Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1915-07-24
Hastings, Michigan.

, y. DfdR the TOdu whenever pOSSi-
BILE before a cold or freezing spell. If
this is done, then the road will freeze
hard and smooth, and rough road
way and much trouble will naturally
be avoided. If the road is rough and
rutted and then freezes, it will remain
in practically this same condition UNI
til it thaws out.
10. The width of the travelled road
way to be dragged will vary with the
entire width of the road. Generally
from II to 20 feet Of roadway width
should be maintained by means of the
earth-road drag. In using the drag
the first time over road, a little
more than one-half of the generally
travelled wheel track should be drag
ged. Then during each subsequent
dragging, this width should be in
creased by a couple of feet until the
entire width of the travelled roadway
is dragged and in good condition. By
following this procedure, it will be
found that the traffic is distributed
over a much greater roadway width,
and that consequent wear and tear on
the roadway is much less than where
the dragging is confined practically
to the single wheel track.
II. Always see that a little earth
is dragged toward the center of the
road and that some of this extra
earth is deposited on the center. By
this means, the center of the road
should be raised from ten to twelve
inches above the outside edges, and
it should then be the business of those
in charge of the dragging to see that
this crown is maintained.
IL. If the cut made by the blade of
the drag is too deep this should be
remedied at once by shortening the
hitch. On the other hand, if it is
found that the cut is not deep enough
to move the proper amount of earth,
the hitch should be heightened. These
two points should, in every case, be
watched very closely.
Is. Always control the amount of
earth that is being carried along in
front of the drag by the position of
the driver, who should always ride on
the drag Standing close to the cut
ting edge of the forward blade of the
drag will increase the depth of the
cut made, and will also permit most
of the material removed to pass un-
der the opposite end of the blade so
that very little material will be car
ried along in front of the blades.
ID. The best results can only be
obtained by the frequent and con-
tinued use of the earth road drag.
1t should always be borne in mind
that the proper dragging of the earth
road will not only reduce the amount
of mud in wet weather, but that it
will also materially reduce the amount
of dust in dry weather, and that it
Will Keep LIc TOdu SIflOOtll anu III SOou
condition in any kind of weather and
at all seasons of the year. Constant
attention is required on any earth
road to keep it in good condition. This
attention will, under ordinary condi-
tions, average in actual cost from So
to SIS per year.
Is. While a road is being dragged,
all loose stones should always be re-
moved from the roadway and piled
where it will be impossible for them
to again get back on the roadway.
They can always be used to good adj
vantage in paving the bottoms of the
side bitches where it is noted that
there is tendency to wash out dur
ing heavy rains. They should not be
thrown into the bitches in piles, but
should be placed there by hand in
layer SO that the ditch will be paved.