The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-09-09


ter The surface water must be re-
moved quickly and completely 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 one-half 70
one 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
roadway. The side bitches should be
Of ample size to care for the severest
storms with fan of not less than
six inches to each 100 feet. Frequent
and ample cross drains should be
constructed and every opportunity
taken to 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 pud-
dies 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 a
little attention after each rain. The
split-log drag is essentially a tool to
roads, and should be used after each
rain On a heavy clay or gumbo soil
the drag when properly used tends
TO puddle the road surface, keep 1t
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 surface
and must be removed before good
road will be possible This means
that some from of sub-drainage must
be resorted to. usually tile drains, of
clay or concrete. Water from what
ever source must be gotten rid of
effectively. for water plus clay or
eumbo invariably equals mud when
mixed in spring and summer. Water
becomes ice in winter and as water
in freezing expands one-eighth its
volume. the road heaves ont of shane
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 Doggy places the sub
drainage in order to be fully effec-
tive 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 to grade.
Most failures in tile drainage can he
attributed to carelessness in laying.
or too fiat Grade. Tile less than four
inches in diameter should rarely be
used nor should grade of less than
six inches to the 100 feet be used
unless absolutely necessary In a
very dense soil. it is always advisa-
4 Bile to cover the tile to at least depth
of six to twelve inches with coarse
sand or fine gravel. Care should al
WAYS be taken to secure a free outlet
for the drains and to protect the out
let with a concrete bulkhead or
catchbasin, which can always be kept
clean and the outlet free.
The kind of tile to be used depends
on local conditions. Concrete tile #
properly made are equally as good as
clay tile. Which kind to use is en-
tirely a local question of dollars and
cents. If concrete tile can be made
more cheaply than clay tile can be
had. use concrete; if not, use clay
tile
One great advantage of the con-
crete tile Is that they can be easily
made by the local users at or near
the place where they are to be plac-
ed. so that the freight charges are
dispensed with as well as the large
breakage losses due to handling. Plac-
ed in the ground, both are durable
If concrete is used, great care should
be taken to see that a good grade of
Portland cement is selected. and that
the drains are properly constructed.
The impression, which prevails to
some extent, that tile disintegrates is
erroneous.
A bulletin is now in course of prep
aration by the United States office
of public roads telling how to make
concrete drains. This bulletin will
treat the subject fully. explaining
carefully every point that may arise
in making drain pipes and culyerts.
State of Ohio. City of Toledo, Lucas