Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-09-27
ABOUT ROAD CONSTRUCTION.


:
worse than in any other county IN
the state. This condition i due
largely TO the lack OF knowledge on
the part of many road officials as TO
the primary principles of road con-
strncuon, resulting in the iaiadicions
use Of thousands of dollars OF the
public money annually.
Quoting an eminent authority,
''the increased cost of drayage actnal-
ly done il by no means the only loss
resulting from bad roads. The loss
of perish4ble products for want Of
access 20 market, the failure TO reach
markets when prices are good, and
the failure TO cultivate products
which would he marketable If mar
kets were always accessible, add
many thousands 10 the tax of bad
roads, not 60 speak of the detri-
ment TO social communication, edu.
cation and religion. In fact the
movement for good roads deeply
concerns every citizen of Bear Lake
county.
All the amportant roads in the
county can be and probably will be
greatly improved IN the not distant
future. This expectation should
govern the present management of
roads and no labor or expense should
be expended upon them other than
that whicn leads 10 their ultimate
Improvement as hard roads. Many
roads of this county remain today
where they were originally located,
and where untold labor, expense and
energy have been wasted in trying
to haul over them and in endeavOr-
ing to improve their deplorable
condition. The proper thing 70 do
now is to build good roads II we are
going to do anything II all, and
stop throwing the public money into
the mud, thinking we are improving
the highways. We propose now u
build a good, substantial road be
tween Montpelier and Paris, or n
much ~ can be done this year, and
we feel that the taxpayers OF THU
this county should unite with us |,
this most important enterprise. W.
therefore offer the following sugges
tions on road building. which ar
: from the pen Of M. o. Eldredge
assistant in the Office of road IN
: quiry:
, DRAINAGE.
E Inasmuch as all things are governs
/, by natures law and nothing By chance
we can only expect 70 secure econom.
by a strict observance and application
D Of those principles which are in perfec
0 harmony with that law. in buildin
roads. Water will NOT flow MP hill
neither will il how of into bitches whe
= there are no bitches made for It 70 ho'
Z into; on the contrary. water flows
9 that direction where the least resistane
+ to the laws OF gravity exists II that
= down the middle Of the road. then 20
will 6nd after each heavy rain the tel
tale gully.
= Water, being the greatest enemy !
. the road. IL should fiow freely on u
1r surface. This is accomplished by pr
~ pairing the bed 30 that there may be
fall from the center to the SIDES of .
inches. never exceeding nine inches |
" a road thirty feet vide; for road II
y % feet vide. from 3 to ! inches
20 enough. A ditch should be construct
~a ON either side Of the road to carry ayr
:. easily and quickly ali water from I
road and vicinity. Water should nev
n be allowed TO flow across ; r0adwa
81 cuIversa. OF. II nothing better can
OF had. hollow log should - provid
Tor that purpose In order 70 have go
roads. Il Is just - necessary that va
shouId not be allowed to attack the >
structure from below as that IL shot
a. not be permitted 70 percoiate thrcn
81, IL from above.
tn UnderdIaiDs are easily and chea
0ls- made and. when property eonstrue
ped with the best tools and materials. '
RS last for ages They sh0uld be abou
20 feet deep and carefully GRADED ss
ss. bottom 20 Ne 10 haTe = fall through
s.. their enfire length of at lsaas q inc
- for each 100 feet In IenGth.
ops rag sURFAcEEsG o. ROADS.
sads Agrsss diassenes in r.ssas lies II
nature of their enrfacs On q well n