The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-01-03
DRAINAGE OF ROADS
MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN CON-
STRUGGLING GOOD HIGHWAYS.

MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN CON-
STRUGGLING GOOD HIGHWAYS.
How to Underdrnin the Roadway.
Disposal of Storm Water Quite as
Important ns Location and Grade.
Value of Water Breaks.
Drainage Is the essential factor and
essence of all good road building, says
w. r. Colt in a paper read before the
recent Missouri good rooads convan-
ton. Exercising its proper functions,
all roads are good roads. metaling of
the surface being simply a question Of
how much a community can stand and
without drainage would be Intellectual
and worthless A study of the topogra
ply of the region through which the
road is to pass, the quantity of traffic
to be served, the comfort and con.
venience of those who use it. should
determine the best location for road.
and these require the strdy of one
qualified and educated for the work.
A level road Is most desirable and
economical; hence one should seek to
locate a road SO as to obtain the light
est grades, as proper estimate sof
grades is one of the most important
parts of the science of road building.
The perfectly level road is the best
for transportation, but it costs less to
| maintain a road OH 4 slight grade than
OH level, as longitudinal ruts are liza
BILE to be formed and interfere with the
| drainage Any earth road surface is
greatly benefited by having longitude
| nal drainage and is not so likely to be-
come soft and muddy in rainy times as
a level road; hence the advisability of
introducing slight grades at intervals
for this purpose. The gradient of the
road will be determined by the amount
of traffic to be accommodated.
Disposal Of storm water is quite as
/ important as location and grade and
should have the constant consideration
Of the locating engineer. Money ex-
pended in intelligent study of location,
grade and drainage gives more return
than any other expenditure. drainage
being the most important factor in the
construction Of roads and the foun-
dation Of all road building. water being
the greatest enemy of dirt roads.
Prompt and thorough drainage Of the
water from the road can only be ac.
complished by one who has made a
study of the subject and is master Of
the situation.
underdrainage or longitudinal tiling
/ of the road or roadway lowers TIE wa
ter leve! and maintains & dry slil,soil,
thickening the crust Of the surface SO
as to permit heavier loads. and prevents
| settling of the roadbed; also prevents
the destructive effect of the frost.
/ Three to four inch tile is 4 suitable
size and can be laid so as to be carried
down into the side bitches at regular
intervals. thus having a free outlet. A
line of three or four inch draintile laid
along either or both sides Of the grade
at sufficient depth to intercept the I'M
derfiow will effectually lower the wa
4 ter level and drain the silbgrade. If
the road is located on a slope or side
| hill, the line of tile should be laid OF,
the upper side of the roadway, under
and across the roadway into the lower
ditch.
The arrangement of side bitches o.
drainage should be such as will eff
fectually carry away from the road
way or grade all water from either
ditch and prevent the storm water
from adjacent lands reaching the road
way or grade. Wide shallow bitches
with long fiaring sides toward the road
way or grade should obtain, the out
side bank having slope enough to pre-
vent caving, which will necessarily
have to be changed for the different
soils over which the road may pass
The slope from center or highest poin
in the roadway should be made will
| two planes, say one inch to the foo
for six feet each way from the center
then change to one and one-half inch Il
the foot and carry this gradient to tht
outside of either ditch, a distance o1
another six feet. This will leav,
enough BERN to support the Travelled
roadway.
Side bitches should have uniform
grade and free outlet into some water
way, so as to drain the rOad quickly
Under no conditions should water b
allowed to stand in the side bitches, a
1t filters through and into the subsoi
Of the grade. Water should not be car
ried long distances in the side 1itche
nor concentrated to avoid a culvert
Natural drainage conditions should b.
} followed as nearly as possible, am
. whenever the flow of water in draw
. or waterway is obstructed by interpos
J ing dam in the shape Of a road grad
the natural conditions should be re
J stored by supplying an outlet in tn
shape of an adequate culvert across Q
: through the road grade to the lowe
ditch.
Drainage Of the surface of a road /
! largely determined by its maintenance
, If the depressions and rnts are file
!, by some device or machine SO as t
: leave a smooth, even surface. which !
easily and quickly accomplished. til
! roadbed will remain dry and solid. @
] long, steep grades thank you-marms
! or wafer breaks should be constructe
j at frequent intervals to force the storl
. water into the side bitches. construt
i these in a broad angle. extending froI
!. an apex in the center of the road, dow
: and out to either ditch. The steepe
: the grade the sharper the angle shonl
: be. They should also be made Mt I'll
E top or summit Of every hill to interceI
j storm water and divert it to the sid
! bitches.
t In conclusion, let me recommend Il
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