The commonwealth., 1897-12-24
FARM AND GARDEN.
POINTS ON DRAINAGE
How to Keep . Road In Good ConAi-
tiOn the Year Ar0and,

How 10 Keep . Road in Good ConAi.
tion the Year Aroand.
| The great enemy of good roads h
water. 1t does more to injure ths,I
than any other one thing, unless \
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
10 do harm unless 1t 10 carried of and
away by thorough system Of drain.
age. If this is not accomplished, q
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 bseome the cutters
Of the country on account Of being
level, or even trough-like in shape, and
because Of being iinsufdciently drained,
and the sides not kept clean SO that
water can readily Aow of the surs.see.
II the center Of the road IL not some
what raised 10 that water falling on II
will run freely into suitable cutters Or
ditohes, pools and mudholes will b
formed and the whole road become
soaked, to it, lasting detrlment.
It IL also important that road be
30 laid that no water shall be able to
find its way upon It from adjoining
lands which may be higher and shed
the rainfalls toward the roadway. It
often happens, too, that the sides Of
q 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
a perpetual mudhole at such crossing.
The heavy rains of the past season have
afforded many startling object lesson
Ut both these points, and inadequate
cutters and bitches, more or less filed
with distractions, have been RESPONSE
Bile for serious injury to the roads.
From just these causes miles Of mac.
ndam 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 roof to keep the base
Try, shedding all water that falls upon
I, and ample drainage must then carry |
t entirely off the road limits. Side
litches should have fall throughout
heir length, their size depending on
he volume Of water they are likely to
'e required to carry. II the water cuts
heir bottom the channel should be pro-.
ected with pavement OF some sort.
Frequently it is impossible to make
'pen bitches deep enough to drain the
enter Of the roadbed, and in such cuses
ide or central drains should be used.
he foundation course Of macadam
Dad needs to be sufficiently porous 50
hat such rain as may soak through the
op covering, or work in from the sides,
iay find its way into the earth, where
can be led off by drains. A drain OF
our-inch earthen pipe placed beneath
ach gutter at depth Of fully 3h feet
Glow the crown of the road, and COW
red with coarse gravel, pebbles OF
roken stone, nearly up to the surface,
lould be used, though If the road lies
a very wet place larger drain 10.
ated under the center of the road.
ed is more effective. A slight fall is
'sential, and also a free, open outlet
18th attention to these details, and a
stem of continuous repairs, it is not /
'fficult to maintain good roadway
Ood Roads