Gloucester County Democrat., 1908-09-24

ONCE or Public Roads. Will SOON is
sue Bulletin ON Concrete Drains.
With an average Of q, 900 tons Of water
falling in the form Of rain on each mile Of
public road in she United States annually,
it is scarcely to be marvelied at that she ten
commandments Of the road builder can be
summed up succinctlY in the word drain
age"
The saying has truth for basis, as good
drainage is the primary requisite for all
roads. Even in sand roads this holds true,
for there good drainage means such as
will safely remove the storm water without
erosion Of Outlying and still retain the sur
face moisture.
To secure good drainage one must take
into consideration both she surface water
and the underground water. The surface
water must be removed quickly and CON-
pletely and wishout subjecting the road TO
excessive scour or erosion. For this reason,
she centre Of the road should be raised and
the slope towards the side ditches should
be from TO inch TO each foot distance, or
SO that the water will INN freely to the side
ditches and not flow down the road or re-
main in puddles on the roadway. The side
ditches should be Of ample size to care for
the seyerest storms with fall Of not less
than inches to saoh 100 feet. Frequent
and ample GROSS drains should be construct
ed and every opportunity taken TO get the
water away from the road as quickly as pos
sible. Anv road along which you see water
standing in the side ditches or on which
puddles Of water haye 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 little attention
after each rain. The split-log drag is es-
sentially tool to maintain good drainage
on our earth roads, and should be used after
each rain. On heavy clay or gumbo soil
the drag when properlysused tends TO pud-
die the road surface, keep it free from ruts,
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 good road will be posi-
BILE. 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 ef-
fectiYely, for water plus clay or gumbo
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 ioe melts the
road disappears beneath she rising tide Of
mud constantly fed by rains, melting SHOWS
and underground springs.
In seepy and boggy places the sub-drain-
age in order to be fully effective should
lower the water level to not less than three
feet below she road service. II tiles are
used they should be carefully laid, true 90
grade. Most failures in tile drainage can
be attributed to carelessness in laying. or
tco fat grade. Tile less than 4 inches in
diameter should rarely be used, nor should
q grade Of less than inches TO the 100 feet
be used unless absolutely necessary. In q
very dense soil, it is always advisable to
cover the tile to at least depth Of 6 to -
inches with coarse sand or fine gravel. Care
should always be taken to secure a free
outles for the drains, and 50 protect the out
let with concrete bulkhead or catchbasin,
which can always be kept clean and she
outlet free.
The kind Of tile TO be used depends on
local conditions. Concrete tils if properly
made are equally as good as clay tile.
Which kind to use is ensirely local ques-
tion OF dollars and cents. II concrete tile
can be made more cheaply than clay tile
can be had, use concrete; if not, use clay
tile.
One great advantage of she 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 well as the large
breakage losses due TO handling. Placed
in the ground, both are durable. II con-
crete is used, great care should be taken to
see that good grade Of Portland cement is
selected, and shat the drains are properly
constructed. The impression, which pre-
walls to some extens, thas sile disintegrates
is erroneous.
A bulletin is now in course Of prepara-
tion by the United States Office Of Public
Roads telling how 30 make concrete
drains. This bulletin will treat she sub
iect fully, explaining carefully every point
shat may arise in making drain pipes and
culyerts.