Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-07-15
HINTS ON HIGHWAYS.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR BUILD
ING AND REPAIR.


Dry-Beware of Ruts-width of Road
way andlHeight ofECrown.
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;
Every good road has two ESSENTIAL
features (a) A thoroughly dry founda-
ton: tb) a smooth, hard waterproof
surface covering.
The foundation is the natural subsoil,
''the dirt road" which must be kept
dry by good drainage.
The surface covering is generally a
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 dis
tinct coating.
To accomplish this (a) the gravel or
stone should contain very little sand or
clay-it should be clean; CO. the road
must be crowned or rounded in thel CEN
ter 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; (d) the open drains
must have a sufficient fall and free out
let, so that the water will not stand in
them, but will be carried away imme-
diately; (e) tile underdrains should be
laid wherever the open drains are not
sufficient and the ground has moist or
wet appearance, with a tendency to alb
sorb the gravel and rut readily. By this
means the foundation is made dry.
Do not leave the gravel or stone just
as it drops from the wagon, but spread
it so that travel will at once pass oyer
and consolidate it before the fall rains.
Keep the road metal raked or scraped
into the wheel or horse tracks until con-
solidated.
Grade and crown the road before put
ting on gravel or stone.
If a 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.
A fair crown for gravel roads on level
ground is one inch of rise to each foot
of width from the side to the center.
, he IOduS vi Dlllo ShOUAO AAH'N -
greater crown than on level ground
otherwise the water will follow the
wheel tracks and create deep ruts in
stead of passing to the side drains. One
and one-half inches to the foot from the
side to center will be sufficient
Repair old gravel roads which have a
hard center but too, little crown and
high, square shoulders by cutting of
the sholders, turning the material out
ward and placing new gravel or stone
In the center. Do not cover the old
gravel foundation with the mixture OF
earth, sod and fine gravel of which the
Q shoulders are composed. The shoulders
can be most easily cut of by means of
grading machine.
A width of "a feet between bitches
will meet most conditions, with the
u central eight feet graveled.
Wherever water stands on the road
way or by the roadside or wherever the
ground remains moist or is swampy II
y spring and fall better drainage is needed
Look over the road under your charge
after heavy rains and during spring
freshets. The work of a few minutes il
l. freeing drains from obstruction or di
verting a current of water into a prope
channel may become the work of day
if neglected.
a. Surface water should bel disposed o
in small quantities. Great accumula
lions are hard to handle and are dc
structive. Obtain outlets into natura
=, water courses as often as possible.
Instead of having deep, open ditche
to underdrain the road and dry tn
- foundation use tile.
" Give culverts good fall and FIRE
outlet so that water will not freeze /
tn them.
In taking gravel from the pit see tha
precautions are taken to draw onl
clean material. Do not let the face {
ri. the pit be scraped down, mixing clay
sand and turf with good gravel. TheI
is tendency to draw dirty gravel, 6
it is easier to handle.
Gravel which retains a perpendiculf
ny face in the pit in the spring and show
no trace of slipping is generally fit fl
use on the road without treatmen
TT, Dirty gravel should be screened.
Plan and lay out the work befo
VI calling out the men.
- When preparing plans, keep the VOL
of succeeding years in view.
Call out for each day only such
number of men and teams as can
3 properly directed.
In laying out the work estimate on
full days work from each man and S
that it is performed. Specify the nuT
Der of loads of gravel to constitute
days work. Every wagon box shou
hold a quarter of cord.
:. Make all returns clearly, shown
N who have done their work and wi
Is have not.
DO all work with a view to perm
hence and durability.
Burdock Blood Bitters gives man