Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-17
The PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
The Government Trying TO Help Keep
Then 10 Good Condition.

to time. Our subscriber are urged
to give this matter careful con-
slderatioD, anu are requested to
forward to this Office for transmits.
ION to the Office of Public Roads
= any practical question which they
lesire answered relating to road
construction and maintenance.
Questions, and answers will be
G published by this paper at suitable
intervals.
No. 1, Series A.
The Maintenance of Earth Roads.
We NAV recognize the value of
hard and durable roads in all parts
Of the country. but still the fact
remains that for a long time to
come the majority of the roads will
be composed OF earth. Further
more in about nine months out of
the year. the earth road. if pro.
8 perly cared for is reasonably salts.
factory. For many agriculture
Districts it is the only road at pre-
sent available. Hence, these
communities should set themselves
seriously to work to learn the
best methods Of maintaining the
earth roads and of getting the
maximum services from them.
Prosperity comes to the country
to a great extent through the pros.
parity Of the, farmers. This fact
strongly suggested the importance
of giving the earth road every
possible care and attention in
itA location. drainage construction
and maintenance.
40 earth read composed. of vat
Or holding soil should be exposed
70 the sun and air as freely as pos.
sible a. comparison between the
shaded and sunny portions of such
Q road will easily indicate. This
should be accomplished by
clearing a suficient amount OF
trees and underground away from
the road. It must be remembered
however. that sandy and gravelly
roads require moisture and in this
case some shade should be retain.
ed. Furthermore trees are bene6
cial along river banks and on steer
grades subject to washing
o Drainage is one of the most i'm
portant points to consider in con
nection with an earth road. The
majority of earth roads in al
mountains and hilly district have
too much draingse. Occasionally
a road will be found with Eve
bitches. three in the middle made
by the horses 5 hoofs and by
wheels of the vehicles, and two or
the side. All we'll constructed
earth roads are supposed to have
40 more than two bitches. one or
each side of the traveller roadway
Keep the water out of the middle
of the road by giving it a crown
or elevation in the center of ~
inches above the top of the innel
slope of the ditch for q 20 foo
road and where the hills are
little steep make the crown II
inches. With a crown about
inch to the foot from the cente
to the sides, the bitches which ar
often built across the road OF
steep grades to defect the waite
will not be needed. Instead O
carrying water across the road i
. open bitches, tile or concret
drains should. if possible. be pro
vided. They should have suficien
capacity and fall to carry tn
maximum amount of water tina
is expected to flow through theI
any one time. The capacity is i
creased in proportion to the ia
grade; for instance 12. inch piu
laid on a one per cent grade wi
carry 1900 gallons per minut,
while the same pipe laid on a
. per cent grade will carry 2.5(
gallons per minute. Furthermor