The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-11-19
I,nnortnnce 81 Dralnaee.

with an average of 81. 900 tons of
water falling in the form of rain on
each mile OF public road in the United
states annually, Il is scarcely to be
naarveIled at that the ter 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 res
aislte for all roads. Even Ia sand
Dads this holds true. for their good
.:drninage" means such as VIII sately
remove the storm water without
erosion or gullying and stih retain
the surface moisture
To secure good drainage one must
take into consideration both the sur
face water and the underground
water. The surface water must be
removed quickly and completely ard
without subjectlng the road to eN-
ccSsiVe scour or erosion For this
reason. the center of the road should
be raised and the slope towards the
side bitches should be from one-hah
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 Duddles on the
roadway. The side bitches should be
OF ample size to care for the seTerest
storms with fall of not less than
SIX inches to each one hundred feet.
FREQUENT and ample cross drains
should be constructed and every OPP
portunitY 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 I'M
mediate attention. In fact. earth
roads nearly always require little
attention after each rain. the
s1Sift log drag is essentially a tool to
maintain good drainage on our earth
roads, and should be used after each
rain On a heavy clay or gumbo SOIL
the drag when properly used tends
TO puddle the road surface, keep 1t
free from ruts. dense. smooth ana
hard. thus securing the best surface
drainage possible.
But in many places the under
ground is too near the surface ana
must be removed before good roao
Is possible. This means that some
form OF aub-dralnage must be resort
I'd. to usually tile drains, of clay or
concrete. Water from whatever
source must be gotten rid of effective
Is, for water plus clay or Eumbo IN
NarIabIy equals mud when mixed IN
spring and summer. Water becomes
tct, in winter and water in freez-
ing expands one-cIghth its volume,
e
when the ice melts the road disap-
penrs beneath. the rising tide OF
mud constantly fed by rains, melting
SHOWS and underground springs.
In seepy and DOGGY places the sub
drainage in order to be fully erect
i've should lower the water level I"
not less than three feet below the
road surface. II tiles are used they
should be carefully laid. true to
grade. Most failures in tile drain
age can be attributed to carelessnesS
in laying. or too fiat grade. Tile less
than four inches In diameter should
rarely be used. nor should grade OF
less than six inches to the 100 feet
be used unless absolutely necessary.
In a very dense soil 1t is always I'D
Visabie to cover the tile to at. least n
depth of six to eight inches with
coarse sand or Slime gravel Care
should always be taken to secure a
free outlet for the drains and to pro-
tcct the outlet with n concrete bulk
head or catch basin. which can al
ways be kept clean and the outlet
free.
The kind of tile to be used depends
on local conditions. Concrete tile II
properly made ls equally as good as
clay tile. Which kind to use Is en-
tirely a local question of dollars and
cents. If concrete tile can be made
more. cheaply than clay tile can pN
had use concrete: IL not. use clay.
One great advantage of the con-
crete tile Is that they can be easily
made by the local users at or near
the place where they are to be used,
SO that the freight charges are dis
pensed with as we'll as the
large breakage losses due to handling.
placed in the ground both arc DUR
able. II concrete is used. great care
should be talScn to see that good
grade Of Portland cement is select
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