Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-20

w hPCtAO SOQALy 40 AOO OllS VI IlOll, GA
cepting possibly in a few localities,
and that in very limited way.
I will therefore restrict myself in
this discussion to the improvement Of
the dirt or clay road.
Three Principal Points.
"As see 1t, there are three things,
principally to be considered in build
ing dirt road-first drainage, second
grading and third treatment after
grading. I will discuss them in the
order named.
Il place drainage first for the rea-
son that in road building, 1t is the
foundation upon which will depend the
success of all subsequent efforts.
Il am somewhat like the man, who
in his discussion of this same subject
said that successful road building de-
pended largely on three things: First,
drainage; second, drainage, and third,
more drainage. OF course he did not
mean to be understood literally, but
he took this method of emphasizing
his ideas, and impressing on his hear
ers the imperative need Of disposing
of surplus moisture.
Road drainage may be of two
kinds: By open bitches, or by thing.
Usually open side-ditches will be
found satisfactory means of dispos-
ing of the surface water, but in many
cases, where the ground Is inclined to
be level, and also on many hillsides
that are spongy, or springy, from
water that is forcing its way to the
surface, from beneath thing will be
found to be the only practical remedy.
II know of several pieces of road
in this county that were formerly al
most impossible for large part of
the year, but since being tiled out
they have become the best in their
neighborhood:
The Matter of Grading.
AZ shall now take up the second
proposition-namely, grading
In an early day, when land was
practically valueless, many roads were
established and dedicated to the pub
lie Of a width of sixty-six feet. In
some cases this may not have been
too wide, but as a general rule 1t was
worse than useless waste Of valuable
land. No highway should be less
than forty feet, and few need to be
more than fifty feet wide. Where the
highway is wider than this it is apt
to be neglected, as the temptation is
strong to allow it to grow up in weeds,
brush and other things that are often
sive to the eye.
"In grading a road two things are
to be considered: First, the width of
the grade, and second. its outlines
"My observation is that while few
make the mistake Of grading too wide
a road more go to the other extreme.
For ordinary country roads thirty feet
is very nice width, but for roads
that are comparatively unfrequented
twenty or twenty-four feet will be
ample.
"The. outlines Of the grade should
be carefully considered.
"The grader should be set to open
up a ditch on each side, of not less
than ten or twelve inches deep. and
the dirt from this ditch should be
moved towards the center, SO that
when the grade is completed it will
present a gradual and uniform slope
from the center each way. After ploW.
ing out your ditch do not disturb the
shoulder next to it, for by so doing
you will spoil your grade. At this
stage / am quite sure that heavy
roller could be used to good advan'
tage, and hope to see the time In the
near future when the county can al
ford to own a number OF these heaVy
road-rollers, for this purpose.
To Maintain Good Roads.
The next proposition refers to main
tanning the road, after it is built Fol
this purpose, nothing excels a gooo
drag, drawn by two or more horses
A two horse drag is all right, but 8
| heavy one drawn by four horses If
better. Some people who have never
used road-drag are inclined to doub
the claims made in it's behalf, but
fair trial will convince the most skep
ical to the contrary.
II know whereof / speak, for have
owned and used one for several years
Gin conclusion, there are one or two
things | will briefly refer to. | woult
earnestly urge the township trustees
and road superintendent to plan TO
work that is more permanent in 1T
character, than is usually done. Thu
! The average township of thirty-six sec
lions has from $1,000 to $1,000 to b.
expended on sixty or seventy miles o
4 highway. This is quite large sun
of money, which should not all b.
spent on temporary repairs, whicl
have to be repeated every year.
BY permanent work do not meal
1 to be understood literally, for in worl
of this character the word can onl,
be used in a com parative sense, but
do mean that a road can be bull
which, when supplemented by an int
ligent system of dragging, will remain
in reasonably good condition for
number of years, without the use OF
grader.
Some Untidy Roads.
: elm this connection will also spea
of another detail. In planning TO
: permanent work, | would urge tina
: we pay some regard for the finishe
[. appearance of the work when done.
J. at may not be practicable, at pre-:
) ent, to have a civil engineer to pla
: and lay out all the work, but fee
sure that we will come to that in time
5 For instance, in drive of a fe'
/ miles from where now stand | ca
l show roads that look as if the grade
|, | Rycf n