The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-06-26

or business visit, he has to travel in rectan-
gular zigzags, after going two or three miles
out of his way. Such method should not
be prepetuated, but should be dropped as
soon as possible.
Secondly, other things being equal, every
road should be nearly level. If not, the
load will have to be greatly diminished, as
great part of the strength of the animal
is exerted in overcoming the hill. Inclina-
tions being always injurious are especially
so where single slope occurs in a long line
Of comparatively level road, because the
load has to be reduced to what can be
hauled over this hill. 1t is generally
deemed cheaper to go half mile around
hill than to go over one one hundred feet
high If possible to avoid it, a road should
never have grade of more than one foot in
th1rty-five, or less than one in one hundred
and twenty-five, as without the latter we
cannot have perfect drainage.
Third; we will consider roads as to their
cross section. Very few roads in this coun-
try are properly shaped, and it is seldom
that any attempt is made to shape them at
a. ALL But when an effort is made the cross
section is generally that of convex curve, ap-
preaching a segment of circle, which is an
improper form, it being impossible to obtain
section is that of two inclined planes, meet
ing in the center of the road, the degree of
inclination depending upon the sur ace of the
road, it being always greatest where it is
rough. This does not apply to roads on hill
sides. They should be higher on the out
side, and lower on the inside, the ditch be-
ing next the hill. With this exception, all
roads should haye two bitches, as it is an
indisputable fact, that without good drain
age we cannot have good roads. The proper
width of road depends upon its Importance
and the amount of travel over it, it's mini
mum being sixteen feet, which is sufficient
to enable two wagons to pass with ease.
A width of thirty feet is sufficient for any
road, except one which forms the approach
to large city or town, which of course
should be greater. A common road wider
than this is not simply waste of land, but
also the time and labor necessary to keep it
in repair. Hardness and smoothness of sur
face are the next requirements of good
road, and without some artificial covering,
these essentials cannot be attained.
Another object of this covering is to pro-
tect the road from the action of
the weather, and not to act as an arch to
bear the weight of the vehicle. Among the
substances used for this purpose are gravel,
broken stone including McAdam and Tel
ford roads, pavements, and roads of wood,
which include corduroy, plank and charcoal.
OF all these the plank road is generally con-
sidered the best, because it renders trans
portation so easy, enables such large loads
to be handled with the minimum amount of
horse power, etc, that in some places it has
received the name ''the farmers railroad. :"
In presenting to you this imperfect sketch
of the important principles of road making,
it has not been my intention to go into the
many details, as this would require more
time than has been given me. But [ have
simply endeavored by impressing upon you
a few of the more important principles, to
arouse some interest in this important
though greatly neglected subject. As so
much of the well-being of a country depends
upon it's roads, more interest should there
fore be taken in the subject by all classes
of people, and this can only be effected by
discu ssion of such subjects.