The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-07-15

TWO slabs are IN the proper position.
The stakes should taper gradually to-
ward the ends. There should be no
shoulder at the point where the stakes
enter the slab. The stakes should be
fastened in place by wedges only.
When the stakes have been placed in
position and tightly wedged, brace
2 inches thick and 4 inches wide
should be placed diagonally to them
at the ditch end. The brace should
be dropped on the front slab, so that
it's lower edge shall lie within an inch
of the ground, while the other end
should rest ins the angle between the
slab and the end stake.
A STRIP of iron about IL feet long
8 or inches wide and IA of an inch
thick may be used for the blade. This
should be attached 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 fiat
heads and the holes to receive them
should be countersunk.
If the face of the log stands plumb
it is we'll to wedge out the lower edge
of the blade with three-cornered
strip of wood to give it set like the
bit of plane.
A platform of inch boards held to-
gether by three cleats should be placed
on the stakes between the slabs. These
boards should be spaced at least an
inch apart to allow any earth that may
heap up and fall over the front slab
to sift 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 strong
enough to draw the implement, provid-
ed the clevis is not fastened through
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 face of the drag. The
other end of the chain should be pass
ed through the hole in the end of the
slab and is held by pin passed
through link. One and one-half trace
chains are sufficient.
In many logs the grain runs around
the tree in such way that when split
the slabs will be in wind" If this
wind is not more than 4 inches in 8
feet, the timber can be used to good
advantage by setting it so that the
blade end of the log shall slant for
ward when the other end is perpendic-
ular. The construction of the drag in
this 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 necessary in using such
a log.
Drags are often constructed of
planks instead of logs. There is moth
ing :. in the construction of a plank
drag that calls for particular mention
except the Strengthening of the planks
along their middle line by by g.
inch strip. A triangular strip may be
used under the lower edge of the blade
to give it the proper cutting slope.
How to Use Drag
The successful operation of a drag
involves two principles, which when
thoroughly understood and intelligent
ly applied, make road working with
this implement 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 influences the other to large
extent, and successful manipulation of
the drag is dependent upon an under
standing of both of them.
For ordinary purposes the snatch
link or clevis should be fastened far
enough toward the blade end of the
chain to force the unloaded drag to
follow the team at an angle of As de-
grees. This will cause the earth to
move along the fact of the drag
smoothly and will give comparatively
light draft to the team, provided the
driver rides in the line of draft. Some
times, however, conditions are met
which require special treatment, and
in rolling country such conditions
are not infrequent. Often a fat place
several rods in length or seepy spot
needs attention.
The distance from the drag at which
the team is hitched affects the depth
| 20 49, o,,&&;rn CI0rfon;ro tho chain