The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1908-08-26
HIGHWAY DRAINAGE,
Tiles Are Best For Gravel or
Stone Roads.

- "
Stone Roads.
SOME POINTS ON THE WORK.
iIJndsrdralnage Below Surface With
4 Farm TILES Great Prpseetion--sIdo
e Ditchss That Hold Water Make an
Inferior Roadway.
Tile drainuge, says Professor Ira o.
Bnkcr, Is the Very best preparation for
gravel or stone rond. Gravel or
broken stone placed upon an undrained
foundation is almost sure to sink grad
!uaily, whatever It's thickness, whereas
n thinner layer upon an underdrained
roadbed VIII give much better service.
"Jtoads tiled without gravel are better
than roads graveled without tilo."
Tho road should be underdrained so
as to keep the water level well below
tilk road surface. In most localities
5sTSis ystn he accomplished reasonably
well by lnyIhg line of farm tile three
or three and half feet below the road
surface along one side of the road
l WuYs H ID tAAhS
there should bo a tile on each side of
tho road
Some writer's on good roads advocate
the use of line of tile under the mid
die of the Travelled portion, and some
advocate line on each side of the
wheclway. The object sought by these
tilos Is rapid drainage, and therefore 1t
Is urged that they should be laid near
the surface. 1t is doubtful whether
any water Will reach the tile, since the
road surface when wet is puddled by
the traffic, which prevents the water
percolating through the soil, and 1t is
certain that In clay or loan the drain
nge thus obtained is of no practical
value. More than one farmer has tried
to drain his barnyard by laying tile
near the surface. always without ap-
prcclable effect.
While line OF tile on one side of
tho road is usually sufficient, there is
often great difference as to the side
on which 1t should bo laid. If one side
of the road is higher than the other,
the tile should be on the high side to
intercept the ground water that is
flowing down tho slope under the sur
face.
The tile should be laid in the bottom
of the silt ditch below the frost line.
OF course the tile should have uni
form grade and sufficient fall and an
adequate outlet. Tho sizo OF the tile
required will depend upon the length
of tho line and the grade OF the ditch,
but local experience in farm drainage
Is likely to bo better guide than any
general statement that can be made.
Farm drainage is almost certain to
prcccde tond drainage In nny particu
lar locality.
The side bitches are to receive the
water from the surface of the travelled
way and should carry 1t rapidly and
entirely away from the roadside. They
are useful also to intercept and carry
off the water that would otherwise
How from the side hills upon the road.
Ordinarily they need not be deep and
IL possible should have a broad, far
prevent accident IL vehicle should be
crowded TO the extreme side of the
roadway. The outside bank should be
fiat enough to prevent cnying. The
proper form of ditch is easily made by
the usual road machine or road grad
er. Tho side ditch should have free
outlet into some stream so as to carry
the water entirely, away from the road.
No good road can be obtained with
side bitches that hold the water until
II eyaporates
Much alleged road work is posi-.
tive damage for this reason. Piling up
tho earth in the middle of the road is
perhaps In itself well enough. but leav.
ing undrained holes ut tho side of the
road probably more than counterbal
nnces the benefits of the embankment.
A road between long artificial ponds is
always Inferior and is often impassa-
bic. 1t Is cheaper and better to make
lower etnbnnkment and to drain
thoroughly the holes Mt the side OF the
ronds. Often the public funds can be
moro wisely used In making bitches in
adjoining private lands than In max
ing ponds Mt tho roadside in an at
tempt to improve tho road by raising
tho surface.