The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-12-08

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road Improvement, and conclude that
in IT there Is remedy for all the de-
fects which may be encountered But
we are convinced that the best improve
rnent Of our highways will combine at
least three essential features. which
are:
l. A road embanlzment of sufsicien.
height TO be at least above overflow
from extraordinary rainfall and suisi-
GENTLY browning to shed the water
readily. and wide enough to accommo-
date the travel and not Of gr-atcr
width.
>. That the road shall have OMEN
bitches on each side Of sufficient capac-
ity 20 carry all flood water from the
roadway and from the lands adjoining
int, the nearest water course without
hiDdrance. The surface or oper
bitches should have such a perfect
grade that no water will find lodQ-
ment along the line Of the road On
either side
3. That two lines OF tile drains lie
placed parallel with the roads. one ON
each side, at the base Of the embank.
mcnt.
The underdrains should be laid at the
depth of three or more feet The size
of the tile will depend on the length Of
the drain and the fall. but il is probabic
that they should not be less than four
inches in diameter in any case and az
much larger as the needs may require
The three essential features named en-
-
the surface water. speedily and effect
uallv: the removal of the water of sat
uration remaining after the removal Of
the surface water. and the prevention
of the how Of soil water under the
road-bcd. Tie underdrains should
have a uniform descent or grade 10
some natural stream or outlet. where
the water discharged will flow away
freely and at no time back up in the
drain. The browning of the road
should be sufficient 10 cause the water
falling upon the surface of the road to
flow readily through the side bitches
If il fails TO flow away and remains in
the ruts and depressions il will increase
the amount of mud and the incon-
venience Of travel Roads in such
condition should have road machines
passed over them as often as necessary
to make and keep the surface level
il is a mistaken idea that an under
drain laid in the middle Of the road
will drain the surface Of the road. The
travel and the action of the water fall
ing upon the road will so effectually
cover the surface that no water on the
the road will find its way down to the
drain thus laid. TO the contrary. the
horse tracks and ruts will hold water
like earthen vessels until IL is removed
by evaporation or otherwise. Roads
gravelcd and drained as proposed will
cost from 800 to $500 mile. but when
done they will be good roads for eleven
months and commercially passable the
remainder of the year with a little
timely repair. Where gravel and stone
are not to be had at reasonable cost
we know of no Improvement SO salts
factory in all respects As the roads well
graded and sufficiently drained Where
gravel or broken stone can lie had IL
will be found that the thorough drain
age of the road as proposed will save
half the gravel or stone that world
otherwise be required to make a good
road. a dry foundation to build upon is
the most important factor in road con-
struction. Tile drains may be used to
intercept water percolatinC through
the earth Of the higher ground adj
jacent and likely to interfere with the
road. or springs or secret places under
the raadbed may bc drained out with
tile SO rs not 10 interfere with the en-
bankment. After road has been put
into good condition and thoroughly
underdraincd nothing need he done ex.
cept TO keep the surface Of the travel
way smooth and t,e open bitches free
from anT drift accum ulations.
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