The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-04-08

y Il
upon circumstances, but ordinarily it is
better to use well burnt tiles. The
Joints should be protected with we'll
fitting collars. and the descent should
be enough to insure speedy discharge.
The place of discharge should be ju-
diciously selected and should be pro-
tected where possible with retaining
wall of stone. As there is liability Of
neglect in clearing the outlet from
accumulations of earth, grass, sticks,
&c., there should be ample outfall. In
narrow roads one drain beneath the
centre will accomplish the purpose, but
in roads Of considerable width there
should be two drains parallel with the
central line. In all cases there should
be double drains through all "springy
Places In such places, in regions
where small stones are abundant, we
have great and permanent benefits to
result from filling broad deep drain
with stones, and thus raising the road
bed at the same time that the water
was removed.
There are many townships and
counties in the State Of New York
where there should be drain under
every rod of road Of road, while there
are some others with the character
Of subsoil above mentioned where sub
drainage is unnecessary.
j The removal of surface water is much
more generally understood. In the
FIRST place the road bed shonld have an
arched surface, the grade of which will
be more particularly mentioned here
after, and there should be broad, free
!. cutters at the roadside to receive the
water and convey it away. IF roads
are well constructed but few breaks
will be required, but upon hills they
are frequently necessary. They should
be made very wide in proportion to the
height Of the embankment and to the
depth Of the gutter, SO that vehicles
can pass over them easily. A short,
sharp. jerky break is, always and every.
where, an abomination. Much judg-
ment is required in disposing of the
surface water, in grading the cutters
and in conveying it from one side Of
the road to the other until it is finally
| discharged. When it is taken acoss
the road it should invariably be through
culverts beneath the surface. These
may be constructed Of planks, or Of
stone, or large terra-cotta pipes may be
used.
i The proper surface and subdrainage
of roads is of such importance in their
permanent improvement that even il
nothing else is attempted this will have
accomplished great good for the present
and for the future.
CONTRACTING.
! In all improved roads Of the higher
classes, the use of heavy rollers is a
necessity. 1t is not generally known
how much ordinary "dirt roads" may
be benefited by THAR use. OF course
they have but little eject upon sands
and sandy loans, but upon nearly all
other soils they can be used with ad
vantage. The compacting Of the road
bed makes it sound A greater per.
centage of the rainfall runs off from the
surface, and much less is taken into
the bed. The compacted surface also
offers more even resistance TO the, i'm.
pact of wheels, while stones are pressed
down out Of the way. In grading up q
road the roller should be kept in oper-
alton as the successive lawyers Of ma
terial are added, so as to make the
whole solid and homogeneous.
Shortly after the frost is out of the
ground in the spring the roads should
be thoroughly rolled. 1t is surprising
to see how much they will compress,
and how solid the bed will become. AS
it dries, it will become hard and fitted
for use. Thereafter, it will not be.
come SO muddy after rains. nor so dusty
in dry weather. Before winter sets 10, a
thorough COMPRISING forces out much
water, and causes the operation of frost
to be less injurious to travel. An oc.
casioDal use of the roller is Of advantage
during the thawing weather Of winter,
: smoothing the surface and preventing
excessive roughnsss when freezing
again comes.
For road purposes much greater
weight is required than in the ordinary
rolling Of land in farming operations
+ 1t is advisable to bave from two to
eight tons to length oil elk to eight