The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1912-02-15
THE SPLIT=LOG ROAD DRAG
Taken from Government Bulletin.

the 2-lnch hole when the two
slabs are in the proper position.
The stakes should taper gradual
1y toward the ends. There should
be no shoulder at the point
where the stakes enter the slab.
The stakes sh0uld be fastened in
place by wedges only.
When the stakes have been
placed in position and TIGHTLY
wedged, a brace 2 inches thick
and 4 inches wide should be plac-
ed d~iag0nally to them at the
ditch end. The brace should be
dropped on the front slab, so
that it's lower edge shall lie with
in an inch of the ground, while
the other end should Fest in the
angle between the slab and the
end stake.
a strip Cf iron about 3R feet.
long, 3 or 4 inches Wide and Il
of an inch thick may be used for
the blade. This should be attach
ed to the front slab, so that it
will be one-half inch below the
lower edge of the slab at the
ditch end, while the end of the
iron toward the middle of the
road should be flush with the
edge of the slab. The bolts hold
ing the blade in place should
have flat heads and the holes to
receive them should be counter
sunk.
If the face Of the log stands
plumb it is we'll to wedge cut the
lower edge CT the blade with a
three-cCrnered strip OF wood to
give ut a set like the hit of Il
plane.
A platform of inch boards held
together by three cleats should be
placed on the stakes between the
slaEs. These boards should be
spaced at least an inch apart to
allow any earth that may heap
up and fall over the front slab 10
s;ft through upon the road again.
The end cleats should be placed
so that they will not rest upon
the Cross stakes, but drop inside
them, while the middle cleat can
be shifted to either side of the
middle stake. These cleats should
extend about an inch beyond the
finished width OF the platform.
An ordinary trace chain is
esrong enough to draw the nipple
ment, provided the clevis is net
fastened through a link. The
chain should be wrapped around
the rear stake, then passed over
the front slab. Raising the chain
at this end of the slab allows the
earth to drift past the fact OF
the drag. The other end of the
chain should be passed through
the hole in the end of the slab
and is held by a pin passed thru
a link. One and one-half trace
chains are sufficient.
In many logs the grain runs
around the tree in such a way
that when split the slabs will be
in a wind" If this wind is not
more than 4 inches in s feet,
the timber can be used to good
advantage by setting it SO that
the blade end of the log shall
slant forward when the other end
is perpendicular. The constfuc-
tion of the drag in TINS case is
the same as given above, but
care must be taken that the holes
bored to receive the stakes are
plumb. No wedging under the
lower edge Of the blade is neees-
sary in using such a log.
Drags are often constructed of
.planks instead of logs. There is
nothing in the construction of a
plank drag that calls for partlcu-
lar mention except the strength
ening of the planks along their
middle line by a 2 by 6 inch
strip. A triangular strip may be
used under the lower edge OF the
blade to give it the proper cut
ting slope.
/ How to Use a Drag.
The successful operation of a
drag involves two principles,
which when thoroughly under
stood and intelligently applied,
make road working with this I'M
plement very simple. The first
concerns the length and position
of the hitch, while the second
deals with the position of the
driver on the drag. Each influ-
ences the other to a large extent,
and successful manipulation OF
the drag is dependent upon an
IT, &c 10th &c 4ho3,,