The Scranton chronicle., 1900-10-20
SUMNER RoADwoRK.
Matters Of importance That Need
Looking After, Hut are Neglected
in Nest Places.


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 70 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. 4 recent 20-mile
bicycle trip convinced me that leay-
ing these stones in the highway is not
falling peculiar to this neighborhood
alone. Stones from the size of q wal
nut to those as big as pail, literally
by the wheelbarrow load on hillsides,
and by the wagon load in a stretch Of
road a mile or two long, are eoolly left
10 bruise and worry horses feet and
necks. pound the rims of wheels and
set drivers teeth on edge. Would il
be well TO call acouncil of the wise men
Of the district to see what might be
done about these stonesf Or would II
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 eyaporats
quickly, these places will become soft
and the travel will soon cut them out
and make a mudhole that lasts from one
rain to another. Thus months before
the main part of the road becomes bac
these "chuck-holes" have made the roaC
impossible for heavy loads, and in tn,
pleasant days of late fall every clear
buggy that comes along gets plasteres
over with mud from these holes. Tn,
time to fill them is now; the way TO do i
is to send a good man with long
handled shovel.
Again, in time of much rain in sum
mer the hardest clay soil of the roadbeC
gets soaked and the next shower viii
wash it away. In this way on hills ant
grades long cutters are formed length
wise, and the bitches along the roadside
become so deep and wide as to Otter
ruin the road, especially on steep hills
Then comes a kick" from somebod,
who has been injured, then heavy bill
of expense for repairing the road. Al
this can easily be avoided if taken II
time.
When long cutters are beginning I,
form simply cut small trenches ant
turn the water into the ditch at tn,
roadside. Where this ditch is begin
ming to get too wide or too deep pu
in the bottom little hay, straw, weed,
or the like and put stones on this
These checks of stones and hay SHOULD
be at intervals of 20 to so feet, accord
ing to the steepness and force of tn,
water. They diminish the speed ant
force of the water, catch all the soil
and soon fill up level with dirt. TheI
another supply of grass and stone
must be put on till the ditch is fille'
up as high as desired. Be sure not I,
put too much in one place, and to pu
in the checks at short intervals. Brush
and the like in a ditch as usually put in
is a positive damage.
Finally comes the matter of keeping
the roadside clean. To say nothing o
how it looks to see the front of farm
grown up TO briars, weeds, brush. etc.
or how different il looks to see tn,
roadside well moved, there is this on,
consideration that ought to decide that
matter with the orderly people of every
country road district. If the roadsidei
are left unmowed and uncared for, a,
soon as the driveway becomes wet an,
muddy all foot passengers are com
PEELED to wade in the mud or in tn,
wet grass and weeds, high and thick il
early fall. | have seen little schoo
children compelled all of an open win
ter to thus take their choice betweeI
mud ankle deep and more, O
wet grass and weeds higher thai
their neads and this in a civ
ilized, prosperous community. II
woman wants to go 10 a neighbours sh,
must tramp in mud, waller in we
weeds, or stay at home. which latte
she usually does, and joins the League
for Compulsory Building of Macadam
lied Highways to Increase the Socia
Advantages of the Rural Population
Better NOW the weeds in time.-An
ton Leister, in ". Y. Tribune.