The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-08-18
A FARMERS OPINION.
Ohio Man Gives Some yaIuabI. Sn,.
Eestions on the Building and
Maintenance of Roads.

In 1883, the report Of the depart.
ment of agriculture contained this
statement and opinion: while our
railway system has become the most
perfect in the world, the common
roads OF the United States have been
neglected, and are inferior to those of
any other civilized nation"
Location.-The first important step
in bodybuilding is the location. All
roads to be permanently improved,
and we shall consider no others in this
brief article, should be the ones lead
ing to a common center; to the great
market places and to the principal
towns of a county. Their exact loca-
ton and choice should be the duty Of
a commission of three men. appointed
by county commissioners from differ
ent parts of the county.
System.-In the construction Of
permanent roads, all work should be
done in a careful, systematic manner
Grading.-The second step should
be the preparation of a suitable grade.
A billy road is an abomination. The
loss of tractive power resulting from
the steep grades of our country roads
is enormous. On a grade of four feet
to the hundred, a horses drawing abil-
ity is only one-half what it is on q
level; and on ten feet to the hundred
1t IS only one-quarter. Hence. the
great Importance of easy grades.
Drainage.-The third essential is a
perfect system of drainage. The side
bitches should not be less than two
feet deep. A tile drain should be
placed between the dirt road and the
brick or macadam. Another should be
placed between the macadam and the
open ditch. These tiled bitches should
be filed with broken stone, with out.
lets at every cross-ditch or stream.
Material.-This depends largely on
convenience, cost of transportation,
etc. Gravel.-Owing to its easy appli-
cation, %eheapness and durability this
is undoubtedly the best where gravel
banks are convenient. Limestone
This is a most desirable material,
where cost of transportation is not
too great. When used. it should be
crushed and placed upon graded road.
bed 20 the depth of eight to twelve
inches; then rolled with heavy roller
until rendered firm, topped with fine
crushed limestone, and again rolled
until the surface is smooth and solid.
Fire Brick.-Another material of
modern use. and a worthy one, too. is
fire brick. The preparation should be
similar to where limestone is used, ex-
cept hat a stone curbing must be
used on either side of roadbed to pre-
vent its spreading. Crushed sandstone
is placed between this curbing. rolled
with heavy roller. topped with sand
and rolled again until the surface is
level and firm, when it is ready for
the brick. which are laid in coal tar.
How to pay for the road.-By a spe.
cial tax Of a whole county. All parts
are benefited, provided the road com.
missioners did their work well. Their
maintenance.-Also by special tax OF
county, and placed in hands Of trus.
tees in the townships through which
the roads pass. In Europe, the gen.
eral government assists largely in con.
struction of permanent roads. Such
9 course. if adopted by our govern.
ment years ago. would have meant
better times for the farmer.-T. J.
Lewis, in Ohio Farmer.