Admin note: A few years ago I ran across a postcard on EBay. I knew the image was taken on South 1st Street in Rogers, but what were all these horses doing? I figured this was some type of contest, but what? All I could think of is something like our tractor pulls today. It wasn't until recently when I ran across an article on Newspapers.com that it became clear what the photo was, Below is the article.
Twenty-Two Teams Take Part in the Split-Log Drag Contest at Rogers. The Commercial Appeal of Memphis, TN - June 8, 1913
Rogers, Ark., June 5 - The below picture taken a few days ago at a road dragging contest held in Rogers, shows the interest being taken in the good road movement being waged in Benton County. There are 22 teams with split-log drags in the picture. Eleven hundred pounds of flour was given to the participants in the big contest, each receiving a 50-pound sack of flour. Active road dragging is being done in many parts of the county, and as a result some of the best roads in the state are found around Rogers.
Photo courtesy Randy McCrory
Photo shown in the Memphis newspaper. An explanation of what the flour was for would have been appreciated. Was it the amount of weight they pulled to flatten the road, or was it a participation prize?