The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-09-02
IMPORTANCE OF DRAINAGE.
Kidding Roads of storm and t,nder-
ground Water Subject of Though
FIJI Paper sent Out

VIII dn average OI f.UUV toUS Vi
water falling in the form OF. rain on
each mile of public road in the
United States annually, it is scarcely
! TO be marVeled at that the ten COM
mandments of the road builder can
F be summed up succinctly in the word
drainage"
The saying has truth for a basis.
as good drainage is the primary
requisite for all roads. Even in sand
roads this holds true. for there good
drainage means such as will safely
remove the storm water without ero-
sion or outlying and still retain the
surface moisture.
To secure good drainage one must
take into consideration both the sur
fuace water and the underground wa
ter The surface water must be re-
moved quickly and competedw and
without subjecting the road TO excess
sive scour or erosion. For this rea-
son, the center of the road should be
raised and the slope towards the side
bitches should be from = to ! inch
TO each foot distance. or so that the
water will run freely to the side
bitches and not flow down the road
or remain in puddles on the road
way The side bitches should be of
ample size to care for the severest
storms with a fall of not less than
six inches 10 each 100 feet. Fire.
quent and ample cross drains should
he constructed an devery opportunity
taken 10 get the water away from the
road as quickly as possible. Any
road along which you see water
standing in the side bitches or on
which puddles of water have col
lected or which has been badly gull
lied and eroded by the rains has poor
drainage and is i'm need of immedi-
ate attention. In fact earth roads
neatly always require little atten-
ton after each rain. The split-log
+ drag is essentially tool TO maintain
good drainage on our earth roads.
and should be used after each rain.
On a heavy clay or gumb soil the
drak when properly used tends TO
puddle the road surface, keep il free
from ruts. dense. smooth and hard,
thus securing the best surface drain
age possible.
But in many places the under
ground water is TOO near the surface
and must be removed before a good
road will be possible. This means
f that some form of sub-drainaee must
T be resorted TO. usually tile drains,
of clay or concrete. Water from
whatever source must be gotten rid
of effectively, for water plus clay or
gumbo invariably equals mud when
mixed i'm spring and summer. Water
4 in int
+ in freezing expands one-eighth IFS
volume, the road heaves out of shape
and when the ice melts the road dis
appears beneath the rising tide of
mud constantly fed by rains. melting
SHOWS and underground springs.
In seepy and boggy places the sub
drainage in order 10 be fully effect
i've should lower the water level 10
not less than three feet below the
road surface. If tiles are used they
should be carefully laid, true 10
grade. Most failures in tile drainage
can be attributed 10 carelessncss III
laying, or too fiat grade Tile less
than 4 inches in diameter should
rarely be used, nor should grade oil
less than inches 10 the 100 feet be
used unless absolutely necessary. In
a very dense soil. il is always advis
able TO cover the tile to at least &
depth of 10 - inches with coarse
sand or fine gravel. Care should al
ways be taken to secure a free Quite
for teh drains and to protect th'
outlet with concrete bulkhead %
catch basin. which can always be KEEP
clean and the outlet free.
The kind of tile 10 be used depend
on local conditions. Concrete tile /
properly made are equally as good al
clay tile. Which kind TO use Is en-
tirely a local question of dollars an'
cents. If concrete tile can be mad
more cheaply than clay tile can h'
had. use. concrete: If not, use ella.
tile.
One great advantage of the con
crete tile is that they can be easil.
rade by the local users AT or near th'
place where they are TO be placed
so that the freight charges are dis
pensed with as well as the larg'
breakage losses due TO handling
Placed in the ground, both are dura
BILE If concrete is used, great car
should be taken to see that a goo'
grade OF Portland ceemnt is selected
and that the drains are properly con
structed The impression, which
prevails TO some extent. that tile dis
integrates is erroneous.
A bulletin is now in course o
preparation by the United States OF
flee OF public roads telling how Il
make concrete drains. This bulletin
will treat the subject fully, explain
inc cerefn'lv every point that ma.
arise in making drain pipes and eul