Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-15
GOOD DRAINAGE
is NECESSARY
Kidding THoRoueHFAREs OF
SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND
WATER INSURE FINE ROADS.
FOR FARMERS BENEFIT
Improvement of Public Roadways Is
Encouraged by United States
Office-concrete Tile
recommended.

! Recommended.
The good roads proposition which
has been before the public for some
time and is especial interest to far
mers and citizens generally, is the OBJ
1ect or an earnest campaign by the
| United States office of public roads.
AS there Is great amount of rainfall
especially in the spring and fall OF
| the year. good drainage is very essen
/ tial to good roads. The center of the
road should be raised and slope to the
side bitches. with a sufficient slant to
| allow surface water to run off to the
sides whore it will be carried away in
| stead OF collecting III the center of the
roads, thus forming mudholes In
| places where the ground Is in shape
SO as not to allow sufficient grading to
carry off water rapdly, underground
| should be used.
All Depends on Drainage.
communication from the United
States office of public roads has the
Following to say on the subject:
With an average of $1,000 tons Of
water falling in the form of rain on
each mile of public road in the United
states annually 1t is scarcely to be
marvelled at that the ten commands
| - -, iohN pullutl cttrl De SUM-
med up sufficiently in the word drain
age
The saying has truth for a basis.
as good drainage is the primary requi-
site for all roads. Even in sand roads
TINS holds true, for there good drain
age means such as will safely remove
the storm water without erosion or
outlying and still retain the surface
moisture
10 secure good drainage one must
take INTO consideration both the sur
face water and the UNDERGROUND water
c ,ne 1u'taoe water must be removed
subiecting the road ~ excn ,a "'sn no,,
or erosion Iror tt,is $3.50, " soou.
of the road should no rajsad tn w, ae'i ~
slope towards tho .i5a d;t,I,oa -, 80
be from one-half to ono innt ~ aoah
foot distance. or so that Tho n,atar
will run freely 70 the side ditohan ~,
not flow down the rnod ~ ra,,,ai,, a' ~,
puddles on the roadwav TIC ,,da
bitches should he or annie siza $40 w
care for the savores. storn,S u,tr en-
of not less thon q ,ncbes r. aaah 100
feet. Frequent and annie cross dro INC
should he cons+r,,cto,i ava a1' 80, ~
portunitv taken 70 OIL tha u,ata, a ~
from the road as m,ckI, as ,,l,. aWas
ANY road along witch yo,, sae ,,,ntnr
STANDING in tho siia a;t ~ see Wate,
which prddles Of w.ter hava co M o
or which has been badly pnlIiad ana
eroded nv the rains nas 49,. go, 49,,
and is in need of Immediate ,ttantinn
In fact, earth road, nearIv alwavs ra.
quire a little attention after each rain
The split log drag j. essentially a tool
to maintain good nraInoyo IN ~,
earth roads and should he usad ftar
each rain, on q heavy CLAW or e,,n,ho
soil the drag when 7ronerJv used tends
to puddle the road surrace ireen -
free from ruts, dense smooth and hard,
thus securing the best surface drainage
possible.
-, vii c.u
'
put IN many places the underground
water IS TOO near the surface and must
pe removed before a good road will be
} possible. This mears that some form
usuaIIy tiIa H. , iaius' ~ Iesoltea To-
crete. Water from whatever source
must be gotten rid of effectively for
water plus clay or gumbo Invariably
equals mud when mjxed In enring ana
summer Water becomes Ice IN win.
) ter and as water in freezing exnands
one eighth its volume fbe rnad
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 unaerpro,nd
springs.
in seepy and bosay nlaces tho suh-
drainage in order 70 he fnlIv affectira
should lower the water level 70 not
less than three feet below tho road enr-
face. If tiles are nsed tbev sha,,,d h.,
carefully laid. true 70 groda Meet
failures in tile drainage can he .ttrihs
uted to carelessness in lavinr nr foo
fiat grade. Tile less thar 4 Jncbas y,
diameter should rarely he naad ~.
should a grade of Iess than q incbasatn
the 100 feet be used unless absolntely
necessary. In a very dense soiI a. /.
always advisable to cover tho t,,a 10
at least a depth of TO 70 inches with
coarse sand or f,ne Gravel care shn,,ia
be taken TO secure n fraa outIat 60, ~
a ropcrota h,,1i,ho,1 -. ,a..I,-'.,---