Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-12
oRAINAee ALL IMPORTANT.
UEleks Free From Water Good Roads CAz
not BE Maintained.

among InOse VINO nave gwen the SUD-
ject of road improvement careful atten-
ton there is a settled conviction that the
good condition of any road depends upon
asystem of thorough drainage system
which embraces not only the removal of
the storm water which falls upon the
surface of the rord and the land adjoin-
ing, but also the water which filters
through the ground. The latter, if al
lowed to percolate into and through the
subsoil underlying the roadbed, will rem
der the travel way soft and springy, Of
ten affecting the compacted surface of
the road, so as to cause it to break up,
or, in other words. the bottom drops
out" The remedy is thorough draining.
In fact, the basis of all road improve
ment in the country is the thorough
drainage of the road surface and the
foundations of the road embankmeuts.
In the experiments which have been
made in road drainage by laying one or
two lines of tile drains along the sides
and parallel with the road the result has
been SO satisfactory that some persons
have become enthused with this method
of road Improvement and conclude that
in il there is a remedy for all the defects
7 " AANAA " tuNbuALEEeEA- l8uE We are
convinced that the best improvement of
our highways will combine at least three
essential features, which are:
First-A road embankment of sufi-
Gent height to I've nj least above over
| flow from extraordinary rainfall. and
| sufficiently browning TO shed the water
readily, and wide enough to accommO-
date the travel and not Of greater width.
| Second-That the road shall have open
! bitches ON each side of sufficient capacity
| to carry all flood water from the road
! way and from the lands adjoining into
| the nearest water course without him
! drance. The surface or open bitches
should have such perfect grade that no
water will find a lOdgment along the
line Of the road on either side.
Third-That two lines of tile drains
be placed parallel with the roads, ono 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 uf
tine tile VII depend on the. length Of the
drain and the fall. but II l. probable that
they should not be- less than inches in
diameter in any case, and as much larger
as the needs may require. The three
essential features named embrace two
/ systems the removal Of the surface
water speedily and effectually. the re-
moval of the water Of SIIuration remain
ing after the rrm"'Il If the surface wa
ter and the prevention Of the flow Of soil
water under the TyIdbcI. The under
drains should have uniform descent OF
grade TO 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
I should be sufficient to cause the water
falling upon the surface of the road 10
flow readily through the side bitches. If
it fails TO flow away and remains i'll the
ruts and deprcSSiuns, it Will increase the
amount of mud and the Inconvenience
of travel. Roads in such condition
should have road machines passed over
them as often Is necessary to make and
keep the surface level.
1t Is n mistaken idea that an under
drain laid i'll the middle Of the road will
drain the surface IF the road. The travel
and the action Of tine water falling upon
the road will 50 ,lTvclually cover the
surface that no water on the road will
find its way down TO the drain TINS laid.
To the contrary, the horsr tracks and
ruts will hold water like carlhcn vessels
until 1t i removed by evaporation or
otherwise. Roads ggaveled and drained
rs proposed will Gust from 800 to 500 4
mile, but when done they will be good
roads for II months and commercially
passaLlc the remainder Of the year with
little timely repair.
Where gravel and stone are not be
had ut 4 reasonable cost we know OF no
improvement 50 satisfactory in all re-
spects as the roads well graded and suffi-
GENTLY drained. Where gravel or bro
ken stone can he had, il will be found
that the thorough drainage Of the road as
proposed will save half the gravel or
stone that would otherwise be required
to make good road. \ dry foundation
70 build upon Is the most important fac
tor in road construction. Tile drains
may be used to intercept water Terco-
lating through the earth If the higher
ground adjacent and likely 10 interfere
with the read. or springs or secret places
under the roadhed may l'e drained out
with tile so rs not 10 interfere with the
Imbankmeut. After a rold has been put
into good condition and lhoruu-hlv I'm
GyrlraInci nothing E"Jd hc done except
to keep the surface Of the travel way
smooth and the oV,n bitches free from
any drift acCumulatjOns.-J.J J. W. BIZ