Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-09-04

~ 40 oN1ANNA' =
be maryelled at that the ten con
mandments of the road builder ca
be sumed up succinctly in tn
word drainage"
The saying has truth for a basis
as good drainage is the primary re
quisite for all roads. Even in SAM
roads this holds true, for there "goot
drainage" means such as will safel!
remove the storm without erosion o.
Outlying and still remain the sur
face moisture.
To secure good drainage one mus
take into consideration both the ST
face water and the underground wat
er The surface water must be re
moved quickly and completely ant
without subjecting the road to ex
cessive scour or erosion. For this
reason, the center of the road should
be raised and the slope towards the
side bitches should be from y to ]
inch to each foot distance, or sc
that the water will run freely to the
side bitches and not flow down the
road or remain in puddles on the roa'
way. The side bitches should be OF
ample size to care for the severes'
storms with a fall of not less than
6 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. Any
road along which you see water stanC
ing in the side bitches or on when
pudles Of water have collected OF
which has been badly gulied anu
eroded by rains, has poor drainage
and is in need of immediate attention
In fact earth roads nearly always re-
uuire a little attention after eacn
rain.
The split-log drag is essentially a
tool to maintain good drainage on
earth roads, and should be used az
ter each rain. On heavy clay or
gumbo soil the drag when properly
used tends to puddle the road sur
face, 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 good road
will be possible This means that
some form of sub-drainage must be
resorted to, uusaly tile drains, OF
clay or concrete Water from what
ever source must be gotten rid OF ef-
fectively, for water plus clay or gum
DO invariably equals mudwhen mixed
in spring and summer. Water be-
comes ice in the winter and as wat
er in freezing expands One-eighth its
volume. the road heaves out Of shape
and when the ice melts the road
disappears beneath the rising tide
Of mud constantly fed by rains, melt
ing SHOWS and underground springs
In seepy and Doggy places the sub
drainage in order to be fully effect
i've should lower the water level to
not less than three feet below the
road surface. If tiles are used they
should be carefully laid, true 10
grade. Most failures in tile drain
age can be attributed to carelessness
by laying, or too flat grade. Tile
less than inches in diameter should
rarely be used, nor should a grade
of les than 6 inches to the lOV
feet be used unless absolutely neces-
sary. In a very dense soil, it is
always advisable to cover the tile to
at least a depth of 6 to IL inches
with coarse sand or fine gravel
Care should always be taken to Sc
cure a free outlet for the drains and
to protect the outlet with a con-
crete bulkhead or catchbasin, which
can always be kept clean and tne
outlet free.
The kind of tile to be used depends
on local conditions. Concrete tile II
properly made are equally as good as
clay tile. Which kind to use is en-
tirely local question Of dollars and
cents. II concrete tile can be made
more cheaply than clay tile can be
had, use concrete; II not, use clay
tile.
One great advantage Of the 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 dis
pensed with as well as the large
! breakage losses due to handling
Placed in the ground, both are dur
! able. II concrete is used, great care
should be taken to see that a gooo
grade Of Portland cement is selected
and that the drains are properly con
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