Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-10-01
Pertinent GOOD
ROAD SUGGESTION
PRINCIPLE OF "CIIAIN NO STRON-
GER THAN WEAKEST LINK"
repairs ARE IMPORTANT
Roads When Completed Should BE
Kept In Constant Re-
pair.
Editor World:

Editor World:
As Tulsa County will shortly start
The construction Of good roads, sug-
yestions at this time seems to be in
order.
The cost Of hauling over country
roads is largely determined by the
size Of the load that can be hauled,
the number of trips that can be made
n a day and the wear and tear on
teams and equipment. Steep grades
as well as ruts and mudholes serve
to decrease both the speed and tho
load.
On the principle that "a chain is no
stronger than its weakest link" the
maximum load that team can draw
is the load that II can draw up the
steepest hill or through the deepest
mudhole on that road.
Wherever possible, roads should be
located on straight lines. In-a hilly
or mountainous country, however,
straightness often causes heavy
grades. Straightness and grade must,
therefore, be handled together. The
best location is one which is straight
in general directions, is free from
steep grades, is over solid ground,
and serves the largest possible num-
ber of people.
The elimination Of one or two steep
hills on a line of road will frequently
enable horses to draw three or four
times as much as they could draw on
L.. 1 4 Il. Al.
four times as much power to draw
loads up a 10 per cent grade as on
level, but on a 4 per cent or per
cent grade horse can usually draw
tfor a short time) as much as he can
draw on a level.
A per cent or per cent grade Is,
therefore, considered the maXimum on
reads subjected to heavy hauling.
Steep grades may often be avoided
by locating the road around, instead
Of over the hill. without materially
increasing the distance.
The earth road should have at least
six hours Of sunshine each day. Such
brush and trees as impede the drying
action of the sun and wind should
be removed With gravel and stone
roads, this is not so necessary, as a
certain amount OF moisture is needed
on such roads, especially during the
summer
Relocating roads is not an engin-
eering problem alone. One must also
consider the effect of the road on
those who now live upon it, Many
dislike to have the road placed back
of their houses, or out of sight of It,
II requires tact and good judgment
to secure a suitable location without
arousing harsh antagonism.
The earth road can best be crowned
and ditched with a reversible road
grader. Picks, shovels, scoops and
plows should not be used for this pur-
pose. one road machine with suit
able power and operator, will do the
work Of many men with picks and
shovels. and do it better.
The grader should be used when the
soil is damp, so as to make the soil
bake and pack when it dries out If
it is worked dry it takes more power
to draw the machine, and besides, dry
earth and dust retain moisture and
quickly rut after rains. Clods, sods,
weeds or vegetable matter should
not be left in the middle of the road
In order to dispose of storm water
quickly before it has time to pene-
trate deeply into the surface, the
road should be properly crowned. For
an earth road which is twenty-four
feet wide the center should not be
less than six inches nor more than
twelve inches higher than the outer
edges of the shoulders. The total fall
from center to side ditch should be
about an inch to the foot. Ordinarily,
the only bitches needed are those
made with the road grader, which are
wide and shallow. Deep bitches should
be provided If the road is about level.
but such bitches wash rapidly on
steep slopes and are dangerous be-
side.
Wood or terra-cotta tiles do not
make satisfactory culverts; the first
will soon rot and the latter is liable
to break. Stone or concrete culverts
are the best and cheapest in the long
vun.
The main thing to bear in mind in
building culverts is that they should
have sufficient capacity to quickly
dispose of the maximum flow of storm
water, and that they are given suffi-
olent slope or fall to keep themselves
lean.
Increased fall also increases the ca
pacity of the culvert, but n much fall
Is given, the spillway should be paved
and the outlet and intake protected
by suitable wing walls.
Repairs should be made when need