Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-03-26

Ihere Is no remedy until you get rid of
the wster. In that case you should 20
over 10 the field and ditch the water of.
Perhaps there are certain underground
conditions that, in the spring of the year
when the frost Is coming out, cause this
mud, without springs. We have found
such conditions, and we have found out
tnat what that road needs is foundation.
no road amounts to anything unless II
mas foundation. A road needs foun-
GALLON lust as much as a building. Aroad
Is permanent thing. as well as build
ing. You have roads that have been here
100 years, and will be here for 500 years.
Another source Of bad roads is the water
standing In the deep bitches at the sides.
IL distresses me to see these deep bitches
as travel around. Some OF these roads
were made many years ago, when the
turnpike road was talked about so much.
What is the effect OF that? Through the
TALL mouths that water moves through the
earth Just as water moves through a
sponge, by capillary attraction, and before
winter comes the whole road bed Is satur-
ated with water. Then it freezes, and
expands about one half, and you have
every particle of road material separated
from every OF her particle by ice. It makes
asplendid road as long as 1t Is frozen, but
when 1t thaws 1t is deep mud, all caused
by water standing by the roadside, which
| never should be allowed.
FIJI the ditch with earth, or anything
that will exclude the water. II there is
no other outlet let II flow over the road.
You cannot have a good road and have
water standing around or upon 1t. Many
times after the road machine has been
along there will be hollows where the
water stands. The best thing the road
commissioner can do is to return and fill
those hollows with earth.
When that section OF road is thoroughly
drained, we proceed to consider the foun-
dation. Fortunately, In New England
much OF our soil sffords a good and suf-
| iicient natural foundation. In that case
We build right on the old road. In YER
mont We take these old walls OF stone,
wherever We can find them, and build
foundation right on top OF the old road.
there Is trouble beneath. But whether II
Is on the surface or In an excavation,
always lay the stones by hand. l have
seen II done the other way, but 1t Is
always a failure. Stones should always
be placed by hand, and one general rule
should never be overlooked, which is to
place the big ends, the base, down, and
leave the points sticking up. II you have
long fiat stone, do not lay it down fiat,
stand 1t up. 1t does not matter how
jagged they are.
We do not make this stone work more
than six or seven feet wide. When the
stones are packed, take a stone hammer,
weight, and break off the projecting
points. Then throw the smaller stones
I'm, aud these, with the fragments, will fill
the interstices, and you are making
scientific foundation. That is the telford
foundation, such ~ they are building in
the city of Lewiston, the city OF Portland,
and other cities. They usually get granite
blocks, but it is the same kind of
foundation.
The next thing is the surface. In all
road work we should have an idea Of what
a road Is. | looked in the dictionary aud
could not find satisfactory definition,
but looked until ! found it given by
John l.. Macadam. lie says, "A good
road Is an artificial floor, forming strong,
smooth, solid surface, capable of carrying
great weight and over which carriages
may pass without impedimeat." We
should Hdopt hat rs our ideai, aud work
towards 1t. We do not expect to compiere
1t in its perfection. but all we do In this
road building should be done along these
lines. We should make this arti ficia' floor,
some call II a root. IL should shed water;
II it does not ii is a failure.
Now put ON the gravel, using rood road
material. Cover the stones and round it
up in the middle not much wider than the
wheel tracks. You say 1t will be dis
agrees bic to travel. We are building
road, vs. are not considering convenience
to-day. The wayiarer will come along
and will try to shun it. You should put
oostructions along the road to keep him
on It. He should contribute his part in
making the road. The proper way is to
put on a steam roller OF twelve tons, or
horse roller, and l should advise many
towns that have the means to buy roll
Ter. But this must be done when 1t is
wet. Then you eau put on more material
and roll 1t down again, and you have
road Just as good as a -Mseadsm road.
But we have not the roller, hence the
Importance OF keeping the travel on 1t.
Soon it becomes slightly rutted, and
after a rain you should take tue road
machine, setting it light, and walk the
horses rapidly over it. Keep the road ID
shape; do not ever neglect it. La the fall,
about week before 1t Is to freeze, take
the road machine, set Hight, and go over
it. / have covered ten miles day WIN
the machine. 1t scrspes up the gravel
that "a working towards the bitches and
,.iti he to.t. IL filis the ruts: IL keeps the