Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-03-28
CRADLE Holes.


the NeaCSdealer of the 2lst inst, credited
to the Claremont Eagle, headed Grade
roles" discussing the cause and remedy
for them, and as you seem to commend
the remarks applicable to this meridian,
| would like, by your indulgence and per-
mission to make few remarks
Col. Walkers first enquiry is what
shall be done with the traverse sleds, then
says they are very convenient for draw.
ing wood, logging, &C., until they spoil
tie road by making cradle holes Con.
sequently horses and cattle are worried,
sled, sleighs and harnesses damaged. In
the first place | think there never was
cradle hole made yet by sled on account
of its being traverse, nor with long sled
unless there was hollow or an elevation
in the road to begin with, made by Ger.
tain causes exclusive of the traverse sled
or sleigh. They are sometimes caused by
moisture in the ground that thaws the
snow molc in some places than Others
Sometimes by q current of wind that
sweeps the snow III some places and fills
it up in others. l know of roads where
there are numerous CRADLE holes in Ger.
tain localities every winter. Now ifAey
are caused by the traverse sleds, WHY do
they dig them out every winter in the
same place? That slcds will dig them
out deeper and larger we will admit, but
not on account of their being traverse;
but on account of their being low. A
long sled will dive into cradle hole with
much more force than a traverse, conse.
quently will dig deeper hole if the role
and leans can hit the snow. All the
snow that can be dug out of hollow
with the bottom of we'll shaped runner
can he put in a fea's car. If the traverse
is the cause of cradle holes. why were
there any before the traverse came in USE
l remember distinctly there were cradle
holes in the roads over thirty years ago.
will relate one circumstance that took
place some thirty-fve or six years ago,
that caused lasting impression on my
mind, respecting cradle holes. AS was
travelling from Waterville to Cambridge
with two horses, and long sleigh Of
course, overlook lady on foot, who was
going to some of her ncighbors'. II was
bad going. gave her an invitation to
ride at the same time telling her ! had
no seat save the side of the sleigh box,
which was about an inch thick. She &C.
cepted the offer. ] thought to make up
for the deficiency of seat, I would con-
vince her that / had smart horses. !
soon came in contact with bad cradle
hole in the road, and being unprepared it
caused her to make an audible involunta''
ry grunt. | drove more carefully the re-
mainder of the way. especially through the
cradle holes That there are deeper and
larger cradle holes now than before the
travers came into use, / will admit bu'
if we had nothing for slcighs and slclgns
to do our heavy freighting with, but long
ones, we could not go over the road as We
do now. The road would have to he TX.
ed ; whereas the travers will shape ltsell
to circumstances to the ease Of the horS'
harness and driver, therefore the road Is
suffered to go unfxed until they become
very bad and unsafe to drive fast oSo'
with vehicles of long runners. { liH' ''1
.Ha8f FRIEND TO Bon SLEns