The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-07-28
Stretch Of Model Graded Pike North
Of Pocasset i Probably First
State Road Built in
Oklahoma
WILL BE GRADED TO
MINCO THIS WEEK
Then Tractor and Crew Will Work
South Through ChickAsha to
Rush Springs; County May
Get Convict Labor

The new road law went into effec;
in Oklahoma on June "a. 1915. 1t pro
vided for the selection of from 10 to
Is per cent of all the roads in each
county which would be known as
state roads and built and kept under
county supervision. Within one month
and two days after the law went into
effect the commissioners of Grady
county have selected the roads, pur-
chased gasoline tractor and have al
ready completed the first stretch of
Grady county's model roads, lap
five miles long, graded high and
smooth enough to serve as a practice
track for Barney Oldfield.
The stretch is just north OF pocas-
set, the first section in the cross-coun-
ty road which is to connect Minco,
Pocasset, Chiekasha, Ninnekah and
Rush Springs. II is probably the first
stretch of state highway to be com
pleted in Oklahoma. The ten horse
power tractor is working on north
from the stretch now, completing
about mile day OF grading which
will be followed up through the months
TO come with road drag. Through
the use OF this device. the county com
missioners declare Grady county high
ways will not only be kept from deter
iorating after being once graded up.
but even that the use OF the drag will
improve them wonderfully, keeping
them smooth and even
s. A. Roberts. who is running the
tractor In the Minco district, pulled
his machine back into pocasset last
night, where a representative OF the
express, County Clerk r. r. Bradley
and County Commissioner j. A. Robin
son met him. with DR.. and Chester
Minter to inspect the county's iirst
state highway. Mr. Roberts declared
that he had completed the five miles
of work. all OF which. however, mad
been graded some time before, in four
days. and that he and his crew with
plow, tractor and grader, would prob
ably go the last round on the stretch
connecting Pocasset and Minco by
Saturday night
After they have reached Minco, the
crew will begin work on the line lead
ing into Chickasha. and then they will
continue on south. extending the state
highway through Ninnekah and Rush
Springs, and completing the first per.
manent cross-connty highway.
There is no comparison between
grading with tractor and with
horses, Mr.. Roberts said. as he
stopped a mile from Pocasset to let
the machine rest" and to look over
the accomplishment OF the past four
days. "The engine is guaranteed to
do the work of eight horses. II will do
as much pulling on this kind of work
as one can get from ten horses, and
il is far more satisfactory. Tractor
grading is no doubt cheaper. easier
and more satisfactory than the pulling
OF teams on the machinery.
w. A. Bryant, county commissioner
who has been overseeing the work in
the region of Pocasset, was at the
Enid tractor show yesterday. The
Minter brothers led the inspection
party. taking them north of town along
The four.mile stretch Of practically
level roads that are so well graded
and have been SO well dragged that =
car can travel over them within tive
hours after a heavy rain, and to the
beginning of the last mile in the
stretch completed.
I'VE people up here are crank'
about good roads" DR. Minter sale
while o., The trip. "We will be proud
of our section of the state highway
when It is completed, but we als'
have other roads leading into thii
town that we can feel proud of. Mer
chants of the little city recognize th'
fact that farmers will trade where the
can easiest haul their produce, AM
we have striyen for some time to saw