Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-04

4 us csh Cdh oC PS'S"see 80 o
measure by forming paved drains across
the road, at 80 or 100 yards from each o.
Their in ascending hills.
The most durable and easy road Tor
heavy traffic over an argllaceous or loa
my soil. whatever the form and breadth
may be, is made Of stone and gravel
The natural earth is raised above the sur
fate of the adjoining land lew feet wi
der than the part to be travelled over. A
channel is left or formed in the middle,
80 feet vide, If that is the intended width,
in which are placed with care large stones
well beaten close to each other over the
whole width. Upon This is another bed
Of stones, broken to the size Ut 4inches,
well hammered and ra urned in, 30 as to
fill all the cavities between The unoer
stratum Of large stones. The third and
last layer should be Of coarse gravel, or
stones broken to the size Of hickory nuts,
thrown on evenly and we'll ramned or
rolled with heavy iron roller. The first
bed should be from IL to Is inches thick.
the second IL inches, and the last about
10 inches in the middle and s a: the
sides. But if the materials are too re.
mote from the line of the contemplated
work, and this mode of construction
would he 100 expensive, the road should
be in more simple and economical way.
The following manner Of working may
be pursued.
The earth should be thrown up 40 feet
wide, about II inches above tine adJoin.
ing land. which in most cases will be Ell.
fected by digging the ditckes on each
side for drains. Upon this bed, a coat
ing Of gravel, or stones broken fne' should
be evenly spread about one foot thick IN
the middle and inches at the side OF the
cartway, which should be so feet wide
the convsxity Of the road to be IL inches,
and bitches to be formed every where a.
long the sides, into which all the water
should be admitted, to run of into the
neighboring branches or creeks. None
should be allowed to settle or remain in
the drains, as this would keep the bed nj
the road soft and spongJ BY absorption
After the bed is made even, it should be
we'll rolled with heavy iron rollers, and
allowed to settle, before the gravel is
laid on, which should be rolled also, and
the road allowed to settle before it is
used.
Wherever there is long ascent or
descent, there should be level places
formed at intervals, where cattle may &C.
casionally stop and rest in going up, so as
not to remain in draught. and the car.
rage stand on a plane surface. For want
of these stopping places, we often see
wagsoners blocking their wheels with
stones or billets Of wood, to relieve their
horses and let them breathe. In long
hills this is done FIVE or six times. The
consequence 10, horses often become res
tive from having to set of in full draught,
and lose their spirits and strength under
the inhuman cruelty inflicted with the
whip. These resting places give encou-
ragemeut to the team, and they move of
for few yards on level and ascend the
next angle with readiness and refreshed
strength. Such places should be few
yards long, and from so to $50 yards from
each other where the ascent is steep.
Another advantage of these resting Pla-
ces is, il gives an opportunity Of forming
stone or paved cutters, where the water
descending the hill may be turned eff be-
fore it has run far enough to wash out
deep ruts, which are great evils in roads
ever hills, nay often become channels for
violent currents, where the treading oil
horses under heaving draughts, becomes
uncertain and difficult, and throw almost
all the weight on the wheels which hap
pen to fall into them.