Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-07-14

NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL En-
PERTINENT STATION.)
The split-log drag, or, as it is COM
monty called, the liking" drag, is with
out doubt the best implement for
keeping roads in shape and in many
instances is as efficient as any other
implement In the construction of
earth roads
The king drag can be constructed of
either a split log or a plank, but in
this state the plank is much easier to
obtain than the log, hence this brief
description pertains to the construc-
tion from planks.
Select a good yellow pine, ash or
oak plank two inches thick, twelve
inches wide, and fourteen feet long
Cut this In two at an angle so that one
edge of each piece is seven feet and
six inches long and the other edge is
six feet and six inches long Spike to
the back and along the center of each
of these planks n two-inch by six-inch
piece, which reinforces the plank
Bore the holes for the cross stakes
about twenty-six inches apart and
four inches from each end with a two
and one half inch auger, using care to
keep the auger perpendicular to the
plank. The two-nch by four-inch
brace at the front end should start
from the middle Of the rear plank and
drop TO the bottom part of the front
plank. The blade, which is generally
made of stock cutter steel should be
given the proper cutting slope by
placing a wedge-shaped strip between
1t and the plank. One end of the
chain is fastened to a cross stake and
the other passes through a hole in
the plank and is held in position by
means of a pin
The use of the drag is more salts
factory if the road has first been
crowned with a blade grader, but
whenever this is not convenient and
the traffic is not too heavy the road
may be gradually brought to a crown
by means of the drag.
The surface of the average country
road should be covered in one round
with the drag. One horse should be
driven on the inside of the wheel
track and the other on the outside.
the drag being set, by means of the
chain, so that it is running at an an
gle of about 45 degrees with the wheel
track and working the earth toward
the center of the road In the spring
when the roads are more likely to be
rutty and soft It is generally better
20 30 over the road twice and in some
places more times.
The drag should be floored with
boards which are separated by open
spaces of sufficient width so that the
dirt which falls over win rattle
through and yet they should be close
enough so that tine driver can move
about upon the drag quite freely.
To insure the successful operation
of the drag II is necessary for the
driver 70 use careful judgment. Some.
times Il Is essential that the blade be
held down so that the drag will cut
roots and weeds, while az other times
the front edge should not bear too
. heavily upon the surface as IL viii dig
/ out soft place which would be bet.
ter II left undisturbed This regula-
tion OF the cutting edge can be ac-
complished by the driver moving back
and forth or TO the right and left on
the drag
n the road IS 20 BE- crowned with
the drag IL is often well 10 piow a
light turrow along the sides and work
this looseued dirt TO the center.
On roads with heavy trainc the drag
should be- used much aftsuVr and with
more care than ON roads with light
traffic
The distance from the drag at
which the team Is hitehvd affects the
cutting a long hitch permits the
blade 20 cut deeper than shor