Evening star., 1914-07-12
SIMPLE ROAD DRAG
DOES GOOD WORK
Split Log Used Effectively, But
SkiIIfuI Operator Is
Required.
METHODS OF OPERATION
DESCRIBED IN BULLETIN
Only on Dirt Roads. Partially I'm
proved. Is Its Employment
Advocated.

The road drag is the simplest and least
expensive contrivance yet devised for
maintaining earth roads. according to the
experts in the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture. who are co-operat-
ing with the state and county authori-
ties IN work for better roads
Properly used the drag gives the need
ed crown to the road. smoothes out ruts
and other irregularities spreads out pud-
dies of water. thereby accelerating the
drying of the road, and makes the sur
race more or less impervious to water by
smearlng over the so-called pores in the
earthly material The cost of operation
depends. of course. upon local &C n1itions
. and the thoroushness with which the
work Is done. 1t is safe to say. how
ever. that ii is less expensive than any
other efficient system of upkeep
Farmers Bulletin. No. 597 of the De-
partment of Agriculture. discusses un,. .ar
the title of The Road Drag and How II
Is used the best methods of maintain.
ing earth roads in good condition by this
simple device.
For Partially Improved Roads.
In this bulletin, which has lust been
published, the department points out that
VI more than 2,N1.oD miles of public
roads in the United States. only about
-''"" miles have been given a hard
surface II is true, of course that a
sslse st pa part of the remaining mileage con-
slsts "f roads that are entirely unim-
proved and that on roads of this class
-Ins drag is practically useless
mere is much larger mileage how
enS :. ,hat mas been partially improved,
ana IL is on roads of this character-
ROADS that have been crowned or drained
out nave not a hard surface-that the
use of the drag is advocated.
.,.t. en- ns Is Simplest form the road drag con-
s,sts or an ordinary log split in half and
tne Two halves connected like the nm
rights of ladder by means OF cross
SUCKS or runss set in. The log should
eter. and from six to eight feet in Length
~ is better to have it of well seasoned
hard tough wood. The two semi-cvlin
orlcal halves of the log form the runners
OF the drag, and are usually spaced from
thirty to thirty-six inches apart The
front runner is always placed with the
spht surface of the wood facing for
ts Waro. but the rear runner sometimes has
its rounded face in front This is done
IN order TO increase the smearing action
OF the drag as it passes over the surface
of the road.
Arrangement of Runners.
Inc TWO runners are not placed directly
behind each other. but are Offset" as
tits called, from twelve to sixteen inches
This is done because the drag is drawn
over the road at an angle sufficient to
make the runners free themselves of the
material which they scrape. The amount
OF TINS angle or skew depends of course
upon the condition of the road By off
Setting the runners, it is possible to make
their ends follow approximately the same
me on the road. which they would not
thew diran haL
other and the drag drawn at an angle
with the road.
In order to provide standing room for
the man, it is usual to nail two boards
down upon the rungs parallel to the run
ners- Standing upon these, a skilful
driver will bear his weight in such a
way as to aid materially in the success
ful operation of the drag.
The drag is drawn by a chain. which
should be about eight feet long This can
be fastened by eye bolts to each end of
the front runner, or one end of the chain
can pass through a hole at the discharge
end of the front runner and the other
end be looped over the rung at the cut
ting end of the runner. 1t is important
that the hitching link should be 30 de-
signed that its position can be changed
readily. 1t is also desirable to provide a
metal cutting edge for the front run
ner. This can be made from a strip Of
iron or steel. and old wagon tires have
frequently proved satisfactory.
The cost of such a drag varies from
81 to perhaps $40 or So This practically
insignificant outlay will secure an i'm
plement that will be of great service to
the community for at least three or four
years. The fact cannot be overlooked.
however. that skill in the use of the drag
10 Indispensable
Angle Is Important.
The angle that the runners make with
the center line of the road. the skew
angle it might be called. Is an
important factor. For example. If the
dragging is done 10 increase the crown Of
the road. the drag should be sufficiently
skewed to discharge all material as
rapidly as II is collected on the runners.
On the other hand the conditions may
be such that ii is desirable to carry
along this material in order to deposit
II where there are depressions in the
roads surface. An intelligent operator
will soon learn many ways of controlling
the action of the drag. The length of the
hitching chain. the disposition of the
operators weight. the time when the
dragging is done. all these exert mark
ed influence upon the results.
AS to the time for dragging. safe
rule to follow is to drag the road when
the material composing the surface con-
tafns sufficient moisture to compact read
tly. but is not sufficiently wet for trafnc
to produce mud
Since the weather plays so important
part in the matter. 1t is not usually
POSSIBLE to arrange continuous employ
rnep. for teams on the road. 1t Is there
fore desirable. whenever possible. to
have the raGging done h persons inter-
ested in the road. who will DO 1t In the
intervals of other occupations