Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-18
KING PROTESTS
SPLIT LOG DRAG
''|NFoRMAT|oN''
Maitland, Mo-, Oct. Is,

Maitland, MO-, Oct. 10,
Hon. David F. Houston,
Secretary Of Agriculture,
Washington, D. c.
With all the courtesy due your high
Office desire to inquire concerning
the action of certain subordinates in
your Department; and enter protest
thereto.
You will discover that Farmers Bull
letin No. 321, on the Split-Log Drag,
bearing the name Of the undersigned as
its author, Is suppressed; while mis-
taken and harmful one is circulated by
your Department in it's place.
The new bulletin is wrong in theory,
wrong in its advice to roadmakers,
wrong in the drag cuts it displays. and,
on several very important points, is
dangerously misleading. 1t is issued
bearing the name of the U. 8, Depart
ment Of Agriculture, under the imme-
date direction Of your Mr.. Page. There
is not space here for me to take up
and discuss its errors; they are numer-
Gus. Yet, lest you may feel that l
merely generalize, desire to point just
one instance in which ignorance is dis
played. 1t can be seen by turning to
page four. lines 35, So. 81, Of the Page
bulletin. where dangerous advice is
given in the following words:
1T is customary to fasten the chain
to the drag by running one end through
a hole near the discharge end of the
front runner and by looping the other
end over the rung.at the cutting end of
the front runner"
Now any we'll posted follower of the
King method Of road dragging can tell
you the chain should be looped over
the discharge end, not the cutting end
Of the runner For-by its tendency to
tip over the drag If any roots, pieces
OF wire. glass. or boulders, are buried
in the road surface.-the looping Of the
chain over the cutting end produces an
exceedingly dangerous situation; a
broken limb or even death may follow.
Though not nearly so important or
damaging as several other wrong
statements. this instance is cited be-
cause it is SO simple that the error
must be perfectly clear to every me-
chanical mind.
Before going further, I would beg
you to understand that the question
at issue Is Of overwhelming import
ance since. by figures from your own
department. above IS per cent. Of our
wagon roads need the drag today.
AS you may know Il have given
many of the best years of my life in
endeavorins to bring about the simple,
Inexpensive improvement of our high
ways by the split-log- drag. have
not felt that I knew all there is to
know. nor have l ever encouraged my
friends to advance any such claim, nor
have declined to give thoughtful con-
sideration to those who have sought
to add to my effectiveness by profrerinr
advice.
On the other hand, do not feel that
should sit silent and quiet when my
friends complain Of the unfair actions
OF subordinates in your Department in
their apparent attempt to undo and
destroy a beneficial part Of the work
done by thousands Of unselfish farm
ers, and public spirited newspaper men
and Automobile ana Commercial Clubs
throughout the Nation; q work which
has proved Of immense value to the
world. II one may accept the hundreds
OF testimonials from able men who
have had actual experience with roaa1s
treated by the King method.
Now II, after protesting to the prop.
or division. and then calling your
personal attention to these serioua
and detrimental irregularities in thi.
division of your Department. ona
stM fails to secure q correction ~
them. or even an inyestisntior-
now else 10 one to proceed EXCEPT
through the press and on the rostrum,
Therefore. having failed in all at
tempts to rectify these errors nri-
vatsly. am appealing to you pnb-
lciy. With proper Difference, in ali
good faith. for action which vii, =.
move the Just cause for this com.
plaint.
make this appeal in the name Of