Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-09-02

can be summed up succinctly in
the word drainage.
The saying has truth for basis.
as good drainage is the primary re-
quisite for all roads. Evenin sand
roads this holds true. for there
good drainage" means such a
will safely remove the storm water
without erosion or Outlying and
still retain the surface moisture.
To secure good drainage one
must take into consideration both
the surface water and the under
ground water The surface water
must be removed quickly and COM
pletefy and without subjecting the
road to excessive scour or erosion.
For this reasiOn, the center Of the
road should be raised and the slope
towards the side bitches should be
from ! TO l inch to each foot dis
lance. or so that the water will run
freely TO the side bitches and not
flow down the road or remain in
puddles on the roadway. The side
bitches should be of ample size to
care for the severest storms with a
fall of not less than 6 inches to
each 100 feet. Frequent and
ample cross drains should be con-
Structed and every opportunity
taken TO get the water away from
the road as quickly as possible.
Any road along which you see
water stading In the side bitches
or on which puddles Of water have
collected or which has been badly
quilted and eroded by the rains has
poor drainage and is in need of
immediate attention. In fact earth
roads nearly always require little
attention 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 heavy
clay or gumbo soil the drag when
properly used tends to puddle the
road surface, keep it free from
ruts, dense, smooth and hard, thus
securing the best surface drainage
possible.
But in many places the under
ground water is too near the sur
face and must be removed before
a good road will be possible. This
means that some form of sub
drainage must be resorted to,
usually tile drains, of clay or con
crete. Water from whatever
source must be gotten rid of effec-
lively, for water plus clay OF
gumbo Invariably equals mud when
mixed in spring and summer.
Water becomes ice in winter and
as water in freezing expands one.
eighth It's volume, the road heaves
out of shape and when the ice
melts the road disappears beneath
the rising tide of mud constantly
fed by rains, melting SHOWS and
underground springs.
| In seepy and Doggy places the
sub-drainage in order to be fully
effective should lower the water
level to not less than three feet
below the road surface. If tiles
are used they should be c,rcfn'Iy
laid, true to grade. Most failures in
tile drainage can be attributed To
carelessness in laying. or too fiat
grade. Tile less than + inches IN
diameter should rarely be used.
nor should a grade of less than 6
inches to the 100 feet be used unless
absolutely necessary. In very
dense soil, it is always advisable to
cover the tile to at least depth oi
6 to II inches with coarse sand or
fine gravel. Care should aIwa, :
be taken to secure free outlet for
the drains and to protect the outlet
with concrete bulkhead or catch
basin, which can always b. kept
clean and the outlet free.
The kind of tile to be used d..
Ponds on local conditions. Con
crete tile if properly made a..
equally as good as clay tile. Whica
kind to use is entirely local ques-
ton of dollars and cents. If con-