Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-03
ONE SECRET or GOOD ROADS.

ONE SECRET OF GOOD ROADS.
Vermont Is not In a position at this
time to devote millions of dollars to
tho construction OF stone roads, and
in many parts Of the State such plan
would not be necessary even II IT
were desirable. Under the circun-
stances many towns must largely de-
pend on gravel. and fortunately there
is large supply OF this excellent
road material In nearly all parts OF
| the state. All sorts Of roadway need
moisture Is sure to ruin a gravel road.
so that adequate drainage Is one of
the first essentials to good roads,
which we can readily and economical
~ provide
The general governments good road
department has issued n bulletin in re-
latior TO the drainage OF highways,
which should be carefully considered
by every town and by every road
commissioner in Vermont. 1t shows
that to secure good drainage one must
take into consideration both thu sur
The surface water must be removed
quickly and completely and without
sub1ecting the road to excessive scour
or erosion. For this reason, the CEN
ter 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 so 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
to each 100 feet. Frequent and am
pie 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 water
stands in the side bitches or on which
puddles OF water have collected or
which has been badly quilted and
eroded by tAe rains has poor drain
age and is in need of immediate at
tention. In fact earth roads nearly
always require a little attention at
t. No LOO tc
essentially tool to maintain good
drainage on our earth roads. and
should be used inter each rain. on a
heavy clay or Eumbo soil the drag
when properly used tends to puddle
the road surface. keep II free from
ruts dense, smooth and hard. thus Sc
curing the best surface drainage pos
, sibe.
But In many places the underground
must be removed before a good road
/ will be possible. This means tina
some form OF sub drainage must be
resorted to. usually tile drains. o,
r clay or concrete. Water from what
ever source must DO gotten rid of eff
| fectively. for water plus clay or gum
i DO invariably equals mud when mixed
= In spring and summer. Water becomes
= ice in winter and as water In freezing
Z expands one-eighth Its volume. thu
road heaves out OF shape and whcl
: the ice melts the road disappears be
= meath the rising tide OF mud con
d sanity fed by rains. melting snow
o and underground springs.
o In seepy and DOGGY places the sub
Il drainage In order to be fully effectiv
@ should lower the water level to no
J. less than three feet below the roa
IS surface. II tiles are used they shout
y be carefully laid true to grade Mos
l. failures in tile drainage can be at
e tributed to carelessncss in laying. o
= inches in diameter should rarely b
IS used, nor should a grade of less tina
~ six inches to tho 100 feet be use
y unless absolutely necessary. In yer
ID dense soil, 1t Is always advisable
lie cover the tile to Mt least depth c
Y SIX TO twelve inches with coarse san
r. or fine gravel Care should Away
- be taken to secure free outlet N
the drains and to protect the Quite