The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1911-03-30
HOW TO BUILD GOOD ROADS
WITH SMALL INVESTMENT
King the Inventor and Road Expert Tells In Comprehen
sve Terms the Secret of Good Roads and the
Profit In the Same.

Drive the rear slab back on the |
stakes 2 or 3 inches and arrange
the brace. Put the front end of
the brace down within an inch of
the ground and well out to the
end of the front slab. Notch it
in with chisel; drive the rear
slab back to the marks, catch
ing the brace, and then wedge
the stakes. The brace will never
escape if this is well done. At the
front saw the stakes on flush
with the slab; at the rear allow
them to remain. Their presence
at the rear will serve two purpos-
es. They will answer, without
words, the question of how the
slabs are fastened together. And
they come very handy at times
when you wish to lift the drag.
So far no iron has been used
Make a platform of inch boards
to drop between the slabs on
which the driver may stand.
Nail the boards to cleats so that
they will not interfere with the
cross stakes of the drag. Cut
the cleats about an inch shorter
than the places they are to fit;
and nail the boards half an inch
from the ends of the cleats. Use
at least three boards and space
them an inch apart so that earth
can sift through. Otherwise there
will be occasions when dirt will
come over the top of the slab
and you will be obliged to lift
the platform, dirt and all, to
dump it.
Next bore an inch and one-half
hole close to the ditch end of the
| front slab and in the center of it.
Get this hole within an inch OF
the end of the slab if the wood Is
sound and tough. Secure a. trace
chain, regulation length, and IL
feet of No. 8 smooth wire. Pass
the wire around the stake that is
at the middle of the road. Pass
the wire around the stake twice
and through the round ring II
trace chain twice and tie. Their
slip "a twisted snatch link ont'
the chain, pass the free end O.
the chain through the inch ant
enc half hole, drop an old Dol
into a link to hold it there ant
you are ready for the double ire
and team. Do not put the clevi
through a link of the tree chail
. or it will break. Put the clevi
around the chain and tie it there
q il you have no snatch link. Fas
t ten the clevis at point on tn
J. chain about 2 feet 8 inches frol
t the ia inch hole. Stand on til
v ditch end of the drag and driv
0 off. BY changing the positio
y of the cleyis on the chain an
i your own position on the dra
b you will be able to meet the MOI
varying conditions.
II 1t is well to put three or for
G feet of iron on the ditch end {
.e the front slab. There may con
a times when you will wish fl
d sharp steel.
r 1t is probable that you can in
d prove the road by dragging
r the moment the drag is finishe
no matter what is the conditic
r of the earth. Ordinarily, no,
lie ever, it is best to drag when tt
l. soil is moist, but not sticky. "
:. Don't get in a hurry to bull
a high grade. Obtain smoot
/ hard foundation and then bui
b onto it gradually.
d The formula for making Goo
,e Roads Without Money" is base
Il ON several truths which ha'
/. been more or less ignored by Il
It road makers of the past.
le In the first place travels
N road that has been undisturb,
70 for year or more possesses
he tough hard crust which is a va
E. liable asset. Many road mi
a cover this crust with a hea'
lie blanket of soft, loose earth t
in first thing they do. While othe
er tear it all to pieces and try (u
e. successfully to rearrange it.
es Now the crust should be nett
mr. er broken nor covered; it shou
nd be smoothed, all the wrinkl
re and ruts taken out of it, and TIL
of it should be thickened gradual
IN No matter how flat this cru
ct may be it is the best availaf
I'd surface for travel and a serio
mistake is made when it is p
r. out of order.
re Again: | believe blunder
h made whenever loose mater
1f -, .N1anol -, The x.S1