Iron County register., 1893-09-07
MAINTAINING ROADS.


why 1t Pays TO Keep Them In Good Re-
pair All ths Time.
There are two methods OF maintain-
ing roads, one by repairing them occa-
sionally. annually or semi-annual1y,
and the other By keeping them con-
stantIv in good repair BY the first
method the road is allowed to deterio-
rate until ls needs extensive repairs.
By the second method the road is kept
up by slight mendinR as soon as it is
needed. With the first method the road
is rarely in good condition. With the
second method it is always in good con-
dition, and yet the second method costs
less than the first. The way the coun-
try roads are usually managed will in
sure bad roads most of the time Once
q year, when farm work is not press
ing, farmers are called out for working
on the roads. Soil and stones are
heaped promiscuously into the road,
and it is quite probable that the sur
face will not be only partially leveled
oil, but left as the scraper dumped its
loads. If there is anything more trying
to good nature than to haul on an un-
repaired road, it is to haul on one
which has just been worked by the
usual method.
A few minutes work at the proper
time, in keeping the water from follow
ing the wheel tracks, will save days OF
labor in repairing damages. In road
making stitch in time saves more
than nine. Keep all water off from
road as far as possible. This necessi-
tates q smooth, sloping surface, SO that
water will run off Immediately; and.
also proper catch-waters to keep the
water from following the wheel tracks.
The modern idea is to make a good road
surface at the minimum expense con-
sistent with good results. and then
make provision for constant oversight
and maintenance. Only by constant,
unremitting care and attention can any
road be kept in proper condition. Eter-
nal vigilance is the price of good roads,
as well as of liberty.
Mr. w. A. Sweet, of Syracuse, N. Y,
makes the following suggestion as to
road saying: stHave the state pass
law making it imperative on all two
horse farm wagons and all others that
carry over ton to use 4 inch width of
tires, and to have the hind wheels set
inches further apart than the forward
ones. With this law in force road
making will be reduced &C. per cent.
When wagons are thus made they will
not track, and you have no ruts. Nc
one ever saw ruts around the corners
of any country road. Each wheel rolls
down and does not cut the road. It is
absolutely true that the wagon draws
easier" One of the most efficient inn
plement for keeping an earthen road
smooth is the road hone. This may be
made of an oak plank about foot wide
and 10 feet long, shod on its front
lower edge with an iron plate. A
tongue is attached to it SO that it may
be held vertically on the shod edge. It
is attached to the tongue SO as to make
an angle with the perpendicular to the
axis of the road when it is in operation,
so that the earth may be either drawn
to or from the center of the road. It is
of special use when the road is begin
ming to dry, after being cut up during
the winter. A still better implement for
road making is the modern road ma
cl inc. No road should be allowed to
deteriorate until it needs q plow and
scraper for repairs. The more frequent
use of the hone and roller is what is re-
quired. The width of wagon tires has
an important effect on earth roads.
When the tire is narrow, the wheels OF
loaded wagons facilitate the making of
ruts. In New York turnpike law was
enacted providing that all vehicles with
tire inches wide should pay only
half toll; those inches wide one-quar-
ter toll; and those 12 inches wide, no
toll. Wagons carrying one ton should
have tires inches wide; tons,
inches; and increase inch per ton to
inches wide.