The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1908-01-23
WASHINGTON, D. c.

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hard and durable roads In all parts
Of the country, but still the fact re-
mains that for long time to come
the majority of the roads Will be
composed of earth. furthermore, IN
about nine months out Of the year,
the earth road, II properly cared iof1
is reasonably satisfactory. For
many agricultural districts, 1t is the
only road at present available.
Hence. these communities should
set themselves seriously to work to
learn the best n sthods of maintain
ing earth roads and of getting the
extent through the prosperity OF the
farmers. This fact strongly suggests
the importance of giving the earth
road every possible care and atten-
ton InIts location, drainage, con-
struction aud maintenance.
An earth road composed of water
holding soil should be exposed to
the sun and air as freely as possible,
as comparison between the shaded
and sunny portions of such a road
will easily indicate. This should be
accomplished by clearing a suf-
ficient amount OF trees and under
growth away from the road. 1t
mast be remembered, however, that
sandy and gravelly roads require
moisSSre .ud in these eases some
shade should be retained. Further
more, trees are beneficial along river
banks and on steep grades subject to
washing.
Drainage is one of the most inn
I portant points to consider in con-
nection with an earth road. The
majority of earth roads in all noun
famous and billy districts have too
much drainage. Occasionally road
will be found with FIVE bitches, three
In the middle made by the horses
hoofs and by wheels of the vehicles
and two on the sides. All we'll con-
structed earth roads are supposed to
have no more than two bitches, one
on each side of the travelled road
way. Keep the water out of the
middle of,the road by giving it
crown or elevation In the center of
~ inches above thetop of the inner
slope OF the ditch for 20-foot road,
and where the hills are little steep
make the crown 10 inches. With
crown of about inch to the foot
from the center TO the sides, the
oivaSS which are often built across
the road on steep grades to denec'
the water will not be Reeaea' IL
stead Of carrying water across the
road in open bitches, tile or concrete
drains should If possible, N provid-
ed. They should have sufficient
!, capacity and all to carry the maxi
m amount of water that is ex-
-, to flow through them at any
t,ma a. capacity is increased 10
uronor,,o,, 10 the fall or Srsdet fol
instance, IL inch ooo raL
per cent grade VIII sas.. the sams
Ions per minute, while viii
pipe laid on 2per cert yEaaR
car W 1900 gallons per minLlSs.
Furt. Hetmore, culvert laid fiat viii
soon filTDp, while one havinga good
incline will keep itself clear.
In the maiEtenance of an earth
road, avoid the mistake of changing
the natural order OF things. Natur.
ally the soil is found on top and the
clay on the bottom. If this order Is
reversed in constructing road the
result will be less satisfactory than |
II the soil be left at the top of the
road, for soil makes better surface
to a road than clay. II the road bed
is largely clay to start with, IL will
be we'll TO place sandy soil or clean
sand on top. A covering OF to 10
inches of sand upon clay that per-
sists In breaking up into deep mud
holes will usually be satisfactory,
and II sand enough be added, this
clay will cease to make mud. II the
roadbed is composed Of sand it can
be improved by an application of
clay.
The rule for serYiceable earth
road, then, Is as follows: Make
bitches on each side and keep them
OPEN haul sand and gravel upon
sections needing this treatment;
use road machine and a split log
drag iudicIoUlsy IA full description
Of which will be contained In later
larticle) follow the "stitch In time"
rule and give anearth road the same
careful persistent attention you
would give your prize acre, factory
or store. and IL will nav aa large a