Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-08-16
REVERSIBLE HORSE ROLLER.

tIOu anu Httle WOTk Will Keep tne
road in good condition and with less
cost than under ordinary methods.
With good drainage established in
building the road and frequent inspec-
tion to keep the drainage efficient and
to mend promptly small injuries to the
surface, the earth roads Of the United
States could be maintained in much
higher state of usefulness than at pres
ent and at considerably lower cost.
The aim in making road IS to estab-
lish the easiest, shortest and most eco
nomical line of travel. 1t is therefore
desirable that roads should be firm.
smooth. comparatively level and fit for
use at all seasons Of the year. that they
should be properly located so that their
grades shall be such that loaded vehi-
cles may be drawn over them without
great loss Of energy. that they should
be properly constructed the roadbed
graded. shaped and rolled, and that
they should be surfaced with the best
available material suited to their needs.
While clay alone never makes good
road except in dry weather. sand alone
never makes good road except when
wet. The more the drainage of sand
road is improved the more dcplorable
becomes its condition. Nothing will
ruin one quicker than to dig ditch on
each side and drain all the water
away. The best way. therefore. to
make such road firm Is to keep it
constantly damp. This can be done by
nj 81, 10 nIA &c, s,i1 1n tn,
prevent the evaporation Of water or by
growing upon the surface Of such sand
roads thick turf. preferably Bermuda
grass. Roads running through loose
sand may be improved by mixing clay
with the sand and slightly crownins
the surface.
For the temporary improvement Of
substance. especially If it holds mois-
ture. such as refuse or sugar cane or
sorghum, and even common straw,
fax, swamp grass or pine needles. will
be useful. Spent tanbark is sometimes
beneficial. and wood fiber in any form
Is excellent. Enough sand or earth
should be thrown over such roads to
keep them damp and to protect them
from catching fire.
Earth is composed Of small, irregular
fragments which touch each other at
points. leaving vOids between. When
the earth is broken up and pulveriZed.
these vOids are almost equal In volume
to the solid particles, and. as a result,
the earth will absorb almost an equal
volume of water. In the building or
maintaining OF earth roads it is there
fore very desirable that these small.
irregular particles be pressed and pack
ed into as small a space as possible In
order that surplus water may not pass
In and destroy the stability of the road.
To this end rolling is very beneficial.
The work of maintaining dirt roads
will be much increased by lack Of care
in properly rolling the surface. After
the material has been placed on the
surface it should not be left for traffic
to consolidate or for rains to wash off
into the bitches. but should be carefully
surfaced and then rolled.
In making extensive repairs plows or
scoops should never be used. for such
implements break up the compact sur
face which age and traffic have made
tolerable. Earth roads can be rapidly
repaired by judicious use Of road ma
chimes and road rollers. The road ma
chine places the material where 1t Is
most needed. and the roller compacts
and keeps 1t there. These two labor
saving machines are just as effectual
md necessary in modern rOadWOrk as
the mower. self binder and thrasher
are in modern teamwork. Road ma
chimes and rollers are the modern in
ventions necessary to satisfactory and
economical earth road construction and
repair. Two good men with two teams
can build or repai: more road in one
day with a roller and road machine
than many Zines that number can
with picks. shOvels, scoops and plows
and do 1t more uniformly and more
thoroughly.
By using wide tires on heavy wagons
tho cost of keeping roads in repair
would be greatly reduced. The intro
duction I'm recent years of wide metal
tires which can be placed on the wheels
Of any narrow tired vehicle at nomi,
nal cost has removed q very serious
objection to the proposed substitution
OF broad tires for the narrow ones now
In use.