The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1911-11-16

The many useful advantages 10 be
gained from the persistent use OF n
road drag on earth roads are very
clearly set iorth ~ a pamphlet issued
by the United States department OF
agriculture Tho subject. The use OF
the Split. Log Drag on Earth Roads,
IS treated IN Farmers bulletin 32l,
by - Ward Eiug. an expert m the OF
fec Of public roads IN opening M
description - the drag. MIR King cX
plains that there are at present IN
this country about 2.OO0OOO miles OF
earth roads. most Of which must be
maintained by some means more or
less inexpensive. The split.log drag vs.
OF great scrylcc on roads OF this class
The author OF the pamphlet has eXpcr.
imcntcd with q great variety OF devices
for road dragging. but has found the
twO.slab log, or plank drag. with I'D
ural setback, the most satisfactory
Double drags Tor working both sides
OF the road simultaneously have been
tried with only limited success. rhe
reason tor this Hes IN the tact that
both sides of an earth road are never
exactly alike This causos the two
parts of the drag 10 work UucycuE
aud to Interfere with each o.her II
Is also impossible tor one man 90 up
crate both pats successfully Contin
uing. the author says IN part.
Two mistakes are commonly made
In constructing q drag Tho hrst lies
I'm making II too heavy u should be
a. I#.HF. fNuN gV. acne t4Ft ..tUIIt IIFF
r. Besides. a light drag responds
moro readily to various methods OF
h]itchtrg and 10 the shifting ct the pc.
sition and weight Of the operator TIE
other mistake IS m the use OF squared
tiwlcrs instead uf those with sharp
edges. whereby the cutting effect oi
sharp edges Is lost and the drag Is per
mittod To glide over instead OF 10
cquali2c the Irregularities IN the sur
face OF the road \ dry cedar log Is
the best material for n drag Red elm
and walnut. hen thoroughly sea.
sonod, are excellent, and luN elder.
soft maple. or even willow are prefer
ahlc 10 oak. hickory or ash
The leg should be seven or eight
feet long aud from ten 10 twelve
inches in diameter. and carefully spit
down the middle The heaviest ana
best slab should be selected tor the
front ~ "A point m this front SLAB
four inches from the end that Is to b.
AZ the middle OF the ROAD locate the
center OF the hole TO receive a cross
stake aud % inches from the other
end OF the front slab locate the center
tor another cross stake. The mole tor
the middle stake viii lie on q line con,
Meeting and haii way between the
other two The back slab should nov
he placed In position behind the othcy
From the end which Is 10 be- at mid
die OF the road measure - inches tor
the center OF the cross stake ana six
inches from the other end locate the
center OF The outsid" stake Find the
center OF the middle hole rs before
when these holes are brought Oppo
site each other. n end OF the back
slab will ne ~ inches nearer the center
OF the ROADWAY than the front one.
giving what Is known us set back
The notes should be two inches m ii
ametcr Care must be taken To hold
the nugCr plumb m boring these noles.
In order that the stakes shalt M prop.
erly The hole to receive the forward
end OF the chain should be bored az
the same time
The two slabs should be held -
Inches apart by the stakes Straight.
grained timber should be selected tor
the stakes, 50 that each stake shalt TT
snugIy into the two.inch hole when
the two slabs are IN the proper posi-.
ton rhC stakes should taper graGu
ally toward the ends There should
be no shoulder at the point wherc
the stakes enter the stab Tho stakes
should be- fastened In place by
wedges only
When the stakes have been placed
In position and tightly wedged. a
brace Two inches thick and tour inches
wide should be placed d%ingonalIy 10
them AZ the ditch end, as shown IN
figure / The brace shout be dropped
on the front slab. so mat It's lower
edge shall lie within an inch OF the
ground. while the other end should
rest In the angle between the slab and
the end stake
4 strip OF iron about 3ls feet long.