Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-02-24
HIGHWAY BUILDING.
THE CONSTRUCTION AND Mantle
NANCE OF CLAY ROADS.

Some Points by Michigan Road
Engineer - How They Should lie
Drained and Crowned-Treatmen
of Sand Highways.
Clay and all classes of wet roads
need thorough draining. says Frank +.
Rogers consulting engineer of the
Michigan highway commission. in Good
Roads Magazine. Where there Is much
Surface water large open bitches must
be provided. 1t is important that these
bitches have sufficient capacity to han
die all ordinary storms without flooding
the road. They should have continuous
| grades and free outlets TO the natural
water courses intersecting the roads. 1t
may be necessary TO improve these wa
ter courses for seine distance outside
the road allowance TO prevent backwa-
ter When necessary this requirement
should not be neglected
Such bitches should be located along
the side OF the road from which the
most water comes. so as to prevent rs
much water as possible from soaking
into the roadbed. Large open bitches
may be placed between the regular gut.
ters and the fence line, with occasional
openings through the shoulders be-
tween the cutters and the main bitches
When large deep bitches are located
alongside the roadbcd they should be
protected by suitable guard rails.
All springy places and most clay
roads will be improved by under
drains. TO be Of the most value their
trenches should be filed with cinders.
course gravel or broken stone up TO the
road surface; otherwise the road be.
comes puddlcd on the surface and pre-.
vents great deal Of water from enter.
ing the drains Two lines of tiles from
two TO three feet deep parallel to tho
center line Of the road and from eight
to ten feet distant on either side will be
found of great value TO all clay roads.
On springy hills the drains should
run diagOnally from the center to either
gutter, where suitable outlets must bp
provided. The frequency Of such drains
will depend upon the amount of water
10 be handled
Underdralns in each gutter or along
The margins of the grade. as above
are of great vaue where
arge open bitches are not required to
handle the surface water. inasmuch as .
hey lower the water plain some two or
hree feet more than would be possible
without them. A drain down the center
# the road. having the trench filled
With some coarse material, often serves
he same. purpose.
Clay roads should be kept well !
rowned, having from one-half to three {
Ourths of an inch rise to each foot in q
'idth. Any more than this is n positive ;
injury and should not be tolerated. u
hey should be smoothed down each 5
bring after the ground has settled and {
S often thereafter during the season II
S they become rutted. After being W
veled with a scraper good rolling d
Ill prevent their becoming rutted so II
alent shape TO make fine summer q
'ads. In fact. there are no better tenn b
)rary roads than well shaped clay 1
ads when dry smooth and hard d'
Sand roads need quite different treat
cnt. They should he but slightly q
owned and have very shallow gut es
rs They can also be made rather ci
lrrow. 1t is better TO allow the sides in
grass over whenever possible. Their cy
orst enemy Is dry weather. and they w
ould be built and repaired with in
ew TO retaining us much moisture rs IN
ssible. Trees should be planted IN
png the roadside and ;he natural ones 70
d much of the brush allowed to on
OWN short. 1t is best to do every ST
ing possible TO keep them very much nc
the condition of forest roads. qu