The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-02-16

| III repair, and the loaded wagons that have
to ascend it must have the weight they carry
graduated to the power required to make
the ascent, or additional horses must be put
on to overcome this portion Of the route
Very frequently in instances of this kind, a
marked Improvement might be effected by
carrying the road around the hill, instead Of
directly across it where even, if the way be
rather longer the strain put upon the horses
! will be lessenad. and heavier loads may be
drawn with the same team. But as most of
our roads have already been in use for many
years, and as they frequently mark the
boundaries of estates, u change in their di-
rection might be found, ifuotimpractcable
yet so baset with obstacles, as to render it
very difficult. Under these circumstances,
the best that can now be done with such
roads, is to improve the road bed. For this
| purpose, either gravel or broken stone con-
| Sttute the best materials but where these
cannot be obtained, resort must be had to
other substances. Oyster shells make an
| excellent road bed, as so does the refuse
Stag and cinders from an iron furnace. The
best Foundation for dirt road in the alb
sence of these, is n gravelly hard pan, free
from water; the next best, gravel and clay
in such proportions as they will pack hard"
| Undertaking in moist places, or where
| the rain falls great, should never be neglect
ed. In wet soils, and underdran four feet
| deep and running lengthwise of the road, is
| the best, if its volume Of water can be dis
| charged at some convenient point. The
road bed itself should not be too wide ff-
| teen feet from the centre to the bitches on
either side will be ample for most purposes
the road sloping imperceptibly from the
centre tothe bitches, Onno account should
water be suffered to stand in the latter
Where TIE course of the water is to be turn
ed across the road, instead Of abrupt breaks
the road should take gentle rise IN The up
per portion of it, with no perccptible break
in the grade below A carriage or wagon
will easily run over these impevccptible
swells without experiencing that rough jolt
which gives so dislocating wrench to the
springs and iron work where the road breaks
are badly made, as they generally are now.
1t is best to repair roads late in the spring
and during the summer season, so as to al
low time for the bed to harden or solidily
before the winter sets in. Autumn mend
ing, even when well done, Subsequently inet
fectiye against freezing and thawing. -Wher
ever practicable, no ascent should exceed
one foot in twenty four, and the road should
have free exposure to sun and wind SO as
to produce rapid evaporation Of moisture.
SIN the construction Of Il new road practice
must adapt itself to circumstances. There
is no rule that will hold good in ali stua
tons. In some places the soil is just right,
it cannot be improved and will never need
repairs. Other situations only require slight
grading, so as to form q level road bed
In other places the soil is good, but contains
bon!ders. Every one of these, within foot
of the surface, should be removed. A sin.
gle stone may be tramped fifty times day
by passing wagons. 1t will be low to csti.
mate the average damage at five cents
thump, and this, in one day, would pay the
expense of removing the stone. The dam
age that one stone may do in single year
would be sufficient to clare mile Of road
bed
Constant attention should be given to the
repairing of bridges and the cleaning out of
drains. A slight coating of earth thrown
on a road will pack hard, even itran should
follow whilst thick coating spread care.
lcssly, would cut up into ruts and would be-
come quagmrc and remain so for months.
\ well made road bed will only become
moist from bencath, or from defective drain
age. If well packed and well sloped, it will
shed water like roof. Our present system
OF road mending looks badly, and something
should be done to remedy it. The annual
patching, rs it is now done, only makes
them gradually worse. Yet with slight
changes in grade and with good bitches and
well rounded road bed, many ofthem already
in use would require BUTTE repairs. Good
country roads are a necessity, and we trust
they will soon be so considered. They add
much to the comfort Of the community, to
the value Of the land through which they
pass and are, in every other respect, cconom.
lcal.-Maryland Farmer.