Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-09
GOOD ROADS NOTES,


formation and care of gravel roads.
l. Every good road has two essen
tial features: (a) A thoroughly dry
foundation. (b) A smooth, lard,
waterproof surface covering.
2. The foundation is the natural
subsoil "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 way that 1t 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.
(b) The road must be crowned OF
rounded in the c! ntre so as to shed
the water to the open drains. 10y
Ruts must not be allowed to form, as
they prevent water passing to the
open drains. (d) The open drains
must have sufficient fall and free
outlet, so that the water will not stand
in them but will be carried away i'm
mediately. (e) Tile underdrains
should be laid wherever the open
drains are not sufficient and the
ground has a moist or wet appearance,
with tendency to absorb the gravel
and rut readily. BY this means the
foundation 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
iall rains.
6. Keep the road metal raked or
scraped into the wheel or horse tracks
until consolidated.
T. 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.
8. A fair crown for gravel roads on
level ground is one inch of rise to
each foot of width from the side to the
centre.
10. The roads on hills should have
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 centre will be suf-
6cient.
IL. Repair old gravel roads which
have hard centre but too little crown
and high, square shoulders, by cut
ting off the shoulders, turning the
material outward and placing new
gravel or stone in the centre. 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 by means of grad
ing machine.
10. A width of twenty four feet be-
tween bitches will meet most condi-
tions, with the central eight feet
graveled.
10. Wherever water stands on the
roadway or by the roadside or wher-
eyer the ground remains moist or is
swampy IN spring aud fall, better
drainage is needed.
IA. Look over the road under your
charge after heavy rains and during
spring freshets. The work of n few
minutes in freeing drains from OBJ
struction or diverting current of
water into proper channel may be-
come the work OF days if neglected.
Is. Surface water should be dis
posed OF in small quantities; great ac-
cumulations are hard to handle and
are destructive. Obtain outlets into
natural watercourses as often as pos
sible.
1G. Instead of having deep, open
bitches to underdrain the road and
dry the foundation, use tile.
II. Give culverts 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, mix
ing clay, sand and turf with good
gravel. There is tendency to draw
dirty gravel, as it is easier to handle.
10. Gravel which retains perpen'
dicular face in the pit in the spring,
and shows no trace of slipping, is
generally fit for use on the road with
out treatment. Dirty gravel should
be screened.
90. Plan and lay out the work be
fore calling out the men.
81. When preparing plans keep the
work of succeeding years in view.
90. Call out for each day only sucl
a number of men and teams as can be
properly directed.
%. In laying out the work, esti
mate on full days work from eact
man and see that it is performed
Specify the number of loads of grave
to constitute days work. Ever,
wagon box should hold quarter Of 1
cord.
"a. Make all returns clearly, show
ing who have done their work ant
who have not.
25. Make early arrangements TO,
having on the ground when required