Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-10-21
PENNSY'S WORK TO
BOOST GOOD ROADS
Circulating Pamphlet by D.
Ward King on Split
Log Drag
TO PUT COUNTRY
ROADS IN SHAPE

In an effort TO stimulate interest in
the good roads movement in the
States through which IL operates. the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company has
begun the distribution of a pamphlet
entitled Good Roads at Low Cost,
written especially for the railroad by
D. Ward King, inventor Of the King
drag. The booklet will be given wide
distribution and thousands will be
sent TO the country districts through
out the Pennsylvania railroad terri
tory.
While the management Of the com
pany has for some time been keenly
interested in the subject Of good roads
in the past year II has redoubled its
efforts in this direction. Meetings OF
the station agents have been held at
various points along the lines, while
the general managers staff has also
taken up the subject of improving the
roads radiating from the company's
stations.
The booklet tells how the split log
drag may be constructed and then
gives a formula for building good
roads without money Prior 70 that
It gives some statistics on the extent
of the dirt roads in this State and
SAYS
Dirt Road Statistics.
There are more than 100000 miles
Of public wagon road in the States
through which the Pennsylvania Rail
road system operates. Three and one
half hundred thousand of these miles
of road are of plain. every day dirt;
in other words, there are 357 ,76S
miles of road in these seven Penn
sylvania System States that the King
drag can convert into boulevards II
it is given the opportunity. In ad-
dition to these miles of dirt there
are AZ 900 miles of gravel road, and
it has been discovered that the King
drag produces the same improvement
on gravel pixies that II does on mud
roads. The amount Of stone road in
these seven States is comparatively
small, footing up only $4,000 miles.
Beginning with the youngest of
States through which the Pennsyl-
vania operates, we find Illinois with
an army Of drags estimated at about
10000. The contagious epidemic Is
spreading over Indiana Ohio is
dragging many miles Of gravel as
we'll as earth roads. Maryland, too,
has made more than one King drag
campaign, and New York. New Jer-
sey and Delaware each have given
evidence that the leaven is work
ing"
Company Has Used Lecture System.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany has had Mr.. King deliver lee
lures at various stations throughout
the State. The split-log drag which
can be made by any one following the
directions given in the pamphlet jus
/ issued, has been used with telling ef
feet in many parts of the country
A number of these drags have bee
placed at a number Of stations in or
der that road supervisors and other
might operate them.
The railroads activity in the goo
| roads movement Is actuated by tn
desire to have the highways leadini
from the stations In passable condi
ton during all seasons Of the year, II
the winter months. thousands of mile
of dirt roads are almost impossible
and farmers are unable to get to ant
from railroad stations, thereby caus
ing a congestion of traffic when ROAD
are opened.
The company has interested itself Il
good roads with the view that the.
viii open up the rural districts ant
hasten their development, which VII
mean a stimulous TO railroad tratic