The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-12-02

road improvement, and conclude that
in it there is 4 remedy for all the de-
fects which may be encountered. But
we are convinced that the best improve
ment of our highways will combine at
least three essential features, which
are:
l. A road embankmcnt of sufiicien.
height to be at least above overflow
from extraordinary rainfall and sufii-
GENTLY browning to she'd the water
readily, and wide enough to accommo-
date the travel and not of greater
width.
:. That the road shall have open
bitches on each side of sufficient capac-
ity to carry all flood water from the
roadway and from the lands adjoining
into the nearest water course without
hindrance. The surface or open
bitches should have such n perfect
grade that no water will find a lodg-
ment along the line of the road on
either side.
3. That two lines of tile drains be
placed parallel with the roads, one on
each side, at the base of the embank-
mcnt.
The u~nderdrains should be Land ut the
depth of three or more feet The size
of the tile will depend on the length of
the drain and the fall, but it is probable
that they should not be less than our
inches in diameter in any case and as
much larger as the needs may require.
The three essential features named en-
brace three systems-the removal of
the surface water, speedily and effect
ually; the removal of the water of sat
uration remaining after the removal of
the surface water. and the prevention
of the flow Of soil water under the
road-bed. The underdrains should
have n uniform descent or grade to
som 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 to cause the water
falling upon the surface of the road to
flow readily through the side bitches.
If it fails to flow away and remains in
the ruts and dcprcssions it will increase
the amount of mud and the incon.
venience of travel.
1t is n 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 it is removed
by evaporation or otherwise. Roads
graveled and drained as proposed will
cost from S400 to $500 a 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 moi to be had at n 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 be had IL
will be found that the thorough drain
age of the road as proposed will save
half the gravel or stone that would
otherwise be required to make a good
road. A dr." foundation to build upon is
the most important factor in road con-
.struction. Tile drains may be used to
intercept water percolating through
the earth Of the higher ground adj
jacent and likely to interfere with the
road. or springs or secret places under
the roadbed may be drained out with
tile so as not to interfere with the en-
bankment. After a road has been put
into good condition and thoroughly
~underdrained nothing need be done ex-
cept to keep the surface of the travel
way smooth and the open bitches free
from any drift accommodations.