Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-02-20
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE ON GOOD ROADS

The office of Public Roads. one OF
the bureaus of the U. 5. DEPARTING nj
OF Agriculture, has commpnc d the
preparation by government mt experts of y
series of practical articles on various
features Of road building and main
tenance. The COURIER has secured
this service as regular feature. From
time to time. as supplied by the gov
ernment, this series will be published
In this news paper. This matter OF
good roads is one in which this com
munity is Wit ally Interested. In addi-
| tlon to the regular and heavy county
and township taxes for road maintenance
Elk Point AMI her business men have
put thousands of dollars into repairs
and improvements of few miles of
one road atone leading into this city
These articles by government experts
are designed to help 10 just such cases
as these, SO that the best res ults for
the money available may be obtained.
Our subscribers are urged to give this
matter careful consideration. ANY
pra'stical problems or pertinent ques
tlons relailng to our endeavor to i'm
prove the condition of our traffic roads.
may be addressed to the COURIER and
we shall take pleasure in forwarding
them to the department Such cues
tions will receive the best attention of
the government experts and their COM
ments and suggestions will be publish
ed from time to lime as received. Mol
of Series A was received this week
and is given 10 our readers n full be-
low, as prepared by the department,
under the caption OF
The MAINTENANCE OF EARTH ROADS
We may recognize the value of hard
and durable roads in all parts of the
country, but still the fact remains that
for long time to come the majority
OF the roads VIII be com posed of earth.
Furthermore, in about nine months
out of the year, the earth road, if prop
erly cared for, is reasonably satisfac-
tory. For many agricultural districts.
it is the only read at present available
Hence, these communities should set
| themselves seriously to work to learn
the best methods of maintaining earth
roads and getting the maximum service
from them. Prosperity comes TO the
country to great extent through the
prosperity of the farmers. This fact
strongly suggeste the importance of
giving the earth road every possible
| care and attention in its location.
drainage, construction and mainte-
nacce.
An earth road composed of water
holding soil should be exposed to the
sun and air as freely as possible. as
comparison between the shaded and
sunny portions of sucn a road will easily
| indicate. This should be accomplish
| ed by clearing sufficient amount of
| trees and underground away froM the
road. 1t must be remembered, how
ever, that sandy and gravelly roads re-
quire moisture, and in these cases
some shade should be retained
| Furthermore, trees are beneficial along
/ river banks and on steep grades sub.
/ jet to washing.
Drainage is one OF the most impor-
tant points to consider in connection
with an earth road. The majority of
earth roads in all mountainous and
hilly districts have too much drainage.
Occasionally road will be found with
| five bitches, three in the middle made
by the horses h0ofs by wheels OF the
vehicles, and two on the sides. All
l-cOnstructed earth roads are sup
| posed TO have no more than two
bitches, and on each side of the travel
ed roadway. Keep the water out oi
the middle of the road by giving it a
crown or elevation in The center of Z!
inches above the top of the inner slope