The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-07-13
OFFERS AS FINE SCENERY AS CAN
Be FOUND IN THIS NATION
ROAD is BAD THIS YEAR
Grading on Baraga Road is Well
Along and Next Year Ought to
See Trip Made in Comfort


trip to the copper country via Baraga
county postpone II for year unless
you want to experience some jolts
from rough roads and perhaps a
broken machine. The old road was
bad enough, but the recent construc-
ton work in progress along the en-
tire length OF the road has increased
the difficulty tenfold in Baraga county.
The Iron county road between this
city and the Dickinson county line is
about the best stretch OF road that
one meets on the journey, but on that
stretch OF close TO ten miles there is
already evidence OF the fact that wa
ter-bound macadam will not stand up
under the traffic that 1t is called upon
TO sustain and that II Is too expensive
type OF road to construct and allow
ravel out in comparatively few
years.
The county has experimental long
enough with the oiling Of macadam to
demonstrate that oiling macadam af-
ter II has been built doesn't add any
to its longevity. About all that II does
is to keep down the dust; likewise
make the road much rougher. The
second year after the oil has been ap-
piled the macadam begins to break
away at the penetration line and 500
is full of chuck holes.
The Iron county board of road COM
missioners has sand hauled the en-
tire length OF the road from Mansfield
to the line with the intention of oil
ing as soon as the oil arrives. II is
serious question in the minds OF
many II II wouldn't be much better TO
scarify and add the binder and a
small amount OF binding rock and do
the Job in a permanent manner, even
IL II is let go for another year. IL Is
q fine piece OF macadam and too bad
TO allow it to become worthless.
Dickinson Should Connect Up.
After one passes the Iron county
line he meets with about a mile OF q
rather rough road in Dickinson coun-
ty. II is too bad that the Dickinson
commission or Sagola township, or
whoever II Is that has charge OF this
short piece doesn't fiji in the gap or
at least make provision whereby II
may be dragged frequently as that
alone would keep the pitch holes filled
up and the ruts filled in. There are
farmers living close by who, for a
paltry sum, could take care OF this
work and give those passing over II
much relief.
After passing this short stretch OF
less than mile one picks up the
graveled portion that continues thru
Sagola village and is a mighty good
road
Sagola, under the new arrangement
where the mill is operated by the Saw
yer-Goodman company seems to be
quite lively and the lumber piles are
growing in size right along.
There Is some OF the best farming
land in the peninsula about Sagola
and many nice farms are in evidence
Hay is a mighty poor crop in the up
per peninsula this year and the Sa
COLA farms are not presenting as fine
an appearance this year as in form
er years. Then. the frost OF las
month did considerable damage to al
kinds OF crops. and the outlook wher
we made the trip over this portion o
the copper trail was not as good as Il
other recent years.
- Dickinson Road Is Good.
The piece OF dirt road lying be
tween Sagola and the Michigamm,
river has been considerably improve,
and makes very good riding. II &
dragged regularly and in some OF tn
places where sand bothered in form
er years gravel has been spread an
worked in well. On the big hill be
tween Sagola and Claiming gravel /
now being spread. IL Is little sof
yet to make the hill on high" an,
maintain ones speed. but with a littl
rolling II will make an excellent dress