Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-10-15

SURFACE OF the rOn0 TO turn the water
Oh the surface into side bitches TO pre-
vent washing OF the middle OF the
road. In some localities the cost OF
constructing n road so that II will have
no grade over i-3 per cent is very
great, but | believe that II will pay to
construct any road with all it's grades
below this l-3 per cent. for the sav-
ing in time by being able to haul the
greater load over the road of the lesser
grade and the saving OF stock will
more than pay for the extra cost of
constructing the road In very few
years
One of the most important problems
to be considered In connection with
road construction IL the question Of
drainage. Water is the greatest enc
my OF the road. and the engineer must
make arrangements to keep the water
Off and away from the road. II is not
only necessary to keep the water OF
the surface Of the rond. but Il is also
very essential to keep the water ont of
the side bitches, so that there will he
no chance whatever Of seepage under
the road. The engineer must study the
topography Of the country through
which the road is passing and deter
mine the amount OF rainfall and thus
the amount Of water that he will have
to take care Of by means of his side
bitches, culverts and bridges. | might
say here that after the engineer has
made his estimate regarding the
amount Of water that he must take
care of at any certain point along his
road 1t would be very safe plan for
him to double this estimate in making
his calculation for the size of the cul-
verts or bridges, for the reason that
occasionally cloudbursts may take
place, and more land may be cleared
or burnt over, which will give him an
excessive amount of water. great
deal more than he would have calcu-
lated from the topography of the coun-
try and the amount of rainfall. His
road must be able to withstand such a
flow of water. for If not 1t means n
very heavy cost to the country or state
for repairs. Wherever 1t is necessary
to carry water from one side OF the
road to the other 1t should always be
carried under the surface of the road,
either through concrete. metallic or
other special forms of culverts. which
will prevent any Of the water from
coming in contact with the rOadbcd.
AS Of h, -hn "A
be taken out Of the side bitches and
discharged into the adjoining fields in
order to prevent the wearing action Of
an increased volume of water on the
bottom of the bitches. The grade Of
the bitches should also be kept at
minimum in order to prevent the cut
ting action Of swift running water.
On the other hand. they should he Civ
en- a sufficient grade so that the water
can rapidly be carried out of the ditch
es, for otherwise there will be a tend
ency for water to seep under the road.
We may consider the wearing sur
face Of the road as it's roof. which
must be kept as imperviOus to water
as possible and be so constructed that
the rainfall and melting SHOWS will
flow freely and quickly into the gut
ters on each side. On the other hand.
however, the water must not flow so
fast as to give 1t cutting action and
thus fill the surface of the road with
slight depressions. Too much slope
from the center Of the road to the side
ttaI, fn INa1 80
the cutting action Of the water, but 1t
will also cause wagons to all travel in
the same track, and there will also be
a tendency for all vehicles to slide or
skid The road surface should have a
gradual fall Of about to 20.
In preparing the rOadbed careful at
tentiOn should be paid to the character
of the subsoil. as in many instances
soil will be encountered upon which 1t
will be almost impossible to construct
satisfactory road without very care
full surface and subsurface draining
After the surface has been brought to
the right slope it should be thoroughly
rolled, and any depressions that may
be observed should be filled in with
material Of the same consistency and
character as the balance of the road-
bed. Any soft places that cannot be
satisfactorily hardened by tamping
should be cut out and filled In with the
good material. This applies not only
to the surface of dirt road, whether
it Is to remain as such or Is to be final
ly surfaced with macadam, sand clay
or gravel, but 1t also applies to any
weak places that may develop in the
surface Of any other materials.
No matter how carefully the roadbed
may have been constructed. weak
places are sometimes overlooked, and
after the road has been In use for a
short time these begin to develop. II
they are repaired at once little or no
damage will result to the road as n
whole, and the repairing can be done
at slight expense On the other hand.
If they are allowed to go for some time
the cost of repairing them is not only
increased. but they will permit water
to seep down through them and begin
70 undermine the road.
The above four problems in regard
to road construction apply to all
classes Of roads regardless Of how
they are to be surfaced, and the
rOadbed should be constructed Just as
carefully for a macadam. sand clay
or gravel as dirt road.