Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-03-23
Country Road Making.

OOullIy hodu making.
The transportation question Is one of
greatest Importance TO American FARM
ers. 1t is probable, however, that the
phase Of this subject that has been least
discussed by public journalistic maxi
Ing and mcnding 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 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 is consume
cd IN marketing load Of produce. If
The roads are uniformly good and ,ey Il
team VIII draw two tons Of gr;ir. more
easily Than cp ordinary ro'is obey will
drpw ha'f That amount. THIS may seem
40 stne to great = difference, but it is
" 'adse we have tcJ few really good
roads. Too Tito attention is paid to
grading. In n long stretch of level
roads, Slight hill may compel every
tcamstcr 10 put on much less than he
should I've able to do. In such case It
would he better TO grade the hill, If that
be possible, or 90 around 1t. The meas
.ure Of value OF road is what team
can draw over the hardest part Of it.
There ia a decided increase IN the sell
ing value of farms which always have a
good and level road TO market. ! do not
believe the importance of having good
roads is appreciated rs 1t should and will
be. but there is already an understand
ing on this subject which makes intclli-
gent road improvement profitable. As a
rule most of the work annually put up
on country highways Is wasted. Con-
seriousness Of this fact Is one reasen why
such work is generally shirked IA far as
possiblc. Most men will not work at
their road lax ~ they do on their faims
for themselves. If they could know
that their work on tho road was rs di-
rectly for their own benefit rs that
they do in every day farm work, this
would not be 80. 10 have men engage
earnestly in road making, 1t must he
shown that their labors are producing
results. As it IL now, very often the
harder men work the worse will be the
roads.
The severe winters and superabun-
lant rains and SHOWS of our northern
climate, make the keeping of roads IN
repair extremely difficult We have
hardly begun to appreciate the impor-
lance Of understanding to keep roads in
good order. II IL, on all heavy soils, the
nrst Thing 10 be done. In ncigh5or-
hoods where farmers undetdran tlciI
land, the roads are much better than
where they do not. Very often The
drain crosses the road, and always at q
poiut where It will he of more advan-
tagc. with Gh undcrdrain three feet
deep crossing u road, and usually IN II
dcprcssion. Il should be easy 10 keep n
long stretch Of road always dry. This
Is the place TO put IN piece of macadam
urnpikc--two or three layers of stone
lightly covered with earth, and gravel,
The macadam turnpike Is really n
thoroughly drained roadbed when 1t II
perfect. The reason Why Il SO often
fails Is because IN many places there l.
40 outlet to the drain. The wafer runs
under lhc road TO some depression, ahd
there lies until winter frosts have lifcd
the stones from ihcii foundation and
lcfl the road qungmlrc rs SOU as the
sprlnr came. If the macadam roadbcd
Is connected with an under drain 1t VIII
obylaic this trouble and make ilfm aud
permanent roadbcd.
PIling loose earth and sods In the CEN
TIRE OF the road may I've somewhat better
than leaving the surfacc level. But Il
the aoll Ia vegetable matter, sods ana the
like, the more It is piled up, the worse
the road-bcd will surely be. Nothing
will do any COOL except TO first remove
surplus water by stone or tile under
drnlne. when this Is doue, Il IL snrpris-
lng how little slcno or gravel Is needed
am glad the road makers are learning
10 usc moro gravel; but In thousands OF
places drawing gravel TO throw ON an
undrancd turnpike Is nearly waste OF
lnbor.-l ". H. y. IN Country Gentleman.