Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-23
FACTS IN A NUTSHELL.
Some Practical Suggestions Which
Fully Explain the Principles Of
Road Construction.

The following practical suggestions.
from the Municipal World, concisely
explain the principles of road construc-
ton, dealing especially with the forma-
ton and care of gravel roads.
1. Every good road has two essential
features: (a) A thoroughly dry founda'
ton; OBJ A smooth, hard, waterproof
surface covering.
.. The foundation is the natural sub
soil, the dirt road" which must be
kept dry by good drainage.
3. The surface covering is generally
coating of gravel or broken stone,
which should be put on the road in such
a way that it will not, in wet weather,
be churned up and mixed with the
earth beneath. That is, it should form
distinct coating.
4. To accomplish this (a), the gravel
or stone should contain very little
sand or clay-it should be clean OBJ
The road must be crowned or rounded
In the center so as TO shed the water to
the open drains. (c) Ruts must not be
allowed to form, as they prevent water
passing to the open drains. ID The
/ open drains must have a sufficient fall
and free outlet. so that the water viii
! not stand in them but viii be carried
away Immediately. (e) Tile under
drains should be laid wherever the open
drains are not sufficient and the ground
has a moist or wet appearance. with a
tendency TO absorb the gravel and
rut readily. BY this means the founda-
ton is made dry.
;. Do not leave the gravel or stone
just "a it drops from the wagon. but
spread it so that travel viii at once
pass over and consolidate it before the
fall rains.
t.. Keep the road metal raIed or
scraped into the wheel or horse tracks
/ until consolidated.
:. Grade and crown the road before
putting on gravel or stone.
s. IF grading machine is available
grade the roads which YOU intend TO
/ gravel before the time of statute labor.
and use the statute labor as far as pos
sible in drawing gravel
Q. A fair crown for gravel roads on
level ground is one inch of rise to each
/ foot Of width from the side to the cen
/ ter.
10. The roads on hills should have Il
greater crown than on level ground,
| otherwise the water viii follow the
wheel tracks and create deep ruts in
stead of passing 10 the side drains.
| One and one-haIf inches to the foot from
the side TO center viii be sufficient.
II. Repair old gravel roads which
! have Il hard center, but too little crown
and high. square shoulders. by cutting
I off the shoulders, turning the material
/ outward and placing new gravel or
/ stone in the center. Do not cover the
/ old gravel foundation with the mixture
Of earth. sod anG fine gravel OF which
! the shoulders are composed. The
| shoulders can be most easily cut off be
means of a grading machine.
70. 4 width of pa feet between bitches
VIII meet mos conditions. with the CEN
trail feet graveled.
/ IL. Wherever water stands On the
roadway or by the roadside or wherever
| the ground remains moist or is swampy
/ in spring and fall, better drainage is
needed.
! il. Look over the road under your
charge after heavy rains and during
! spring freshets. The work of few
minutes in freeing drains from obstruc-
| ton or divertirg a current of water into
4 proper channel may become he work
/ Of days if neglected.
IS. Surface water should be disposed
Of IN small quantities: great accumula-
tons are hard TO handle and are de-
structive. Obtain outlets into natural
watercourses as often as possible.
Is. Instead of having deep. open
/ bitches TO underdra;n the road and dry
/ the foundation, use tile.
l.. Give culverts n good fall and free
outlet so that water VIII not freeze il
them.
is. In taking gravel from the pit, see
! that precautions are taken to draw only
/ clean material. Do not let the face of
the pit be scraped down. mixing clay,
sand and turf with good gravel. There
| is tendency TO draw dirty gravel. as II
| is easier to handle.
| 10. Gravel which retains perpeDdic-
| ular face in the pit in the spring. and
shows TO trace of slipping, is generally
| fl for use on the road without treat
ment. Dirty gravel should be screened.
20. Plan and lay out the work before
| calling out the men.
81. When preparing plans keep the
work of succeeding years in view.
%. Call out for each day only such
number of men and teams as can be
| properly directed.
%. In laying out the work, estimate
| on a full days work from each man and
see that it is performed. Specify the
number Of loads of gravel to constitute
a days work. Every wagon box should
| hold n quarter of cord.
"A. Make all returns clearly. showing
! who have done their work and who have
| not.
! 25. Make early arrange ments for hav-
! ing on the ground when required. and
! in good repair. all implements and tools
TO be used il the performance Of statute
, labor.
20. Do all work with view 10 per.
/ maCence and durability.
Shading Plants in Summer.
| At the New Jersey experiment station
| observation was taken as to the value of
shading plants in time of drought.