Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-01

Inc economical care OF '5lhteg IOauS
already built and the improvement OF
those not included under that head are
receiving a great amount of attention
these days by all who are interested in
the "Good Roads, movement. As 1T is
self evident that the proper care of a
road after it is built is as much Of
importance, and possibly more SO,
than the building of it; for without
that care in a short time the road that
has cost the taxpayers and the State a
large sum of money would be COM
pletely ruined.
The problem has been as to the best
manner to keep the road bed in he
maximum of condition at the mimi
mum of expense, aud the most inn
portant part of that work is the proper
scraping of the road.
The old style of scraper still in use on
a very large proportion of country roads
is very poorly adapted to its purpose.
The modern four wheeled scraper will
do the work for which it was designed
aud every road district should own n
but if that scraper is used every time
the road needs scraping, it is apt to
prove expensive with the result that
owing to the cost, the Supervisor will
omit several %scrapings that should have
been done and again there are roads
on which this heavy scraper cannot
be used to advantage. All roads should
be scraped after each heavy rain and
a scraper so designed that it will do
the proper work at very little cost is
necessary.
The most effective and economical
method yet devised of maiutaing earth
roads after they have been properly
constructed aud improving the condi-
tion of those not included in that list,
is by the use of the drag which can be
hauled by one team and should be used
after each rain In order that no rnts
may form in~the roadway or water
stand on the road surface.
Numerous articles have been written
on the use of the drag and various
types are now in effective use.
This drag consists of two plank run
ners each ten feet long, placed five feet
apart, between which are three diago-
nal blades held together with necessary
bracing and tie rods. At the rear end
of each blade is cut a spill hole through
the runner allowing any excess mater
ial to spill out at the side. In action it
approximates the working of a carpen-
tiers plane upon a rough surface, that
is, it cuts the high spots aud skips the
low ones. The material that is taken
from the high spots is deposited in the
low ones, thus removing all wavy or
humpy conditions of the road surface,
which is a result extremely difficult to
obtain with any other form of drag,
and impossible with the old form of
seraper.
rNMatsslaRlttln blades are sIottedN
and bolted to the front side of the sera-
per and the best results are obtained
by placingEthese blades just flush with
bottom of the shoe. The cost of this
drag is about fifteen dollars.
The most essential point to observe
in using a road drag is the condition of
the road at the time 1t is used. The
drag should be used Immediately after
a rain while the surface of the road is
still soft. A gravel road can scarcely
ever said to be too wet. On a clay road
the drag should be used just before the
clay begins to harden. An important
point often overlooked is that a road
surface after the use of the drag will
harden to a greater degree thar at any
other time.
Roads now considered almost i'm
passable for loaded teams or autos can
be placed in a reasonable good condi-
ton by a little drainage and the fire.
quent use of the drag and at a very
small expense. Motorists and all others
interested in the "Good Roads" move
ment can be of the greatest service If
they will personally see every local
Supervisor in their district and try and
have him procure a drag and give it a
fair trial on roads under his charge for
one season, using it after each rain.
The result will be that the roads will
be in the highest state of efficiency and
the old scraper will be consigned to the
scrap heap.
w. e. Young.
Anglesea, n. j.
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