The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-06-09
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g a & depreciates in market yaIu' ,lll1
when bounded by bad high
f0DNp ways. Cities. towns anC
counties owe much 10 good
roads. Those so fortunate as to enjoy
good roads do not realize their value
until they locate in a vicinity that has
poorly constructed roads. The annual
visit or the supervisor is not always
appreciated hy the farmer or By the
man who Is compelled by law to work
his required time on the roads. Too
often it is looked upon as useless
burden. Oftentimes il is 50. for the
work is really thrown away. Super
Tisors get in their time and draw their
pay. The real service OF good road
Is often forgotten by officers. as well
rs by the men working under them.
a general public opinion demanding
good road making is the first essential
Too much time is wasted and too much
money is spent on good roads and bad
roads The graft has worked its way
into the maintenance OF the public
highways.
Every roadbed must have good drain
age. Dirt roads become impossible.
and the rcck or graveled roads soon
lose their identity. When side bitches
hold water many weeks during the
year. it is a clear indication Of bad
drainage. Such roads cut up badly
and are filed with deep ruts. Often
times the side bitches are higher than
the main roadway, and not only have
no standing water in them. but they
shed all the running water into the
wagon tracks. Side bitches that are
seryiceable must lower the water table
in the roadbed and carry of all the
surface water that would otherwise
nood the roadway.
The graveled or rocked road usually
Is graded before the hard material is
spread upon IT, and for a short time, at
least. the drainage is good. Since
water is the worst enemy 10 good roads
It is likely TO make an attack any day
In the year. it would seem that the
annual woodworking season would not
altogether till the bill with any kind Of
road. whether it be gravel. rock or
dirt. Roads to be at their best need
attention every time 1t rains; especi-
ally is this true Of dirt roads.
Tie grader is excellent for opening
up side bitches and for filing the road
centre. but in many instances the work
the grader can not do is left undone.
Bridges are not properly filed. The
ends Of bitches are never opened with
the shovel Even the roadway Is left
hollow, because Of ignorance in hand
ling a grader.
The Farmers Institutes have inter-
ested a number of farmers over In
diana in dragging their roads after
every rain and after a thaw In winter.
The result Of this experiment has in
Heed been very satisfactory. Where It
Is impractical to have hard material
Tor road making. good drainage, with
The dragging process, viii give farmers
living on dirt roads fair roads through
the entire year. The drag is SO ar
hanged as to drag all loose dirt to the
road centre. and in so doing the wagon
ruts and horse tracks are entirely filed
pp. There are no holes for holding
water. Then the dragging of the sur
face when wet puddles the top, so as
to assist in shedding the rainfall
which then passes to the side bitches.
The success Of the dragging promises
Is give the farmers Of the dirt road
districts chance to show their public |
spirit in good road making. The farm
ars join together and drag the roads |
pear their homes.-W. B. Anderson, in
the Indianapolis News.