Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1905-04-29
COUNTRY HIGHWAYS
SOME POINTS ON CONSTRUCTING
AND IMPROVING THEM.
80 Properly built, Dirt Roads May he
Kept In Passnble Condition In All
season. Drainage the secret of
Succ~ss-Watchfuine Needed

Succcss-" atch fuiness Needed.
There is growing disposition
among road officers, engcndcrcd no
doubt by the constant agitation for
stone highways. to permit the earth
rondS to go by default or at least to
give them Scaut attention. This would
be- all well enough If 1t were possible
within the next few years to trans
form all OF the main earth roads into
permanent stone highways, but every
one understands, of course. that this
Is entirely out of the question, says IL
writer In Good Roads Magazine. At
least nine-tcnths of the rural roads In
this country are OF the variety com
monty known as dirt, and 1t Will not
only be years. but probably several
generations, before even the main
roads connecting the principal towns
can be converted into macadamizcd
thoroughfares. The dirt road has It's
limitations; 1t is ut best but IL weak
link in the chain OF transportation, but
1t Is here to stay during the lifetime
OF every one who reads this article,
and 1t is highly important from the
standpoint Of both economy and CON
venicnCe that 1t should be maintained
at its highest state OF efficiency.
If 1t were impossible as many peo-
pie b"llcve-to keep the dirt roads in
good. passablc shape, there would be
some excuse for giving 1t up to the
merCics of the elements, but expert
ence has shown that any dirt road that
is reasonably we'll located can be kept
in passabIe condition during the entire
twelve months Of the year and can be
made first class highway for the
greater part OF that time There are
few people accustomed to travelling by
wagon. bicycle or automobile who have
not noticed the difference between "a
good and a poor dirt road. The first Is
smooth, while the latter Is rough. The
one is free from hollows and bumps,
while the other Is filled with ruts and
stones. The one shows evidence Of
care, while the other has neglect writ
ten all over 1t in letters that can be
both seen and felt.
The fact that there are some good
dirt roads In existence shows clearly
that It Is possible under proper CON
ditlOns to build them, and 1t may not
be out Of place, therefore, to study
some Of the elements that enter into
the construction and maintenance Of
good earth highway. The secret OF
success in the building OF dirt road,
or of any other road, for that matter
is drainage. Water has no more place
in a road than II is supposed to have
in kentuckian'S list OF beverages 1t
Is the roadmakers worst enemy, and
unless he can find some way to get 1t
OFF and away from the road ns soon as
1t falls he may expect to have trouble.
1t Will be admitted by all practical
roadmakers that 1t is possible by the
judicious use OF the modern road grad
er to put any dirt road In good shape.
They will agree, however that the
main difficulty is to keep the road in
this condition. As long MS there Is n
proper slope. extending each way from
the crown Of the road, with no impcdi-
ments, such rs bumps, ruts or depres-
sionS the major portion OF the surface
water will run or. and the highway
will remain In good condition. Any
soft material, like sand. clay or loan.
however, Is susceptible to the action
of traffic and the elements. Wagon
tires and horses hoofs will cut up the
roadbed and water will work into
these dcpressiOns and thus destroy the
shape and solidity OF the road. The
bitches or the channels through which
the water must be carried away will,
unless closely looked after, become
clogged with dirt and trash and even
tually will refuse to perform the duty
for which they are intended. The Ques-
tion naturally arises, therefore, How Is
1t possible to keep a dirt road in such
shape that II will shed water readily
and thus remain smooth and solid?
The answer TO this question may be
stated in n single sentence: Constant
watchfulness is the price OF n good
road.
Care, intelligence and machinery are
the three elements that enter most
largely into the maintenance Of n dirt
road. The usual practice In many sec
tons Is to run the road grader over the
roads in the spring and then give them
little further attention until the follow
ing year. How well this plan works Is
evidenced by the ruts and holes that
abound in most country roads, especial
ly during the winter months. II n rail-
road company should send its section
gang over a line OF track but once a
year 1t would undoubtedly see the re-
suit in heavy damage bills, but by
keeping men busily engaged In watch
ing the roadbcd and track Its line
Is kept In excellent condition. The
fame system OF care and watChfulness
should he exercised on n smaller scale
In the maintenance OF the public roads.
After the road has been graded and
trucd up in the spring heavy roller
should be run over 1t to pack and hard
en- the surface. 1t should then be the
business Of n man or OF n set OF men TO
watch the road closely.
There is nothing that responds better
to frequent inspection and to small and
seemingly insignificant repairs than a
dirt road. and when all roadmakers
come to fully understand this fact
there will be decided Improvement in
the quality of the dirt highways Of this
country.