Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-12-15
HOW, AND WHEN TO USE A KING
DRAG.


The successful operation of roas
drag involves two principles, which
whe.. thoroughly understood and in
telligently applied, make road work
ing with this implement very simple
The first concerns the length and DO
sftion of the hitch, while the second
deals with tn position Of the drivel
on the drag. Each influences the
oiher to a large extent, and sue
ceSSful manipulation of the drag is de
pendent upon an understanding Of
both of them.
For ordinary purposes the snatch
link or clevis should be fastened fan
enough toward the blade end of the
chain TO force the unloaded drag Il
follow the team at am angle of 45 de
grees. This will cause the earth tc
move along the face of the drag
smoothly and will give comparatively
light draft to the team, provided the
driver rides in the line of draft. Some
times, however, conditions are mel
which require special treatment, and
in rolling country such conditions
are not ihfequent. Often a flat place
several rods in length or seepy
spot needs special attention.
The distance from the drag al
which the team is hitched affects the
depth of the cutting. Shortening the
chain tends to Lift the front slab from
the groUnd; longer hitch causes the
blade totcut more deeply. The length
OF hitch may be regulated by length
enfng and shortening the chain at the
end whikh runs through the hole in
the bladh end of the drag. II small
weeds are 10 be cut the double tree
should BE attached rather closer tc
The ditch end Of the drag. The drag
will now. move nearly ditch end fore
most, and the driver should stand
with ona foo. ON the extreme forward
end of the front slab. This will
swing the drag back 10 the proper an
gle and Eill cause the blade TO plOw.
The d4 4ag does the best work when
the soil Is moist, but not sticky. The
earth then moves freely along the
faces Of the slabs. If the roadway is
very badly ru.ted and full of holes, il
may be well to use tIhe drag once
when the ground is slushy. This treat.
ment is particularly applicabel before
cold spell in winter when it is pos
sible to have a roadway freeze
smooth.
A smooth road surface is secured
by this method. Clay, when mixed
with water and thoroughly worked, be
comes remarkably tough ard fnper.
vious to water. If compacted in this
condition 4 becomes extremely hard
Another valuable result. of dragging
Is the reduction of dus., for the pard-
clas OF clay cOhere so ten2ciOusly tha
There Is but lilla wear when the sur
face is smooth. Dust on am eanth
road is due to the breaking up under
traffic of the frayed and uptuIned
edges of ruts and hoof prints. If the
surface is smOOthed after each rain
and the road dries hard and even, no
Edges are exposed to crushing and
The only dust which forms is that due
to actual wear of the road surface.
Certain sections of a roadway will
require more attention Than others be
cause OF steep grades, seepage, expo
Wre TO hillside wash, etc. The best
guide in meeting these conditions is
the knowledge and experience gained
while dragging the roadway.
There is one condition, however,
in which special treatment should be
given to a road. Clay hills under per
sistent dragging frequently become
too high in the center. To correct
this it is best 10 drag the
earth toward the center Of the ro2d
twice and away from it once.