The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-06-19
KING ROAD DRAG
DAY DRAWS CROWD
larfo Audience 0roeis Man Oi NJ
tIonal Fame Commercial Clubs
Sent Ropresontailvos


speaking in a broader sense, in
Bottineau county.
The fact that u. Ward King
of King road-drag fame was to
be here had been extensivel y
advertised throughout the
county and considerable curio-
sity had been aroused among
farmers and business men. The
proposition grew and became
popular from it's very inception
and remarkably deep interest
was developed; an interest that
made men from all parts of the
county determined to see and
hear the man who had sprung
into national prominence by
upsetting all customs and
traditions in regard to road
building by making the best
roads in this country with a
split log for an implement and
doing away with all high pric-
Gu rOdO machinery.
Nearly every precinct was
represented-some townships
by several persons-and the
various commercial clubs in
the county sent representatives.
The court room at the court
house was not big enough to
seat all who came here to at
tend.
Mr.. King said he. was not
raised on a farm and told of
some of his experiences when
he first started farming near
Maitland, Missouri. He told
of the bad road between his
farm and town and how at
times in the spring of the year
the road was almost impassa.
BILE. 1t was at one Of these
times, over eighteen years ago
that he discovered the drag
which has made him famous,
The first drag was an old pump
stalk and post fastened togeth-
er with boards and with this
he dragged the road between
his own front gate and that of
his neighbor after each heavy
rain until he had a road which
was the talk of the country.
Delegations were sent from all
parts of the state to inspect the
road and find out how it was
made. After good deal of
persuasion Mr.. King consented
to go out and tell other people
how to make good roads with
out money and in the years he
has travelled he has visited all
parts of the United States and
Canada. ..
In making the drag Mr.. King
asked that no improvements be
put on it, but to follow his
directions. After a heavy rain
when the road is moist but not
sticky the drag is to be brought
into use. Mr.. King claims that
four draggings are generally
sufficient but sometimes six are
required. When the crown of
the road is too high drag twice
to the center and once to the
side of the road. Mr.. King
does not advocate a very wide
road but if wider one is need
ed plow a furrow on each side
of the road and after a rain
spread the soil by using the
drag and keep on blowing and
spreading until the road is the
width required. In finishing
his address Mr.. King stated
that the split log drag was the
only method of good road max
idg known where the road was
not made worse before it was
better.
Mr.. Kings address will un-
doubtedly mean a new era in
road building in this county.
AS his method does not involve
the purchasing of high priced
machinery, most all present
were anxious to try it. A drag
had been made for Mr.. King to
demonstrate with, but the
demonstration did not take
place on account of the rain.
The officers Of the Bottineau
commercial club put forth their
best efforts to make it a success
and are deserving OF much
praise. The county commis-
sioner also aided in the project.
Taken %
"A colt, bay, 2 years. Came to
my place about May 28. 3h
miles east and u mile north Of
Botfineau. Dave Cloheesey.
lst)