Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-01-30
The Maintenance Of Earth Roads.

We may recognize the value of hard and
durable roads i'll 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. Furthermore, in
about nine months out of the year, the
earth road, if properly cared for, is reason
ably satisfactory For many agricultural
districts, it is the only road at present avail
able. Hence, these communities should set
themselves seriously TO work TO learn the
best methods of maintaining earth roads
and of getting the maximum service from
them. Prosperity comes TO the country 80
great extent through the prosperity of the
farmers. This fact strongly suggests the
importance Of giving the earth road every
possible care and attention in its location,
drainage, construction and maintenance.
An earth road composed Of water hold
ing soil should be exposed to the sun and
air as freely as possible, as comparison
between the shaded and sunny portions OF
such road will easily indicate. This
should be accomplished by clearing a suf-
ficient amount of trees and underground
away from the road. Is must be remem-
bered, however, shat sandy and gravellY
roads require moisture, and in these cases
some shade should be retained. Further
more, trees are beneficial along river banks
and on steep grades subject to washing.
Drainage is one of the most Important
points to consider in connection with an
earth road. The majority OF earth roads in
all mountainous and hilly districts have
800 muct drainage. Occasionally road
will be found with Eve bitches, three in she
middle made by the horses hoofs and by
wheels Of the vehicles, and two on the
sides. All well-c0nstructed earth roads are
supposed to have no more than two bitches,
one on each side of the travelled roadway.
Keep the water out of the middle of the
road by giving it crown Of elevation in
the center of n inches above the top of the
inner slope of the ditch for 20-foos road,
and where the hills are little steep make
the crown 10 inches With crown of
about inch 30 the foot from the centre to
the sides, the bitches which are often built
across the road on steep grades TO defect
the water will lot be needed. Instead of
carrying water across the road in open
bitches, tile Or concrete drains should, il
possible, be provided. They should have
sufficient capacity and fall 80 carry the
maximum amount of water that is expect
ed TO flow through them at any one time.
The capacity is increased in proportion to
the fall or grade; for instance, l2-lnoh pipe
laid on a one per cent. grade will carry
l, 300 gallons per minute, while the same
pipe laid on 2 per cent grade will carry
2, 500 gallons per minute. Furthermore.
eulvert laid fiat will soon fill up. while one
having good incline will keep itself clear
In the maintenance of an earth road avoid
the mistake Of changing the natural oder
OF things Naturally the soil is found on
top and the clay on the bottom If this
order is reversed in constructing road, the
result will be less satisfactory than if the
soil be left at the top of the road, for soil
makes a better surface to road than clay.
Ii the road bed is largely clay to start With,
it will be well TO place sandy soil or clean
sand on top. A covering OF TO 10 inches
of sand upon clay that persists in breaking
up into deep mud holes will usually be
satisfactory, and if sand enough be added,
this clay will cease to make mud. II the
roadbed is composed CT sand it can be i'm
proved by an application of clay.
The rule for a serviceable earth road,
then, is as follows: make bitches on each
side and keep them open; haul sand and
gravel upon sections needing this treatment;
use road machine and spis log drag ju-
diciously (full deserlp ption of which will
be contained IN later article); follow the
''stitch in time" rule and give an earth
road the same careful, persistent attention
you would give your prize acre, factory or
store, and 1t will pay as large proft in
to your individual outlay.