The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-08-29
+ Good Roads. Z
The Missouri Method.

Although we have frequently de-
scribed the Missouri method of maxi
ing and maintaining good dirt roads
by the use of log-drag, etc, the fact
that we shall have SO many dirt roads
In wretched condition because of the
heavy winter induces us to present
the subject from the point of view@of
another writer, The late G. w. Wa
tiers recently made such a statement
through the Orange Judd Farmer
and it may be suggestive:
The inventor who car discover a
cheap process whereby earth and clay
of a roadbed can-be rendered imper-
vious to water, wflIfbe a public bene-
factor. So long as an earth road is
smooth, imperVious to water, and Of
easy grade, so long it is the most de-
sirable one for travel; in fact it is
an ideal highway for public use.
EveTl though it may not be possible
to construct and maintain an earth
road that shall be in perfect condi-
ton the year round. vet any inexpen-
sive method hat will materially
shorten the length of the bad period
is worthy of consideration. That 1t
Is possible to reduce by nine-tenths
the lengths of thef periods during
which the roadbed win be soft, is
nov . demonstfated fact fTheproc--
ess whereby this end may be accom-
pIfshed is very simple and exceeding
1y inexpensive, costing less than IS
per mile per annum.' Before describ--
ing this method I will outline some.
of the basic principles that enter into
it 81 10 ltsf
Essentials.-A roadbed saturated
With moisture becomes soft and nom
resistant the wheels of vehicles and
hOofs Of horses sink into it; it is a
mud road. Reduce the moisture
somewhat and the mud begins to
harden Reduce the moisture to
minimum and the road becomes hard
and firm.
Water must enter the roadbed
either by falling upon the surface and
soaking down or by capillary action
from beneath. Now, ii by any pro-
cess in the construction or treatment
OF the roadbed we can prevent the
entrance OF water beyond a fifteen per
cent. solution, the roadway will re-
main solid. Water enters the road
by peTcolation or by capillary attrac-
ton through the pores or interstices
between the particles of earth COM
posing it Hence, the object desired
is, il possible, to so close those pores
or i~nterstices by compaction that the
water will not find access. If this is
done efectual1y, it is evident that the
roadbed cannot absorb water or get
soft. Some tests have been made in
the following manner:
A four-inch stratum of earth is
mOiStened to about twenty per cent,
then rolled with a ten-ton, fo~ur-foot
roller; another fonr-inch stratum is
treated the same way, and then an
other, till a roadbed t~wenty-four
inches deep is constructed. 1t has
been found that the material used is
SO thoroughly compacted that, so long
as the rain which falls upon it finds
ready escape the roadbed is practi-
cally imperViOuA- In a comparative
laboratory test il has been found that
earth not c0hpaeted-that Is, freshly
thrown up by n grader when dry, will
absorb as much water in oneFhour as
SA4S S64R3S% SoA III WILL IA OWO
days; or, in other words, the COM.
pacted material is 1853 times al re-
sistant to percolation as the uncom-
Racted earth. Again, it was found
&h3t capillary action is practically de-
:st&Syed i'm a cube of earth that has
been thoroughly compacted at the
proper degree of moisture. In fact,
1t was found that in clay or clay
loan, thoroughly compacted, the ca
p1IaEy tubes are practically closed
$50 that without the aid Of p~ercolation
3fKrnn the surface it is impossible by
attraction alone to induce
as much as, a fifteen per cent. satura-
ton a distance OF ten inches above
the water level.
The Method.-Now, if the forego-
ing philosophy is true(and it has
been proved true), what does 1t mean
i'm practical application to earth road
construction? How may we, in u
cheap and eficient manner, construct
and maintain an earth roadbed SO as
to secure the conditions? The plan
fs simple, too simple for ready &C
~ceptance, yet as efficient as it is
simple.
"A simple drag is drawn along each
side of the roadbed at the proper
time, 50 as to smooth the surface,
filling the ruts, pushing the earth
slightly toward the centre of the road
and pressing it into all crevices. This
is lone after each wet spell, just as
the surface is beginning to dry. This
produces a smooth surface, the ruts
and tracks being obliterated. The
vehicles that run on the road go pro-
miscuousIy over the surface and ON
pact 1t as completely as If it were
rolled by9a heavy roller. In fact, a
wagon with A-inch tires, and with
D total weigh OF only 1850 pounds
produces as great a pressure upon the
surface touched asa ten-ton roller.
An ordinary two-horse wagon-load
would produce a pressure equivalent,
20 a. ~r@w% 49, .@II1~