The Delta independent., 1890-12-16
ROAD CONSTRUCTING.
TheroaEh Drainage Essential Whore
Good Roads Ars De.ircd.


Good Roads Are Desired.
George w. Hinkle- writes to tho Or
ange Judd Farmer: In constructing any
system of roads the most important part
is thorough drainage, both under and
surface. An earth road should bo at
least fifty feet wide. with surface
bitches cut as far out on the s!dcs as
they can be made. Carry the earth to
the center, forming an oval grade, about
twenty-four feet wide. Make side bitches
six foo, wide, eighteen inches deep on
outer and s!oping on inner edge. Con-
tinuo side bitches entire length.
Thon underdrain all low land, sprinsy
and seepy hills on both sides OF tho
roadway. conveying the water to good
outlet Where surface water stands on
the sido OF tho road, I'LL in small
space over under-drain with broken
tile. II not able to tile both sides of
the road. then put tilc in tho ccnter of
the roadway. before grading; practical ex-
porience proves this to be successful. Do
away with all small culverts, replacing
them with doublo-strength sower tile.
A road 80 constructed is as near perfect
us one can bo OF Garth. II constructed
according to tho abovo directions, an
excellent foundation is now provided
for gravel road.
In many parts OF this State Qllinois)
gravel exists in quantities seom-
ingly sufficient to "spiderize" tho
State in every direction with first
class highways. We havo about
forty miles of gravel road in this
tParis) township; eight miles built this
summon, with four miles moro undor
contract To construct these roads q
tax is lowed to full limit of law (ono
dollar to each ono hundred dollars) and
when collected such roads arc built as
tho people vote TO DO constructed out Of
this special fund. Tho road to be nude
is divided into sections of one-half milo
in length. We purchase our grav.l,
| strip tho carth from tho surface, and
then advertise for bids by tho section,
| per cubic yard measurement
In putting on tho gravel We uso stock
boards twelve inches wide, fourteen
| foot long, set up on each sido OF centor
| OF roadway. held in place by iron pins;
boards ten or twelve feet apart with
iron pins in center every seven fcct
twelve or fifteen inches above ground.
Whenever two pair Of boards ere filled
| ono pair OF boards and ono pair of CEN
ter pins arc talsen up and moved for.
ward and SGT again. and SO on until tho
| line of road is finished. Now. il taken
care of for twelve months, by keeping
th. gravel worked to tho confer with o
wooden drag, you will havo n road af-
fording pleasure TO rido over at any titno
| OF the year. IL costs from two hundred
to four hundred dollars per milo to
| grade. underdrain and sewer such d road.
but all OF this is done with tho road and
bridge tax. Tho special tax above notod
is used for tho gravel. Tho cost OF
gravelling depends. on many circum-
stances-.how much dirt is on tho
gravel. row close Ito bank is to tho
road to bo constructed. how strong the
competition in bidding, etc. etc. We
got tho Garth removed from our gravel
Tor six and sevcn-ninths to eight cents
per cubic yard. We got the gravel put
on tho road according to last contract)
for an average Of twenty-oi.ht conts
per cubic yard. on road tour and one
quarter miles long. Gravel bank with
in onc-luartcr mile Of road and within
one-half milo Of end OF road.