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DRY FARMING CONGRESS 



The Road Drag. 



After the road bed has been formed by the blade grader, as is 

 commonly used in road building, there is no other tool better adapted to 

 road maintenance than the road drag. 



A drag of this kind can be made for two- horse work either by the 

 use of a split log or a 2-in. by 12-in. by 16-foot oak plank sawed in two. 

 If made of a log, it should be from seven to nine feet long, ten to twelve 

 inches in diameter and split into two as nearly equal halves as possible. 

 They are set on edge with the flat side to the front, thirty inches apart, 

 and are fastened together with three strong tie pieces wedged in. A 

 chain is used for pulling the drag and is so attached to the double trees 

 as to pull it at any angle desired, which is usually about 45 degrees. The 

 cost of this road implement will vary from seventy-five cents to $2.50 

 each. 



The oak plank drag is made in a similar way as the split log drag 

 just described. Either of these drags should be shod on the front piece 

 with a piece of flat steel. This will not only prolong the life of the drag 

 but will at the same time cause it to do better work. 



Use of the Drag. 



The time to use the drag is after each wet period just as the road 

 is beginning to dry. This tool fills all ruts and levels the surface putting 

 it in condition to shed the next rain. The ^rag being hauled at an angle 

 of about 45 degrees moves a small amount of earth to the center of the 

 road at each time, thus keeping the crown well rounded. 



The mud formed on the road after a rain represents the dust, in part, 

 which has been made by constant tramping and wear of the road surface. 

 When moistened, this dust forms a paste similar to cement. By the use 

 of the drag as soon as this mud begins to dry this "dust paste" is crudely 

 troweled or smeared. over the surface. The action of the wind, sunshine 

 and travel have a tendency to dry, harden and beat down this mud cov- 

 ering until it becomes a sort of roof which turns water very readily. 

 Travel then begins to work up more dust, this is again formed into a 

 "dust paste" by another rain. Another dragging spreads the coat over 

 the first and the surface becomes harder, smoother and more nearly 

 water tight than before. 



A road dragged after each rain, when the mud does not stick to 

 the drag, will become practically water proof, resist the action of frost 

 and will remain hard and smooth throughout the year. Every time the 

 mud is spread over the surface and is beaten down and hardened, the 

 road is improved. 



In Iowa the drag has proven very successful, from the fact that next 

 to the last session of the legislature passed a law directing township 

 road supervisors and trustees to have the roads dragged at least ten 

 times a year with a split log or plank drag and to pay fifty cents a mile 

 for each dragging. Certain counties also offered premiums to farmers 

 for the best mile of earth road maintained by the use of the drag. 



