The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-07
HOW TO MAKE A ROAD.
sound Rules for Making and Keeping
Good DRIVEWAY.


We condense the following hints from
circular issued by the Roads Improvement
Association, of London, Eng, an organiza-
tion formed 20 distribute matter for the edu.
cation of local highway authorities, road
contractors and others, on the proper con-
-trlIction, maintenance and repair Of high-
WAYS. The actual size Of the largest stone
allowable tor road repair. as recommended
by the Association, is shown on the accom-
panying cut;
Never allow a hollow, a rut or a puddle %
remain on a road. but ill IT up at once win
chips from the stone heap. Always use
chips for patching, and for all repair dur
ing the summer months. Never put lIesh
ZONES on the road il by cr0ss-picking and
thorough use OF the rake the surface can be
made smooth and kept al the proper strength
of section. The rake is the most useful 1901
in your collection. and IL should be Kept
close nj hand the whole year round. Never
spread large patches OfstOne over the WhOle
width OF the road, but coat the middle or
horse track first, and, when this mas
worn in. coat each Of the sides IN
turn. In moderate. dry weather. ana
on hard roads, always pick up the Oh sur
face into ridges six inches apart, ana re-
move all large and projecting stones before
applying a new coating. Never spread
stones more than one stone deep, but aGd "a
second layer when the first has worn IN u
one coating be not enough. - a steel
pronged fork to load the barr0ws at the
stone heap, 50 that the siftings may De
available tor binding and for summer re-
pairs. Never shoot stones on 10 the foae
and crack them where they lie, or smooIh
surface will be out of the question.
Go over the whole OF the new coating every
day or two with the rake and never leave
the stones in the ridges. Never put stone
upon a road for repairing purposes thal
viii not pass freely in every direction
through a twO-inch ring and remember that
still smaller stones should be used for
patching and for all slight repairs. Hard
stone should be broken to finer gauge
than soft, but the twO-inch gauge j. the
largest that should be employed under any
circumstances. Never be without your
ring gauge. 1t should be 10 the rOadman
what the compass is 10 the mariner, aud II
YOU have no ring gauge remember Mac
adams advice. that any stone you cannon
easily put in your mouth should he broken
smaller. Use nothing but chips for binding
newly-laid stones together, and remember
that road sweepings. horse droppings, sOds
Of grass, and other rubbish, when used for
this purpose, vii! ruin the best made road.
Water-wOrn On rounded stones should
never be used upon steep grades, on they
will fail TO bind together.
Never allow dust or mud TO iie on the
surface Of the road, for either of these VIII
double the cost OF maintenance. Dust be-
comes mud al the first shower, and mud
forms u wet blanket which will keep road
in filthy condition for weeks ut time, in
stead Of allowing il 10 dry in few hours.
See that all sweepings and scrapings are
put into a heap ana carted away imme-
didtely.
The middle Of the road should always be
a little higher than the sides, so that the
rain may run into the side cutters al once.
Never allow the water tables, cutters, and
bitches to clog up, but keep them clear the
whole year through. Always be upon your
road in wet weather, and at once hll up
with "chIps" any h0llQws or ruts where the
rain may lie. When the main cOatings of
stone have worn in 20 over the whole road,
and gathering together all the loose stones.
return them to the stone heap for use i'm the
winter 10 follow, for loose stones are "a
source Of danger and Annoyance, and should
never be- allowed % DE on any road.-En-
cheering News.