The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-09-07
Road Drainage,

The one thing necessary 70 a good
road-earth, gravel, maeadam, or paved
is thorough drainage Of the foundation.
Money has been misspplied in road
making because Of neglect Of thorough
drainage, even when the money has been
used 10 build roads Of material that
should give them q permanent character.
On the Western praiFies. where the natu-
ral drainage Is poor, unclaimed gravel
roads have become mud roads when put
70 the severe test Of long rainy spell in
winter and early spring. Not in the least
unfortunate results Of this has been
prejudice against gravel roads in particu-
lar, and asearceiy less pronounced dis
trust Of permanent roads in general.
Lack Of drainage was the real cause Of
the failure.
Whether the road is 10 be OF earth,
gravel, or maeadam, the earth roadbed
should be graded, erOwning it twelve TO
fifteen feet wide, and twelve 70 eighteen
inches higher in the middle than at the
edges. Along each edge should be cut a
shallow ditch. This Is 4 correct general
statement, which, of course. should be
modified to suit peculiar circumstances.
Thus, in a very hilly country, especially
if the soil washes easily, the bitches
should not be cut AZ the sides, as they
are not necessary, and viii become seri-
ous gullies. In a billy country it is not
Necessary 70 crown the roadbed 50 high,
but the erowning must always be suifi-
cient to insure ready surface drainage.
Twelve to fourteen feet in width is suti-
cieht Making the road wider has been
found a needless expense.
With those soils and subsoils especial
ly vel adapted to drainage, eFowning
the roadbed and cutting the bitches at
the side viii secure the necessary drain
age, but where the soil and subsoil arc
not favorable 10 drainage, additional
measures must be taken. In the coun-
try in which I reside, gravel road has
been made for twenty miles, near the
Mississippi river bluffs. This road ison
q soil and subsol decidedly grayelly,
giving splendid drainage. This gravel
road is now eighteen years old, aud has
proved satisfactory. The only means
taken to secure drainage vas Il crown
the roadbel a little in low places. To
make a gravel road in this way over the
greater part Of the same country would
be waste Of money, for in most places
the soil is black prarie loan, and the sub
soil tenacious cay.
Il has been found quite satisfactory in
most localities, having q black surface
soil and clay subsoil, to lay a drain Of
tile along each side, neaE the edge Of the
roadbed. This has been found better
location than near the middle Of the
roadbed. The O1ice Of the tile Is TO carry
OF the water brought sp from below
rather than water sinking in from above.
In some localities il is Necessary . use
.hrse drains-0ne line Of tile beneath the
,enter Of the roadway, and enc under
zach ditch at the side. It seems unnatu
-al 10 put the tile under the side bitches
but this location has been the best.
When the roadbed Is 70 be graveled or
the croSning earth found
alton should be nicely smoothel and
hen rolled until quite solid. Il is well,
also, IN this clse % pa. the clay subsoil
-fon the bitches on 10 thesurface. When
rolled 1t makes hard, smooth surface a.
most imperyious to water, and over
which viii dow, or to the bitches at the
ides, the rain nEater that may sink
.hrough the gravel or mac1dam. When
lie surf2ce is to be Of earth only, the
LAY subsoil sh01ld be kept underneath,
md the natural soil be placed on top.
The surface soil viii usually afford much
better drainage than the subsoils, and
make a better road surfaee.-4asericns
4 4gr'cuhurisf