Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-16

" va LAaN was 10 01A9 Us ECA
years he had talked and argued harangued
at farmers meetings, institutes and like
gatherings that by grading the roads in the
spring of the year, and then dragging
them with a King drag after each heavy
rain, that the result would be not only
passable, but excellent roads. Now that
he was road superintendent the chance to
put his ideas into operation was opened to
him, ana he was not slow to take advan-
tae of it.
Origin OF Systematic Road Dragging,
No sooner had Ransom been paced in
charge or the ROADS OF the tow than
he began to put his ideas into operation.
At first IL was slow work, and IL was an
equally tedious and hard task to get the
farmers to Join hands in this radical move
ment tor good roads. 1t required education
and a practical demonstration 10 convince
many. Farmers accustomed TO roads which
We're impossible during certain months OF
the year were skeptioal. They doubted the
feasibility OF Ranson's plan, who was con-
sidered by many to be a sort of a tanaul
on the subject OF road making. They wer~
equally reluctant TO leaVe the work IN tn,
held 20 get out and drag and grade the
ruau3 Iney had, however, TINS redeem
Ing feature, they were open to conviction,
men Ransom demonstrated that his theo-
rles we're practical by grazing and Dragging
certain sections OF the nIgnN avs, anu ,hey
saw tne WONDERFUL change accomplished,
the IDEA began 10 soak Ia and taAe ho.d,
and IL was not long unul tlrst one and tnel
another IauG owner ana renter began to
take az first an active. then an enthusiastic
ana Worklng interest in the road burning.
ltnAlla autRaa a n,YFaA rAnna, r.n go
idea, hansom, with his usual persistency,
oesan 10 thoroughly deyeIop II. But It re-
CURED three years time before the develop
nent reached every loot OF puzzle hlyn-
way in the townsn4p. since then tne ma,n-
tanning OF the roaus has becoAie as Inuen
a par ot the farm work oI those who do
II as is the plonIng o. tne corn planting.
here Is RansOm plan IN q nutsneil nom
his own worus: Il grade the ioaus in the
spring with the grader and lnen urag tnem
regularly ana systemaucauy atter every
Dad Storm But Il required the Uo-Opera-
tton oil the farmers ana the systematizIng
Qt The work. Ii nad 10 be kept up 10 De
successful, and there had 10 be men ready
TO 80 on me work whenever Gained. 40
accomplish tnls MANSON ulviued ms town
snip rudus into stations. Al Itrst Jnese
numbered twenty-five, bat later this mum
Der was Increased and each station" was
shortened IN length, lite men sa,e eacu
farmer u station 40 urag asUna mis- farm
ana tar..er n D., MAS accessory 40 make tnS
'staluAs ueed AS tar as was possible
he t.l.p.oyeu ,EOse who mad telephones
Larry IA tne spr.ng the torce vas sent oul
to Grade the ruaUs Win graders, Latel
when the hignNays need dragging Ransom
calls those VINO naYa stations 10 uras
on the telephone and sells tncm 10 worH
Inc result ~ tAat within three hours aftel
every bad rain every ioot OF the siSty-fiv'
miles or roads Is gone over and made as
smooth as the floor.
TINS then vas me origin and the method
OF development, minus lis MINOR details, oi
this plan OF systematic road dragging which
has made these roads Justly deserving ol
fame. Has 1t proved successful during ia,
three years that Il has besn fuzzy developed
Has II paid. The best answer to tnes'
questions Is a visit to Jackson township
aud "a talk with its best people. The mex
best IS the accompanying cuts, made iron
photographs OF average pieces Of the road.
Of this township,