The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-02-29
PUBLIC ROADS.
Practical Suggestions as TO Their Con-
struction and lIaintenance-Treat-
ment of Earth Roads.
~@si--ss~

| country but stilL the fact remains that
| for long time 20 come the majority
of the roads will be composed of earth.
Furthermore, in about pine months
out of the year, the earth road, II
! properly cared for, is reasonably sat-
isfactory. For many agricultural
districts, it Is the only road at pres
ens available. Hence, these commu-
mites should set themselves seriously
to work to learn the best methods of
| maintaining earth roads and Of getting
the maximum service from them. Pros
| perity comes to the country to a great
extent through the prosperity of the
farmers. This fact strongly suggests
the Importance OF giving earth roads
every possible care and attention in
their location, drainage, construction
and maintenance.
Anearth road composed of waterhold-
ing soil should be exposed to the sun
and air as freely as possible, as COM
parison between the shaded and sunny
portions of such road will easily in
dictate. This should be accomplished
by clearing sufficient amount of trees
and underground away from the road.
1t must be remembered, however, that
sandy and graveily roads require
moisture, and ia 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 impor-
tans points TO consider in connection
with an earth road. The majority of
earth roads in all mountainous ami
billy districts have too much drainage.
Occasionally a road will be found
with FIVE bitches, three in the middle
made by the horses hoofs and by the
wheels OF the vehicles, and two on the
sides. All well constructed 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 CIV
ing it a crown OF elevation in the CEN
ter of u inches above the top of the
inner slope OF the ditch for 20 foot
road, and where the hills are little
steep make the crown 10 inches. With
a crown OF about one inch to the foot
fr IN the center to the sides, the bitches
which are often built across tae road
On steep grades to defect the water
will not be needed. Instead OF carrs-
ing water acrGas the road in open
bitches, tile or concrete Grains
should, if possible, be provided, They
should have sufficient capacity aud
fall to carry the maximum amount Of
water that is expected to low through
them at any one time. The capacity is
Increased 10 proportion to the fall or
grade; for instance. II inch pipe laid
on . one per cent grade will carry
1900 gallons PEE minute, while the
same pipe laid on q : per cent grade
will carry $500 gallons per minute.
Furthermore, cuiVert laid fat will
soon fill up, while one having good |
incline will keep itself clear.
In the maintenance of an earth road, |
avoid the mistake IF changing the nat.
ural order OF things. Naturally the |
soil is found on top and the clay on
the bottom. II this order is reversed |
| constructing a road, the result will |
b3 less satisfactory than If the soil e
left at The top of the road, for soil |
makes better surface 10 q road than
clay. Ii the road bed is largely clay
TO start with, it, will be we'll to place
sandy soil or clean sand on top.
covering OF 6 10 l0irches of saud upon
clay that persists 10 breaking UP into
deep mudholes will usually be salts
factory, and IL sand enough be added,
this clay will cease to make mud. If
the road bed il composed Of sand il
can be improved by an application CT
clay.
The rule for a serviceable earth
'oad, then, is as follows: Make bitches
IN each eide aud keep them open:
laul sand and gravel upon sections
leeding this treatment: use a road
machine and split log drag jndiciously
. full description of which will be
obtained IN . later alticle): follow {
be "sti;ch in time" rule and give az
arth road The same careful persistent
ttention you would give your prize T
ere, factory or a store. and it with &
ay as large a profit in proportion to
our individual outlay. T
The Un'ted States ONCE OF Public I
.oads will supply this pepper will :,
ractical articles on various features .
t road building and MAINTENANCE. :
hich will be Published from time to !
me. Our subscribers are urged TO 7