The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1900-12-07
NO. H..
SUMMER ROADWORK.
Matters OF Importance That Need
Looking After, but Are Neglected
In Most Places.

IN most iluces.
The country roads have now all been
scraped and that usually is the end of
road work for the season. But there are
several matters that need looking after
at this time Of year, which are of con-
siderable Importance TO the roads and
those who use them.
First OF all are the bushels and wag-
on loads Of stones which the scraper
has dragged into the driveway. es-
pecially on hillsides. A recent 2O-mile
bicycle trip convinced me that leay-
Ing these stones in the highway is not
a falling peculiar to this neighborhood
alone. Stones from the size OF a wal
nut to those as big as a pail, literally
by the wheelbarrow load on hillsides,
and by the wagon load in a stretch of
road mile or two long, are coolly left
10 bruise and worry horses feet and
necks, pound the rims of wheels and
set drivers teeth on edge. Would II
be well TO call council of the wise men
OF the district TO see what might be
done about these stones? Or would it
be better yet to have them removed
double quick" within "a hours after
scraping?
Next comes the "chuck holes" low
places that were mudholes last winter,
but now are dry and smooth, but lower
than the general level of the road. You
can easily find them after a rain. when
they are full of water. In dry, hot
weather this soon dries out and does
but little damage. But In early fall and
later, when water does not evaporate
quickly, these places will become soft,
and the travel will soon cut them out
and make mudhole that lasts from one
rain TO another. Thus months before
the main part of the road becomes bad
these "chuck-holes" have made the road
impossible for heavy loads, and in the
pleasant days Of late fall every clean
buggy that comes along gets plastered
over with mud from these holes. The
time TO fill them is now; the way to do il
Is 70 send a good man with long
handled shovel.
Again, In time of much rain In sum
mer the hardest clay soil of the roadbed
gets soaked and the next shower will
wash IL away. In this way on hills and
grades long cutters are formed length
wise, and the ditches along the roadside
become so deep and wide as to often
ruin the road, especially on steep hills.
Then comes kick" from somebody
who has been injured, then heavy bill
OF expense for repairing the road. All
this can easily be avoided If taken in
time.
When long cutters are beginning to
form simply cut small trenches and
turn the water into the ditch at the
roadside. Where this ditch is begin
ming to get too wide or too deep put
In the bottom little hay, straw, weeds
or the like and put stones on this.
These checks of stones and hay should
be at intervals Of 20 TO so feet, accord
ng 70 the steePness and force Of the
water. They diminish the speed and
'oroe OF the water, catch all the soil.
Ind soon I'll up level with dirt. Then
mother supply Of grass and stones
must be put on till the ditch is filled
Up as high as desired. Be sure not TO
put too much in one place, and 10 put
n the checks at short intervals. Brush
md the Ike in ditch as usually put In,
} a positive damage.
Finally comes the matter OF keeping
he roadside clean. To say nothing of
ow 10 looks TO see the front Of a farm
Irown up TO briars, weeds, brush, etc..
+ how different II looks TO see the
oadside we'll moved, there is this one
that ought to decide that
natter with the orderly people OF every
ountry road district. II the roadsides
re left unmowed and uncared for. as
Don as the driveway becomes wet and
muddy all foot passengers are com
elled to wade in the mud or in the
rex grass and weeds, high and thick In
arly fall. / have seen little school
hildren compelled all Of an open win
ar TO thus take their choice between
lud ankle deep and more, or
ret grass and weeds higher than
heir heads - and this in a civ
lied. prosperous community. II a
'oman wants to go 10 a neighbor's she
lust tramp in mud, waller in wet
eeds. or stay at home, which latter
he usually does, and joins the League
VI Compulsory Building Of Macadam-
ed Highways TO Increase the Social
dvantages Of the Rural Population.
etter NOW the weeds IN time.-An-
IN Leister, in n. Y. Tribune.