The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-04-08
ROAD SUPERVISORS AND THEIR WORK.

The road supervisor having a certain district in
charge should, early possible in the spring and
before the snow and ice have entirely disappeared
from the roads, go and inspect every portion of
the roads entrusted his care and notice particularly
the flow of the water along the bitches and through
the culvcrs paying special attention to the flow on
the nearly level portions Notes should be made that
will enable him to work the bitches properly after the
roads have become dry and when there is way of
determining which way the water should except
by the expensive method OF employing an
engineer
As soon as possible to do such work all lines Of
drainage should be opened and kept open until the
road bed is entirely drained; should be taken to
lead all surface flow into the proper channels and
allow it remain the travelled way. Careful
attention to this important preliminary work will 60
far toward putting the roads into good condition and
make future work easier, satisfactory and
lasting.
Under our present system of spring road repairs
much of the work has been rendered necessary by
of neglect careless work in the preceding
fall and where the road has been neglected that it
has been allowed freeze up in bad condition, extra
work be done counterfeit the continued effects
of such neglect. -ET0m Red Book HiRueS0td, IQO7
DO not accept the Office of supervisor unless you
are willing to give your time and very best energy
for the public good. When you have qualified, go
over all the roads that will be under your charge and
study the problems with which you will have to DEAL
that of drainage will always be uppermost Consult
with abuting land owners and wherever practicable
make agreements with them for the working of the
smoother sections of the road with a drag at a
inal sum- noting the agreement in a book to be kept
for that purpose
Begin work early in the spring as the frost
IS of the ground. AT this time the earth is soft
and comparatively easy to move. Where heavy
grading and GROWING of the road is necessary it
is all the important to begin early before the
ground has hardened.
Where the ground is stony where much earth
must be moved from the cutters, first use pillow to
loosen it. and then grade up the solid earth into the
crown, rejecting all organic matter mud or stone
Here the drag is useful in shaping and giving
the proper slope.
1t is time and money wasted to attempt work the
public highways with road machine alone at any
time. Do not attempt to move a large amount Of
earth with drag at any time but repeat the drag
ging often and the result will show for itself.
Where you have fiat roads without drainage
try to improve them. Take the worst places the
impossible mud holes, the guttered hills the steep
grades; work them first and fix them 50 that the i'm
provement will be permanent.
Continue to go the roads throughout the
season, repairing any soft spot before it becomes
a mud hole keep the drainage open and remove all
loose stones Keep the road work in the hands of
one set of men if possible and pull the drags and
plows with the teams all the time; both horses
and men will do better and more work each succeed
ing day,
Keep an account of each day in detail the work
accomplished the men and teams employed and the
cost; this will often show the way to material
ing of money
Try to reduce your work to a system Consult
freely with the road engineer and gain the advantage
of his advice
Try to awaken pride in your working force to
accomplish the greatest amount of work possible in
the time allotted