St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-02
Road Making and Mending.

The Importance of good roads to a
community cannot be overestimated
Nothing will sooner commend Il town
to stranger, or cause him to form Il
favorable opinion of its inhabitants,
than good and well-kept streets and
roads. There is benefit arising from
keeping the roads in good condition,
aside from the comfort and convenience
OF those who may have occasion to
travel over, or do business on, the
highway, for property will sell enough
higher in such communities to pay the
expense OF making good roads. No
expenditure made 10y the town is more
satisfactory in its results, or better re-
paid, if intelligently and honestly ap-
piled.
The work should be done early in
the season, rs soon as the road is suffi-
cieutly settled not to be damaged bv
teaming OH it. All know that tillage
land worked in II wet condition, will
settle down hard and remain SO during
the rest of the season. The same rule
will hold good in working IA road. Ma
terlal put in early settles down hard
and makes firm surface put on late,
1t remains loose and is displaced by
the wheels all through the season. One
dollar applied in April will do us much
good as two III June or later. The best
material for making repairs is good
coarse gravel. 1t is better to purchase
good gravel and draw it a long distance
than to put on soil, clay and sods,
which are the materials too often used
for the purpose. The plowing ND of
the sides of the road and throwing the
material thus obtained into the path, is
poor practice, unless it is to receive Il
good covering of gravel, as the sand
and soil have often been thrown in be-
fore and us often been washed out. 1t
makes poor and muddy road and is a
damage instead of benefit.
Many of the improved road-scrarers
made for the purpose, and which are
used III various parts of the state, do
good work, and much cheaper than the
same amount of work can be done in
any other way. 1t would be a good
Investment for every town to have one
for the use of the different highway
districts.
Roads not much used, which have
become ridged may be plowed and har-
rowed, and then leveled with hoes
thus long piece of road, may be put
in good order at small expense. Often
no more material is wanted; it only
needs putting in place and the surface
put in proper shape. Such roads NAV
be easily plowed early in the season,
just as the frost is out.
Water is the greatest hindrance to
keeping and maintaining a good road.
The path should be sufficiently rounded
to shed all surface water, and water
should be turned off at the ton of q
hill. So self-evident is this that but
few need to be told of it, vet but few
succeed in doing it effectually. By al
lowing water to run down in the path
frequent and costly repairs are made
necessary. The water-bars made tt
prevent it are often so awkwardly con.
structed as to be dangerous to rid,
over. Water which comes from under
meath can only be remedied by drain.
age. 1t is useless to pile on material
with the idea of getting above the
water, as it will work up through and
make the road soft and wet. A GOOD
open drain should be maintained nj
each side of the road to carry off stag.