Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-11-25
HOW TO MAKE THE KING
DRAG AND USE IT

then one can weight a light drag and
SO make it heavy, if it needs to he
heavy for some special occasion Bpt
if a drag is heavily built of heavy
wood, how can it be lightened? 10
not build the drag too long, especial
ly If your roadway is rather narrow
or runs between high banks.
Where the road is of proper width
the length of the drag should he
governed by the size of the team. a
7-foot drag for span of 12OO-pound
horses; s feet for team of 1904
pound horses. Nine feet wonld he
rather long for any uncared-for road
right at the beginning, no matter
how large the horses might be.
Build drag from a cedar post or
the end of a telephone pole, measur-
ing 10 to II inches in diameter. or
from some other light timber log
Use a plank as last resort.
Split the post or log and select the
heavier and sounder slab for the
front of the drag. Find point about
a inches from the end of this slab
the end that is to travel in the middle
of the road, and bore a pinch auger
hole at right angles to the face of the
slab and in its center. Then, 90
inches from the other end of the slab
bore another pinch hole in the same
manner. Now, halfway between
these two holes bore third, getting
the tree in line with each other and
in the center of the slab. The other
slab may now be brought up behind
the first. Allow inches between
the ditch end of the front slab; mark
and bore the three holes. Thus, when
they are pinned together, the ditch
end Of the front slab will project
some 16 inches further toward the
ditch than the rear slab.
Now prepare the stakes to join the
slabs. prefer stakes cut from an
Usage hedge, about 21R inches
through. II hedge is not convenient
rip some pieces out of a 2-inch oak
plank; full 2 inches square is suf-
ficient. Shave the ends of the stakes
and slim the slabs on until the slabs
are within 30 inches Of each other;
then mark each stake with a lead
pencil to show the place where the
slab fits. You are now ready to
wedge the stakes into the front
slab.
Don't laugh when caution you to
snlit the stakes and drive the wedges
at right angles to the grain Of the
slab. when you laugh you prove you
need no caution. But 7 have heard
of men who sDlit the slab for lack OF
krow'ndge or the caution.
Drive the rear slab on the stakes
2 or inches from the pencil marks
and arrange the brace, Put the
frort end Of the brace down within
an inch of the ground AMI well out
10 the end OF the front slab. Notch
II in; drive the rear slab back "a
the marks, catching the brace, and
then wedge the stakes securely. II
this Is we'll done the brace will never
escape. At the front side saw the
ends Of the stakes off flush with the
slab: at the rear allow the project
ing ends to remain. Their presence
at the rear will serve two purposes.
They will answer, without words, the
question of how the slabs are fasten-
cd together. And they come very
handy at times when you wish to
l'ft the drag.
Make a platform Of inch boards to
dron between the slabs, on which the
driver may stand Nail the boards
- c'or'7. being ml"Nful 20 arrange
the cleats eo that they win "ot '".
fer fore ,.ttb the cross starrs ~ Oh
fra~. C.' ol~ats about 9N i"'N sN'"'
c~ than the places they are to fit and
rail the boards half an inch from the
ends of the cleats. Use at least
three boards and space them an in'f
rnart, so that the earth, which al
times is likely 10 nile mn AGAINST th'
front slab end fall back on the nat
form. can really sift tN"on"N. o'N''
wise there will co~o o".os."-' We
'.,r will he o'l'~aa To N't 'N' n'a'
forr, 10 dunn H.
Novt horo ~ .ir-N h0'e "'os' "
80 ditch ers NJ tha r"0"' a''' ''' ''
go oortor ~ II. COT This No'o w'tN''
p, ircN NJ tho end ~ $50 s'oh y '''
,~ood Ie sorrA o~d '0'g' V''NT'
.~ooo chpir. roer'ation lerg'h '0'
~ feet Of No Q snooth viro '''
80 wlro prorrd lhe stake tho' is a
1Na middle.of.'he.rcad end OF fh'