Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-22
GEO. HILL EXPERT
WITH THE GRADER
Knows the Fine Points of Road Max
ing, Learned by Years of
Experience.
SOLD GRADERS FOR
OVER FIFTEEN YEARS
Entered Into All Kinds of Road Max.
ing Contests, Always Coming
Out Winner.

u,
although the event took place some
time ago, nevertheless we think it
good reading right now. Mr.. Hill has
| been doing some street grading for
the city Of DEBORAH recently and his
work has met with high approval. He
knows just how to operate grader
and in building up a street he is very
careful to see that he fixes a good
drainage on either side George will
not touch street, that is trim it up
| through the center and neglect the
sides and bitches. He does his work
thorough. Following is the article TAX
en- from a Waterloo paper. telling
about Mr.. Hills work.
In compliance with the notice pub
lished il last weeks Courier, the ex-
hibition of the Western Reversible
Graders, manufactured by the West
ern Wheel Scraper Co, of Mount
Pleasant, Iowa, was made last Fri
day under the charge of the general
agent, Mr.. George Hill. Early in the
day quite number Of gentlemen
who are officers of different road dis
tricts throughout the country, arriv-
| ed in the city and, promptly at the
hour designated, the programme was
commenced by an exhibition Of the
work of the graders on Wellington
| street. At this point the machine
was used to make series of double
curves, which showed very plainly
the capacity Of the grader for kind
of work that is exceedingly difficult
of execution. The grading on this
street was done to the satisfaction
Of every one and after a good din
ner to which Mr.. Hill invited his
guests, preparations were made for
the afternoons parade. In the pro-
cession which paraded several of the
principal streets of the city, were
nine graders and their appearance
attracted general attention. After
the parade was concluded Mr.. Hill
addressed the people On the subject
of Roads. He spoke of the great ne
cessity for good roads and the care
that should be exercised in their con-
struction and maintenance. He read
several extracts from papers prepar-
ed by the Iowa Road Association re-
ferring to this subject and asked
several questions of gentlemen pres
ent, who had operated graders, to
bring out their ideas of the efficiency
Of the machines aid the advantage
Of them to road districts. One gen.
tleman who was asked how they
proposed TO pay for their graders in
his district, responded, by the re-
duction of the road tax This" re-
marked Mr.. Hill, sis a very good
answer" and he proceeded to show
by the use OF a Reversible Grader,
mile of frst-class road can be made
for SIS, while in the old way it would
cost at least $3.50. By this saving.
four graders for each township can
lie paid for il one year by the pres
reduced almost to a minimum and
more roads be graded each year than
under the present system
At the close Of the remarks, teams
were hitched to one Of the graders
and the people adjourned to Ran
dOlph street, between Second AID
Third streets, where the machine ~,as
put to one Of the severest tests mag
.rable. Along the block where the
Piety Hill hose house is located the
street was covered with a thick, nat
ural sod. The grader was set at
work in this sod and it cut it UP with
out any trouble whatever. The sod
was torn to pieces and conveyed to
the center of the roadway and then
the earth from the sides was spread
upon it, making splendid road with
cutters on either side. This work
was all done with apparently little
eXertiOn by the three teams that drew
the machine, and every one who wit
messed it was highly pleased and pro-
nou1ced the Western Reversible
Grader complete success in every
particular.
Mr.. Hin had 19 graders ready to
deliver, but several parties who an
nounced their intention of being
present at the trial, were unable to
be here and in consequence but 8 ma
chimes were in the parade.
This closed the programme of the
day and the visitors expressed them
selves as well-satisfied with the exhi-
bition and with the courtesy shown
them by Mr.. Hill. We learn that one
or these graders has been purchased
by District No. 2, of Orange twp, an
other by district No. 3, of the same
township, another by the speer dis
trict in this township and another by
the GAINESVILLE district, while several
others will undoubtedly be taken by
other road districts.
Yesterday Mr.. Hill went to Cen
eseo township, Tama county, to meet
several different kinds of road grad
ers in contest.
Since the above was written we
have learned something of the expert
ence of the Hudson road district.
They purchased a road grader and
were able thereby to reduce the road
tax from five mills to one mill. which
is payable one-half In money and
balance in labor. This is surely
strong argument for the use of grad
ers.