Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-03-24
BUILDING A HIGH W AY
The Construction and Mainte-
nance of Clay Roads.

Clay and all classes OF wet roads
need thorough draining, says Frank L.
Rogers, consulting engineer Of the
Michigan highway commission, in Good
Roads Magazine. Where there is much
surface water large open dltches must
be provided. 1t is important that these
bitches have sufficient capacity to ham
die all ordinary storms without iooding
the road. They should have continuous
grades and free outlets TO the natural
water courses intersectlng the roads. II
may be necessary to improve these wa
ter courses for some dist9nce 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 as
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 roadbed they should be
protected by suitable guard rails.
1 All springy places and most clay
roads will be improved by under
drains. To be of the most value their
trenches should be filled with clndersl
coarse gravel or broken stone up TO the
road surface; otherwise the road be-
comes puddled on the surface and pre-
vents q great deal OF water from enter
Ing the drains. Two lines Of tiles from
two to three feet deep parallel to the
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 bC
provided. The frequency Of such drain:
will depend upon the amount Of watel
TO be handled.
Underdralns In each gutter or along
the margins Of the grade, as above
mentioned, are Of great value where
large open dltches are not required I,
handle the surface water. inasmuch n
they lower the water plain some two oil
three feet more than would be possible
without them. A drain down the centel
OF the road, having the trench fillet
with some coarse material, often serves
the same purpose.
Clay roads should be kept wei
crowned, having from one-half to three
fourths OF an inch rise TO each foot II
width. Any more than this is positive
injury and should not be tolerated
They should be smoothed down encl
spring after the ground has settled ant
us often thereafter during the seasoI
us they become rutted. After beinl
leveled with scraper good rollinl
will prevent their becoming rutted s.
easily again and will leave them in eS
cellent shape to make fine summe
roads. In fact, there are no better TEN
porary roads than well shaped ella,
roads when dry, smooth and hard.
Sand roads need quite different treat
ment. They should bo but slight
crowned and have very shallow gut
ters. They can also be made rathe
narrow. 1t is better TO allow the side
10 grass over whenever possible. Thel
worst enemy Is dry weather, and the
should be built and repaired with
view to retaining as much moisture q
possible. Trees should be plante
along the roadside and the natural one
and much OF the brush allowed
} grow-in short, II is best to do ever!
thing possible TO keep them very niue
In the condition of forest roads.