The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-06-25
FACTS IN A
Some Practical Suggestions Which
Fully Explain the Principles of
3 Road Construction.

Lie lOllONlHS practical suSbSSliOus
from the Municipal World, concisely
explain the principles of road construc-
ton, dealing especially with thetforma-
ton and care of gravel roads.
1. Every good road has two essential
features: (a) A thoroughly dry founda-
ton; (b) A smooth, hard, waterproof
surface covering.
2. The foundation is the natural sub
soil, "the dirt road" which must be
kept dry by good drainage.
3. The surface covering is generally
a coatirg 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
q distinct coating.
4. To accomplish this (a), the gravel
or stone should contain very little
sand or clay-it should be clean. (b)
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. I'D The
open drains must have a sufficient fall
and free outlet, so that the water will
not stand in them but will 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 rhis means the founda-
ton is made dry.
5. Do not leave the gravel or stone
just as it drops from the wagon, but
spread it so that travel will at once
pass over and consolidate it before the
fall rains.
6. Keep the road metal raked or
scraped into the wheel or horse tracks
until consolidated.
Z. Grade and crown the road before
putting on gravel or stone.
8. 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.
Q. 4 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 a
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 footfrom
the side to center will be sufficient.
II. Repair old gravel roads which
have a hard center, but too little crown
and high, square shoulders, by cutting
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 and fine gravel Of which
the shoulders are composed. The
shoulders can be most easily cut off bt
means of a grading machine.
IL. A width of "a feet between bitches
will meet mos conditions, with the CEN
trail s feet graveled.
IS. 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.
IA. Look owe the road under your
charge after heavy rains and during
spring freshets. The work of a few
minutes in freeing drains from obstruc-
ton or divertiEg a current of water into
a proper channel may become The work
of days if neglected.
IS. Surface water should be disposed
Of in small quantities; great accumula.
lions are hard to handle and are de-
structive. Obtain outlets into natural
~watercourses as often as possible.
16. Instead of having deep, open
bitches to underdrain the road and dry
the foundation, use tile.
Il. Give culverts a good fall and free
outlet so that water will not freeze in
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 a tendency 10 draw dirty gravel, as it
is easier to handle.
10. Gravel which ~retaiSs a perpendic-
r1or fana IN .ha pif ~ +la enr;n- I'D