Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1908-09-03
IMPORT 1ANCE
OF DRAINAGE
Kidding Roads Of Storm and I'm.
dersround Water Subject Of
Paper sent out by U S.

WILL an average or N.OOO tons OF
water falling in the form of rain on
each mile Of public road in the Unit
ed States annually. it is scarcely to
be marvelled at that the ten COM
mandments of the road builder can
be summed up succinctly in the
word drainage.
The saying has truth for a basis,
as good drainage is the primary re-
quiate for all roads. Even in sand
roads this holds true, for there
''good drainage" means such as will
safely remove the storm water with
out Srosion or gullying and still re-
tainsthe surface moisture. r.
I'd secure good drainage one must
tak6 into consideration both the sur
facet water and the underground
water. The surface water must be
removed quickly and completely and
without subiecting the road to ex-
cessige scour or erosion. For this
1easgh. the center of the road should
be raisedand the slopetowards the side
ditches should be from q to 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
with fall of not less than six
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. Anv
road along which you see water
standing in the side bitches or on
which puddles of water have collect
ed 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 near;
ly always require little attention
after each rain. The split-log drag
is essentially a tool to maintain good
drainage on our earth roads. and
should be used after each rain. On
a heavy clav 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-drain-
age must be resorted to. usuallv tile
drains. of clay or concrete. Water
from whatever source must be gotten
rid of effectively. for water plus CLAW
or gumbo invariably equals mud
when mixed in spring and summer.
Water becomes ice in winter, and as
water in freezing expands one-eighth
of it's volume. the road heaves out OF
shape and when the ice melts the
road disappears beneath the rising
tide of mud constantly fed bv rains.
melting SHOWS and underground
springs. ~
IN seepv and boggv places the sub
drainage in order to be fully effect
i've should lower the water level tt
not less than three feet below the
road surface. If tiles are used they
should be carefully laid. true tx
grade. Most failures in tile drainage
can be attributed to carelessness ir
laying. or too fiat grade. Tile les
than four inches in diameter shoult
rarely be used unless absolutely nee
essary. In a very dense soil. it j
ALWAYS advisable to cover the tile t.
at least a deDth of 6 to II inche
with coarse sand or fine gravel. Car
. should always be taken to secure
free outlet for the drains and to Dro
tect the outlet with concrete bulk
Ihead or catchbasin. which can al
wavs be kept clean and the outle
free.
The kind of tile to be used de
pends on local conditions. Concret
tile If properly made are equally q
good as clav tile. Which kind to US
is entirely q local question Of dollar
and cents. II concrete tile can b
made more ch1aplv than clay til
can be had. use concrete: II not, us
clay tile.
One great advantage OF the cor
crete tile Is that they can be easil
made by the local users at or nea
the place where they are to :
placed. SO that the freight charge
are dispensed with as we'll as th
large breakaQe losses due to hant
ling. Placed In the ground. bot
ARE durable. If concrete Is uset
great care should be taken TO s.
that good grade Of Portland g
ment Il selected. and that the drai'