Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-08-12
Stones IN the Highway.

I'll inc hiBuWays
Every man thinks he knows how to make or
repair highway. The exceptions--is there are
any-are quite rare. Whoever heard person
that was elected "lIghway Surveyor" in any of
our country towns, excuse himself from acting
in that capacity on account of finexperience or
want of knowledge Of the business? Wenever
did. This error is akin to another common
one viz: Every man thinks be is good far
mer, whether mechanic, sailor, merchant or
scholar he has no doubt but he can manage a
farm well in all its details and make money out
of it. There seems TO be sort of ilea that
these accomplishments come by nature, as did
Dogberry's "readin' and rilin'!"
Never was a greater mistake. The act Of
road-making and keeping in good condition is
understood BY comparatively few, and the an
nual loss in New England through want of
proper knowledge in this particular is immense
| This knowledge should include in the first place
the direction Of the road, whether it should pass
over hills " around them, and in some cases
this will equire pretty careful mathematical
calculations in order to reach proper result.
The next loiut to be attended to would be
dI'uinaye. This has been almost entirely over
| looked in the construction OF carriage roads,
and to great degree in the construction of
railroads. The next point to be considered
would be that of foundation, and that can new
er be safely and permanently secured without
q proper drainage. We know d pieces of road
where this essentirl point has been neglected,
which have already cost enough to pave them
well with granite blocks, ami without materially
improving their condition. In one piece, drain
age was attempted, but the labor was expended
in the wrong place, through want of proper
knowledge of the position OF things, and no
permanent improvement was accomplished. On
the same piece of road, sand, gravel and small
stones have occasionally been applied through
a period OF twenty years, and yet the road still
remains one OF the worst in our knowledge. A
proper drainage would correct the whole diff
Gully. The road lies on the edge Of an exten-
sive plain, on lower ground than the plain, and
not far from the river. The water on this plain
must, of course be in large quantity. and is al
ways finding its way directly under this road to
the river. When it reaches this road, which is
made comparatively compact by the materia ais
used upon it and by the constant passage o
heavy teams over ii, the course of the water i:
partially arrested, and rises by capillary attract
/ ion to the surface, so that it is unusually wet
In this condition it is soft easily cnt into rut,
by the wheels, which go down to the stones
making the road about as uncomfortable as thu
/, worst "corduroys" in the woods in Maine.
Whoever repairs this road, and succeeds il
! making it good one, will do it mainly by al
application of the principles of draiusge.
{ The next thing to be observed in making
road are the selection of materials and the par
| pdration of hem-but we will not discuss thes
: now.
Our attention has been called TO the subject
, by observing, during the late dry weather. tn,
, bad condition Of many Of the roads over whcl
we have travelled, and especially in regard L
| The numerous small atones which lie upoT
D them.
, In most cases. gravel is hauled and dropped
| upon the roads, including all the stones tha
weigh less than four or five pounds. This i
slightly levelled with the hoe, and left for III
3 traveller to get over il as best he can. Thes
=, stones remain upon the surface until the mu,
| is sufficiently deep to allow portion Of then
b to be pressed into it. When the road become
t dry, the remaining portion are constantly trig
: ging the wheels, throwing down the horses o
$ are hit by their hoofs and knocked out of III
way. Every time one of them is run over by
heavy team, or even light one it is throw
# suddenly against the surface and gouges out
e place, larger or smaller, and so continues unit