Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-09-08

With an average of ~ 900 tons of water
falling In the form Of rain on each mile
of public road in the United States an
nually, 1t 10 scarcely to be marveldd at
that the ten commandments of the
road builder can be summed up succinct-
~ In tho word drainage"
The saying has truth for . basis, ~
good drainage is the primary requisite
for all roads. Even in 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 underground water. The
surface water must be removed quickly
and completely and without subjecting
the road to excessive scour or erosion.
For this reason, the center of the road
should be raised and the slope towards
the side bitches should be from one-half
to one inch to each foot distance, or 80
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 fall OF
not less than 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 puddles OF
water have collected or which has been
badly quilted or eroded by the rains has
poor drainage and is In need of imme-
date attention. In fact earth roads near
ly always require little attention after
each rain. The split-log drag is es-
sentially tool to maintain good drain
age 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 underground
water is too near the surface 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 concrete.
Water from whatever source must be
gotten rid of effectively, for water plus
clay or gumbo 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 out of shape,
and when the ice melts the road disap-
pears beneath the rising tide of mud con.
stantly fed by rains, melting SHOWS and
underground springs.
In seepy and Doggy places the SUBJ
drainage In order to be fully effective
should lower the water level to not less
than three feet below the road surface
II tiles are used they should be carefully
laid, true to grade. Most failures in tile
drainage can be attributed to careless
ness in laying, or too fiat grade. Tile
less than 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 very
dense soil, 1t is always advisable to cover
the tile to at least depth of 9 to IL
inches with coarse sand or fine gravel.
Care should always be taken to secure a
free outlet for the drains, and to protect
the outlet with 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 II
properly made are equally as good as
clay tile. Which tile to use is entirely a
local question of dollars and cents. If
concrete tile can be made more oheaply
than clay tile can be had, use concrete;
if not, use clay tile.
One great advantage of the concrete
tile is that they can be easily made by
the local users at or near the place where
they are to be placed, so that the freight
charges are dispensed with as we'll as
the large breaksge losses due to hand
ling. Placed in the ground, both are
durable. If concrete is used, great care
should be taken to see that 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 er
roneous.
A bulletin is now in course Of prepare
ton by the United States Office of Pub
lie Roads telling how to make concrete
drains. This bulletin will treat the sub
ject fully, explaining carefully every
point that may arise in making drain
pipes and culverts.