The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-02-24
The HIGHWAY
IMPROVEMENT
METHODS OF MAKING GOOD ROADS ABLY
DISCUSSED.
DRAINAGE IMPORTANT QUESTION
S A. Bates of Cedar Falls Gives His Ideas on
Road Making at Buchanan Crunty
Institute.
DRAINAGE IMPORTANT QUESTION
Independence Bulletin Journal

Mr.. Bates spoke from actual ex-
perience. he having been road super
intendent of township for the last
six years. He is of the opinion that
we have had plenty of law on roads,
but not enough work. We should elect
the proper men for trustees, and
choose right men for superintendent
in the townships.
In the ordinary township from 5000
to ST. 500 is the amount allowed for
road work per year. He believes that
the work is not begun early enough
in the spring. He hires his men.
good men with good teams, and keeps
them during the entire season. He
uses the 6horse grader every year,
first going over the whole township
and cleaning up the bitches. The
first furrow is plowed in the center
of the road and if it is real soddy, he
turns it over by hand or with fork,
claiming that he can dc it quicker
this way than with disc or harrow.
and placing the loose dirt up against
the sod until he gets the grade and
all the sod covered. The road is
never left in such condition but what
it can be travelled. The sod ought to
be rolled, then roll the dirt after
wards. Keep the bitches straight.
If there are depressions in the road,
to avoid building culverts turn the
water so that it will run to where
there is another culvert. Leave the
bitches 80 a team may be driven
through them in winter.
The roads are not graded to width
of more than IS feet and crossroads
from 25 to 26 feet, with a l-inch
crown. We pillow. then scrape one
furrow at time. in this way being
able to do much more than if several
burrows are worked at once. We
tile our roads with 4-inch tile, doing
it before grading, in the center of
the road, this being less expensive
than with two lines of tile on either
side. We so arrange the ditch that
it will carry off the surface water.
The one tile at the ditch level ought
to supply the underdrainage. being
placed about feet below the surface
and running to a good outlet. We
remove all stones in the ditch, even
if we have to use dynamite. AS to
concrete culverts, we use steel
form, bolted on the inside so that
afterwards man may crawl in AND
unbolt the form. which is in two
pieces. and then remove it. The
forms used are two l0-foot sections.
We mixed the cement cheaper by
hand than with mixing machine.
Mr.. Bates advised putting on con
siderable gravel after grading on
year after the grading is done, plac
ing one yard to space IL or Is fee
square. Gravel is preferable t.
stone. Crushed rock works up. H
, did not have very exalted opinion
; of poll taxes worked out. He state,
that he would rather have So thai
their work, and he used them mostl.
t in hauling gravel and even then, j
was at times very disgusting. AS t
. planting trees on the roadways. Mr.
Bates believed they should not b
2 placed closer than a rod from tn
t road. as shady roads are usually tn
: muddiest. He also felt that the lay
regarding cutting weeds should b
e repealed. We need more people t
} take An interest in road work.
e closing. Mr.. Bates expressed the opin
. ion that. with all due respect to Mr.
g y. Ward King. the King road drag
] Eli right for preserving roads, but no
: for building them.
] An enthusiastic discussion followed
e Among those taking part being Mr.
Z Warburton, Mr.. Gregg. Mr.. Bate
e and others. Mr.. Warburton too
issue with Mr.. Bates as to the Kin