The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-10-17
SAND CLAY ROADS ADVISED
BY THE DEPARTMENT
Some Hints Upon the Construction and Care Of Road
ways Are Given in Bulletin Just Issued by the
government Some Tips for Terrell

N0uACy Is spending thou
sands of dollars every year in work
ing and improving her public high
ways. Those having the work in
charge as well as citizens generally.
will doubtless find the following
ideas and suggestions on road build-
ing, taken by The News from a bulle-
tin just issued by the department
OF agriculture at Washington, of
special interest. The construction of
sand clay and burnt clay roads is
treated extensively. 1t is stated;
Natural sand clay roads may fire.
quently be found in localities where
soil contains the right proportion
OF sand and clay. In sections of
the country where the prevailing
subsoil is composed of clay entirely,
or is of an extremely sand charac-
ter, these materials may be proper
ly mixed and overcome Objectionable
features Of each. Mixing sand and
clay as a form of road construction
has received careful study and is of
great importance, especially to the
Atlantic and Gulf states, where
throughout large areas sand and
clay are practically the only mate
rails available for road building.
I'm the southern states construc-
ton of sand and clay roads has
passed the experimental stage 1t
has been proved that they are we'll
adapted for light traffic, are less
noisy and dusty, more resilient than
the average macadam road. There are
sand and clay in the South Atlantic
and Gulf states over which heavy
loads of cotton and farm products
are hauled throughout the year with
but little resulting damage. In some
sections of the country clay is the
only material from which roads are
constructed To meet this condition
an experiment was made in the So
called gumbo district Of the lower
clay along the entire length of the
road BY burning clay even at a
moderate heat its sticky or plastic
quality is destroyed, so that even in
the wettest time it will bear traffic.
If the clay is fired along the entire
length of the road the cost Of haul
ing is avoided and the advantage
gained of burning the foundation of
the road as we'll as the material to
be placed upon i.
Drainage Is Important.
"In all forms of road con-
struction the most important con-
sideration is that of drainage, the
best being usually found upon loose
gravel or sandy soil when the grade
of the road is somewhat above the
level of the surrounding country.
If land is dry and sand deep enough
to absorb quickly the heaviest rains
no special attention need be given to
drainage other than to provide the
Droper crown to the surface OF the
finished roads. Frequently in tide
water regions the country is so low
and level that the surface OF the
road is likely to be kept continually
wet bv seepage. If this condition
has to be met it is necessary to dig
wide bitches on each side Of the
roadbed and raise the grade so that
the crown of the road will be suftl-
GENTLY high to shed water thorough
lv before hauling any clay upon II.
It is important that no stumps or
branches of trees or other matter
subject to decay should be left IN
the road bed, for at such PolnIs
weak places are sure to be deVei-
oped. Although natural drainage Is
much better on sandy subsolls than
on clay, conformation OF the couh-
try in clay districts is likely, 10 De
of a rolling character furnishing d
natural water shed. Temporary OF
so-called wet weather springs are not