The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-03-31
Country RoadMakin

VIC pudSS vi tHlo euoJeSb tIut uao
been least discussed by public journ-
als-the making and mending Of
country roads-is quite as important
and less understood than any other.
A large proportion Of American farm
products never reach the railroads.
They are consumed either on the
farm or in the villages and cities
whittier the farmers team and wagon
convey them. Most Of these farmers
live SO far from market that one full
day at least is consumed in market
ing load Of produce. If the roads
are uniformly good and level team
will draw two tons Of grain more
easily than on ordinary roads they
will draw half that amount. This
may seem to some too great differ
ence, but it is because we have too
few really good roads Too little at.
tention ispaid grading, In along
stretch Of level roads, a slight hill
may compel every teamster to put on
much less than he should be able to
do. In such case it would be better
to grade the hill, if that be possible,
or go around it. The measure Of
value Of road is what team can
draw over the hardest part Of it.
There is a decided increase in the
selling value Of farms which always
have a good and levelroad to market.
| do not believe the importance Of
having good roads is appreciated as
it should and will be, but there is
already an understanding on this
subject which makes intelligent road
Improvement profitable. As rule,
most of the work annually put upon
country highways is wasted. Con-
seriousness of this fact is one reason
why such work is generally shirked
as fur as possible. Most men will
not work at their road tax as they
do on their farms for themselves. If
they could know that their work on
the road was as directly for their own
benefit as that which they do in
everyday farm work, this would not
be SO. To havemen engage earnestly
in road.making, it must be shown
that their labors are producing good
results. As it is now, very often the
harder men work the worse will be
the roads.
The severe winters and supera-
bundant rains and SHOWS of our
northern climate, make the keeping
of roads in repair extremely difficult.
We have hardly begun to appreciate
the Importance of UNDERMINING to
keep roads in good order. 1t is, on
all heavy soils, the first thing to be
done. In neighborhoods where farm.
crs underdrain their land, the roads
are much better than where they do |
not. Very often the drain crosses
the road, and always at a point
where it will be Of most advantage.
With an underdrain three feet deep
crossing a road, and usually in a de-
preston, it should be easy to keep
long stretch of road always dry
This is the place to put in piece of
macadam turnpike-two or three
layers of stone lightly covered with
earth and gravel. The macadam
turnpike is really thoroughly.
drained road-bed when it is perfect.
The reason why it 50 often fails is
because iE many places there is no
outlet to the drain. The water runs
under the road to some depression,
and there lies until winter frosts
have lifted the stones from their
foundation, and left the road quag-
mire as soon as spring came. If the
macadam road-bed is connected with
an underdrain it will obyiate this
trouble and make firm and perma-
nent road-bed.
Piling loose earth and sods in the
center of the road may be somewhat
better than leaving the surface level.
But if the soil is vegetable matter,
sods and the like, the more it is piled
up the worse the road-bed will sure
ly be. Nothing will do any good ex-
cept to first remove surplus water by
stone or tile underdrain. When this
is done, it is surprising how little
stone or gravel is needed. l am glad
that road.makers are learning to use
more gravel; but in thousands of
places drawing gravel to throw on