and makcG 1t necessary for
the driver to sit up and take notice"
Two facts determine the success Of
the split log drag, namely puddled
earth is impervlous to water and
when exposed to DIR and sunshine 1t
becomes very hard.
When drag Is used 1t spreads out
the surface OF the road always moving
It slightly toward the center. 1t not
only spreads out the surface but at
the same time 1t sQueezes large part
OF the water out OF It, fills up the ruts
and holes with earth and makes q
smooth sloping surface from which
the water can easily escape. Vehicles
passing over the road, especially II
they be fitted with broad ties, will con-
tinue to pack down and force tho re.
naming water out OF the pulled sur
face after IT has been spread out with
the drag. and with the surface smooth
and slopIng the water quickly runs
away into the side ditch. Each time
the drag is used, this same process is
repeated until tn esurface OF the road
becomes hard, compact and smooth,
and is almost imperyious TO water.
1t IS an excellent Idea to drag the
road Just before a freeze as they will
then freeze perfectly smooth and In
the breaking up after the freeze the
road Gun more easily be taken care Of.