The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-12-02
FARM AND GARDEN.
POINTS ON DRAINAGE.
How to Keep Road in Good Condi-
ton the Nenr Around.

ton the Year Around.
The great enemy of good roads is
water. 1t does more TO injure them
than any other one thing, unless it
be narrow tires; but those can be
changed by common consent or by
legislation, while rain, like death and
taxes, is sure TO come and is certain
to do harm unless it is carried off and
away by a thorough system of drain
age. If this is not accomplished, a
smooth, compact surface cannot be
maintained, and the effect of cold
weather and frost will be disastrous.
Drainage is often neglected, or very
poorly done, because the effect of water
on roads is not fully realized. Roads
only too frequently become the cutters
of the country on account of being
level or even trough-like in shape, and
because of being insutficiently drained,
and the sides not kept clean so that
water can readily flow off the surface.
If the center of the road is not some
what raised so that water falling on it
will run freely into suitable cutters or
bitches, pools and mudholes will be
formed and the whole road become
soaked, to its lasting detriment.
1t is also important that road be
so laid that no water shall be able 10
find its way upon it from adjoining
lands which may be higher and shed
the rainfalls toward the roadway. 1t
often happens, too, that the sides of
road are at different levels, and that
at some low point the water from The
ditch on the higher side flows across
and Joins the lower ditch, maintaining
n perpetual mudhole at such crossing.
The heavy rains of the past season have
afforded many startling object lesson
of both these points, and inadequate
cutters and bitches, more or less filed
with Instructions, have been response
bic for serious injury to the roads.
From just these causes miles of mac
adam were so badly washed that thou
sands of dollars will be required to
make good the damage.
1t is necessary for the surface of a
road to act as a roof to keep the base
dry. shedding all water that falls upon
il, and ample drainage must then carry
it entirely off the road limits. Side
bitches should have fall throughout
their length, their size depending on
The volume of water they are likely to
be required to carry. If the water cuts
their bottom the channel should be pro
tected with a pavement of some sort.
Frequently it is impossible to make
open bitches deep enough to drain the
center of the roadbed and in such cases
side or central drains should be used.
The foundation course of a macadam
road needs to be sufficiently porous so
that such rain as may SOCK through the
top covering, or work in from the sides,
may find its way into the earth, where
i can be led off by drains. a drain of
four-inch earthen pipe placed beneath
each gutter at a depth of fully 31a feet
below the crown of the road, and COW
cred with coarse gravel, pebbles or
broken stone, nearly up to the surface,
should be used, though if the road lies
in very wet place larger drain To-
Gated under the center of the road
bed is more effective y slight fall is
essential. and also a free, open outlet.
With attention to these details, and a
system Of continuous repairs. it is not
difficult to maintain good roadway
Good Roads