The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-27

p. of e. @. Morrow. of Illinois University.
comparatively narrow raised roadway Is
better than one of greater width, as the surface
drainage will be better; but very narrow bed.
with much ''crown" or slope to the sides is almost
always objectionable not giving any choice in
travel, thus causing deeper ruts. When used
while the surface is wet, the wheels and horses
feet will certainly make ruts and holes, and, in
most soils, these are so puddled as to be imper-
vious to water, 80 that extra slope to the sides
is of little importance. If 1t were practicable to
prevent the roads being used during or soon
after rains, the surface of well drained roads
would soon become dry and hard AS this can
not be done, we must rely on securing as good
drainage as is possible. and on promptly filling
the ruts and holes made during the wet weather.
When the land is wet. lines of tile laid at the
sides of the road, inside the open bitches, will
be a very great help in carrying off water which
would otherwise have to be removed much more
slowly, and largely by evaporation-always pro-
vided the work is well done, and there be good
outlet for these drains. Tile drainage will not
give US ideal roads in wet weathery but 1t may DO
more 10 improve the roads in many sections of
the State than any one thing of equally small
cost
1t should be remembered that the rights and
duties of road commissioners may extend out
side the atty sixty feet set apart for the road.
The good results of grading, ditching and thing.
are often largely dependent upon outlet bitches
or drains extending, perhaps, for long distance
through adjacent lands. IL the land owners will
cooperate, well; if not, the commissioners should
exercise their legal rights Often the public
in adjoining lands than by making larger ponds
at the roadside in attempts to secure good roads
in wet land by further raising the surface.
1t is not the province of this paper to give de-
tails of road construction or describe the ma
chinery to be used. 1t may be sad however,
thatit Ia to be hoped that the time will soon
come when road making and repairing will be
done exclusively by men whose special business
this is, and not by men working out their tax;
that the work of construction and important
repairs should be done, whenever possible, In
the spring or early summer, as throwing lot
of unpacked earth on the surface in the fall is
an abomination; that it seems probable the day
of general use of dumping scrapers has gone
by, but, that ii used, common humanity and
economy demand that the surface be made uni
form instead of series of little hills; that 1t s
desirable to have, perhaps, three feet OF level
surface at each side before commencing the
browning" of the road bed, as helping to pre-
vent the filling Of the ditches that making side
bitches and raising the center is important even
on billy ground, else there may be great trouble
from washing; that careful attention to the
small culverts is only less important than pro-
viding large bridges where needed.
Most of all does it need to be impressed on
many In authority that it is great waste to
keep up the system of letting the roads alone
cept once year, or when they become impassar
ble Within week / have been one Of hun
dreds who have been bounced and Jolted In farm
wagon and light buggy over leading road, the
ruts in which were being slowly filled at cost OF
time, comfort horse flesh and injury to vehicles;
yet where days work by one man and pair Of
horses, with any one of several road machines,
would have made miles of this road 80 smooth
that travel over it would have been pleasure.
We have advanced far enough in civilization
to think of making the roadsides places of beau
ty. covered with grass and with reasonable tree
planting, rather than the home of unsightly or
noxious weeds. or having them lined with hedges
all view, keeping out the breezes and keeping
in ali dust, as well as greatly retardng evapora-
ton.