Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-13
HOW TO KEEP DIRT ROADS IN
SHAPE FOR GOOD TRAVELLING
An Engineer Gives Some Timely Advice On How To
Remedy Some of the Ills of Hghways-Fil
In the Mud Holes Is One Point

ton, where water settles on both sides
as well as in the road, culvert Of
some kind becomes necessary. The
same is true where there is springy
condition of the soil, or where a VIC
lent rainstorm produces water
course. In such cases, as we'll as in
many others, the aid of the local road
authorities must be invoked. Their
authority must be recognized. and II
should not be difficult to show them
that true economy lies in putting in a
permanent culvert, which will not re-
quire repairs. A concrete culvert
which will last lifetime or more, will
cost less than will be spent in five
years repairing a plank one, so the
Official or officials, il reasonable, are
likely to follow the suggestions of a
committee which is looking for per-
manent economy. If they do not, a
reasonable exploitation Of the facts
among the people of the community is
likely to result in the selection OF
predetermined and more economical
ly inclined officials,
"It should always be borne In mind,
however, that culvert Is of no prac-
tical use which has not an outlet
which will carry away water. To per-
NIT the water to settle along the sides
OF the road is to undermine its foun-
dalton and permit the creation, under
traffic, of more mud holes. The wa
ter must be carried off and away from
the road, whatever difficulties may be
found in the way, or whatever dis
lance may have to be ditched.
otherwise. the mud hole is still
there. If it be. filled with sticks and
stones and saplings, packed in by traf-
f1c, the water will seek natural out
lets and the result is usually two mud
holes, one at each end of the filing.
AS long as the water is there the mud
hole or mud holes will be there.
"This particular point Is one Of the
most difficult to thoroughly impress
upon any except the thoroughly train
ed road builder. The number Of per-
sons who will insist that a mud hole
should be filled up" is so great, and
their standing in local communities Is
often SO high, that an effort to con-
vince them of their own error seems
almost hopeless. The writer has
argued for hours in the effort to con-
vince otherwise intelligent men that
more earth thrown into a mud hole
simply made more mud.
"In such cases the only thing that
can be done is to make a practical
demonstration. Get the water ditched
away, put on enough earth to bring
the road to the level of the adjacent
grade not above 1t. and the mud hole
is a thing Of the past.
when the mud holes are formed by
the accumulation of surface water,
flowing down the roadway to de-
the situation is more simple!
Such condition can only arise when
there are no side bitches, or when the
side bitches do not carry off the wa
ter Perhaps the side bitches have
been overgrown with weeds. perhaps
boulders, or rocks or even alluvial de-
posits have been forced down and
choked them, DETECTING the water
into the roadway. Possibly there
never has been any side bitches ca
oable of carrying off the water.
''There is but one thing to do Open
lp side bitches. If they have been
,logged. clean them; If there has
never been any. construct them. In
any event make the side bitches so
that they will prevent water from the
adjacent slopes from getting en- the
roadway and running down to create
mud holes in the lower levelu.
"This is not all. In the construc-
ton of side bitches on slopes, provi-
sion must be made for the disposition
Of the rainfall on the road itself. The
common type Of fiat road on hill,
with thank-you-marms' at intervals
is relic of mediaevalism which is
condemned both by ancient and mod
ern intelligence and practice. The
old Roman roads we're built high
enough in the center so that the wa
ter would run off at the sides. Mod
ern road construction demands that
this shall be: done. Wherever rain
falls on road located on grade, the
crown of the road toward the side
bitches should be great enough so
that the water which falls on the road
way should reach the side ditch at an
angle of not more than As degrees
from the axis of the road at the point
where it fell. This prevents the
washing Of the center OF the roadway;
prevents storm water from forming
into streams which will wash the sur
face of the roadway into miniature
gullies and permits it to float into the
side bitches as into the cutters of
roof.
when it becomes necessary to take
the water from one side of the road to
the other, it should be taken by means
of underdrains. A cement culvert is
best, if the requirements justify.
Otherwise tile or other pipe culverts
of a size which will carry off the wa
ter at it's maximum flow. The cul-
vert or pipe should be placed diagon-
ally downhill and fair slope, as
much as one inch to the foot if pos
sible should be given it in order that
it may keep itself clear of sediment.