St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-11-15
How to Make a Road.

eve co,dense" says thu Engineering
News, 1.-The following hints from cir
cular issued by the Roads Improvement
Association of England. an organization
form I'D to dis ribLte matter fol the edu-
catvn of local highway authorities, road
contractors and others, on the proper con-
struction, mantainance, and repair OF
hig hways. ,sa,.
to remain on road, but fill it up at once
with chips from the stone heap. Always
use chips for patching, AMI for repairs
during the summer months. Never put
fresh stones on the lad if by cross picking
and thorough use of the rake the surface
can be kept smooth, and kept at the
proper strength of section. The rake is
the most useful tool in your collection, and
it should be kebt close at hand the whole
year round Never spread large patches
of stone over the whole width of the road,
but coat the middle or horse track first.
and when this has worn in, coat each of
the sides in turn In moderately dry
weather, and on hard roads, always pick
up the old surface In ridges six inches
apart; and removing all large and project
ing stones before applying new coating
Never spread the stones more than one
stone deep, but add second one when
the first one has worn in, if one coating be
not enough. Use steel-pronged fork to
load the barrows at the stone heap, so
that the siftings may be available for bind
ing and for Summer repairs. Never shoot
stones on the road aud crack them where
they lie, or smooth surface will be out OF
the question. Go over the whole of the
new coating every day or two with the
rake, and nevar leave the stones in ridges
Never put stone upon road for repair
ing purposes that will not pass freely III
every direction through a two-inch ring,
and remember that still smaller stones
should be used for patching and all slight
repairs. Hard stone should be broken to
a finer gauge than soft, but the two-inch
gauge is The largest that should be EN-
ployed under any circumstances: Never
be without your ring gauge. 1t should De
to the roadman what the compass is to the
mariner, and if you have no ring gauge
remember MacAdam's advice that any stone
that YOU cannot easily put into your mouth
should be broken smaller. Use nothing
but chips for binding newly Laid stones
together and remember that road sweep
ings, horse droppings, sods of grass, and
other ru bbish. when used for this purpose,
will ruin the best made road.
"Water- worn or rounded stones should
never bs used upon steep grades. or they
will fail to bind together.
"Never allow dust or mud to lie on 'n iI7
surface of the road, for either of these Will
keep a road in filthy condition for weeks
at a time, instead of allowing It to dry III y
a few hours. SEE that all sweepings ana
scrapings are put into heaps and car'eo
away Immediately, ,, .,n.us
be little higher than the Sides so tne
rain NAV run into the side cutters al once
Never allow the wa.er-tables. cutters
and bitches to clog up, but keep them clear clear
the whole year through. Always be upon pom
your road in wet weather and at once nj
nm with chips any hollows or ruts wheIe
the rain may lie When the main coat
ines Of stone have worn in, 60 over the NJ,
whole road, and, gathering together al
the loose stones, return them to the s'one
near for use in the winter to follo" 10,
loose stones are source of danger an ,
annoy anca, and should never be a1o~eo
to lie on any read"