The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-25
LESSONS FROM
EXPERIENCE IN
-,NAk|NC
Commissioner P. St. Wilson's
Valuable Paper on Road
Making
THOROUGH DRAINAGE
ONE OF ESSENTIALS
Prompt Attention to Repairs
Potent Factor in Saving
Expense in Upkeep-
Question of Grades

RoduS congress, pp r. ST Juilen
Wilson. State Highway Commits
sioner Of virginia.)
From tho best Information obtain
able we learn that only sl-z per cent
of the roads In the nited Sta,es are
hard surfaced. When We consider
this fact together with the cost OF
surfAcing roads under favorable con-
dltions with stone or gravel and the
1npracttcabiiity of doing IL ut all In
many sections OF the country on ac-
count OF the absence Of the surfacing
material. We realize at once that the
question OF the proper construction
and care OF our earth roads IL a mos,
vital ona
When properly constructed we'll
maintained ana judiciaiiy used, the
Garth road nils the Requirement, OF
country traffic for much the larger
portion Of the year; the period of tad
ROADS varying with climatic conditions
ana the material Of which the road Ia
COMPOSED.
In the construction OF earth roads
the location Is OF nrst Importance.
4 his after all. ~ the only real per-
mAnent lining In connection win any
class oil road. ana. IL possible, Is OF
more Importance TO the earth road
than TO any otner because Ills surface
mas less power to withstand the bad
eHects due TO improper location. In
making locations many conditions
nave TO be considered together the
Two most important OF when are The
grace aud drainage. The grace on
an earth road should not be greater
tb'tn per cent or per cent, that is
d rise OF feet or 8 feet In 100, not
degrees as is provided In the old
virginia law, and which Is equivalent
70 per cent; AZ grade u Increased
beyond this rate the load winch one
morse can draw decreases very rapidly
ana win light vehicles 1t Is aoout the
maximum grade that a team viii trot
up or down without considerable diff
Guilty. The grade OF n road also sert-
ousis anects the maintenance The
sweeper the Grade the haruer the road
IN 10 MAINTAIN. The ctoss grade or
crown OF road should not exceed
inch to the foot or foot In II yards
when Is about per cent. The longi-
tudinal grade OF the road should a..
ways be lens than the cross grade.
otherWise. the water Will run down the
ROAD instead OF across to the tiitchas
thus causing serious damage by wash
ing. so for maintenance as well az
Tor economical hauling the grade
should be kept within the limit of
per cent? and considerable expendi-
ture In grading or In acquiring new
rights OF way may be Justified to Sc
cure such grade. Where 1t Is i'm
possible to secure the low grades /,
WIN De necessary to construct water
breaks IN the road to prevent the
rapid now OF water down the center
Ihe best form of break is In the
shape OF the letter v with the poln,
up the hill making a drain TO both
side bitches. but however well con-
structed these breaks are, they are
hard on vehicles and serious in
convenience to travel. and are not
recommended except as last resort.
Ihoroukh Drainage Essential.
thorough drainage Ia absolutely es-
senual for = good road. The water
should be taken on OF the road as
rapidly a. possible and then away
erom the road at frequent intervals.
To accomplish this. there must be a
crown or cross grade TO carry the
water to the side bitches. This crown,
~ stated before. should not axeed
one inch TO the foot: II too steep. It
viii cause too rapid a flow and conse-
Quent washing of ruts In the sur
face. However. II will have a ten
dency to concentrate the traffic in the
center OF the road and. therefore on |
only small portion OF it. causing |
fxpid wear ana. wheel ruts these ruts I
in time collecting water ana starting |
. now down the road. The water de- |
nvered to tho side bitches should be |
carried OF Immediately by those |
bitches. on q uniform grade with no |
holes to form pools from which the !
water win soak under the road and |
soften II.
In the construction Of all bitches
care should BE- taken to slope the |
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