The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-02
IMPORTANCE OF DRAINAGE.

states Office OF Public ROads-Wfl
Soon Issue Bulletin on Concrete
Drains.
With an average Of $1,000 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 command
ments 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 requisite
Tor all roads. Even in sand roads
this holds true, for there good drain.
age means such as will safely re-
move the storm water without ero-
sion or outlying and still retain the
surface moisture.
10 secure good drainage one must
take into consideration both the sur
face water and the underground wa
ter. The surface water must be re-
moved quickly and completely and
without subjecting the road to excess.
I've scour or erosion. For this rea-
son the center Of the road should be
raised and the slope towards the side
bitches should lie from 1-2 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 6 inches
to each 100 feet. Frequent and am.
pie cross drains should be construct
ed and every opportunity taken to get
the water away from the road as
quickly as possible. Any road along
which you see water standing in the
side bitches or on which puddles of
water have 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 a little
attention after each rain. The split
log drag Is essentially a tool to MAIN
tain good drainage on our earth roads,
and should be used after each rain.
On heavy clay 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 drain
age possible.
But In many places the under
ground water is too near the surface
and must be removed before a good
road will be possible. This means that
some form Of sub-drainage must be
resorted to, usually tile drains, of
clay or concrete. Water from what
ever source must be gotten rid Of eff
fectively. for water plus clay or gum
DO invariably equals mud when mix
ed In spring and summer. Water be-
comes ice in winter and as water in
freezing expands one-eighth its VOL
ume. the road heaves out Of shape
and when the ice melts the road dis
appears beneath the rising tide of
mud constantly fed by rains, melting
SHOWS and underground springs.
In sleepy and Doggy places the SUBJ
drainage In order to be fully effective
should lower the water level to not
less than three feet below the road
surface. II tiles are used the should
be carefully laid. true to grade. Most
failures in tile drainage can be at
tributed to carelessness In laying. or
too fiat grade. Tile less than inches
In diameter should rarely be used,
nor should a grade Of less than 6
inches to the 100 feet be used unless
absolutely necessary. In a very dense
soil, It IL always advisable to cover the
tile to at least q depth Of to IL
inches with coarse sand or fine gravel
care shouid always be taken to Sc
cure free outlet for the drains and
to protect the outlet win a concrete
bulkhead or catchbasin, which can
always be kept clean and the outlet
free.
The kind Of tile to be used depends
on local conditions. Concrete tile II
properly made are equally az good as
clay tile. Which kind to use is en-.
tirely local question OF dollars and
cents. If 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 user at or near the place
where they are to be placed, so that