The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-06-25
ROAD DRAcCERS
Organization For improving High
ways Formed at Sturgeon, Mo.
BEGINNING OF A GREAT WORK.
Now the Members Of the 6~rothsrhesd
Of prapsers Have Pledged Them.
selves 10 Work For improved Resds.
cenviets For Road Building.

-" FVS$s
Of prssssrs Nave Pledged Than
selves 10 Work For improved Road,
cenviets For Road Building.
There was a good roads crusade ne
Gently started at Sturgeon, No. which
IL deserving Of warmest praise. Al
the head IA 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 II was
time TO practice some OF the principles
he had been preaching and set n good
example for his %neighbors, Accord
ingiy 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 rcraper 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 bad 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 1t become so muddy as to
impair seriously its usefulness In haul
ing heavy loads over 1t when 1t Is at
Its worst.
1t is as smooth and hard as a bouie-
yard today, though there were heavy
rains recently for two days at stur-
eeon and In It's vicinity. Mr.. Batterton
Il 50 afflicted with rheumatism he can
hardly walk. Still he has made three
miles Of country boulevard practically
with his W efforts In four years.
With this inspiring example rs an
Incentive the business men Of Sturgeon
and the farmers Of the country got to.
gether a few days ago aud 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. doctors. gar.
deners. lawyers, merchants and buck.
sters propose to cooperate and devote
themselves for n year In making and
maintaining good roads. no matter
what else may happen. Dragging IL
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
OF the communities as good
asserts one enthusiast sound
the keynote Of the brotherhood.
This should be an example for other
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
a great work. They deserve
only praise. but that imitation
is the sincerest form OF fattery
There Is a great awakening Just at
In fbis matter OF good roads.
The Missouri Legislature has passed q
which proposes to submit 10
The people the question OF levying q
tax Of 5 cents on each hundred
Of assessed valuation, to be set
apart and apportioned 10 the several
as a permanent road fund.
One Missouri county has recently put
gang Of convicts to work on the pub
ic highways, ordering several portable
Iteel cages, In which the conyicts can
confined at night. SO as not to lose
line transporting them to and from
york. All over the country super.
'isoraI boards and city councils are
together and deciding to DO
'omething besides talk. All these
hings are good, but there lis something
wen better. and that Is activity on the
,art Of the farmer In road dragging. |
him set an example and prove
he system Is good and feasible and
supervisors and city coun-
ils will fall In line quickly enough.
There has been plenty Of talking. his
now to 60 to work individually
nd collectively.