The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-08-22

GOOD ROADS CRY
Another Communication Relative
to Public Highways
HOW TO MAKE THEM
Criticism of Present Plan Together
With Suggestions That Wesld
llelp Things

Editor Herald:-Inasmuch as my
former article did not find it's way in
to the waste basket, and a man who
had but little sense pronounced it
a very fine article, in fact the chest
he had ever read" Il will try and keep
my promise and write again. AS
stated in my former article, Sank
Centre is in the very heart of the
Sank Valley, surrounded by every
natural advantage to make her high.
ly prosperous and progressive. 1t
seems strange that such lot of poor
roads are to be met with in entering
this neat little city. The one from
Melrose to Sank Centre is one mean
est, dirty pieces of road imaginable,
plump full of sthank-you-ma'ms"
jump-holes, and sand, all combined
in a strech of about eight miles. !
This is not as it should be, for the
yearly sums of money and labor ought |
to make thisconnecting link between
these two very pretty little cities a
regular city boulevard, over which a
good car can run in just 10 minutes
by the watch.
The proper way to make road of
earth is to first get the water off, or
in other words provide for it's escape.
After this is accomplished, line up
where the road is to be permanently
located. cut down the hills as far as
possible or to reduce the grade as low
as is possible, and then grade up from
distance of about 10 feet on each
side of the center line, being careful
to finish up the work as far as you 60
and II AXE it smooth and fit to travel.
This is best done by discing thorough
ly. Then follow with good harrow,
and let one man see to the filling of
the holes which mnst of necessity
develope in any new worked earth
road. Now follow up with coarse
gravel, leaving it in the middle of the
newly-made a d, and carefully
spread, but not too much out of the
center, as teams and general travel
will work it out as fast as is needed
by the wheels to work into the soft
clay soil. No work should be done
upon the highways except under the
direction of competent ''boss'', who
like the one on the railroad should
determine where the work is most
needed, and see by being personally
present that the labor is done in a
correct and workmanlike manner.
All stones should be taken out of the
road and placed where they will do
no harm if no good. But there is
nothing better for bad holes than
first filled up with stones and then
properly graded over with clay follow
ed by good coat of sand or gravel.
After the road has been commpleted
good roller should be used. If this
is not to be had good broad-tired
wagon, heavily loaded with sand or
rock, should be drawn over the road
in the exact center to direct the first
travel in order to pack as soon as
possible the newly moved earth aud
thereby make permanent the travel,
that it may not take to the side ow-
ing to such a rough and dangerous soft
roadbed. Mudholes should always be
filled up with sand or gravel and not
too much put in so as to make two
holes where there was only one.
Next in order after each and every
rain good road drag, one like the
city of Sank Centre has, should be
used two or three times, just as the
dirt begins to nicely dry out, and in a |
very short time one will be more
than surprised at the hardness and
smoothness Of the road so treated.
All bridges should be made trifle |
over ''flush" wi h the dirt used;
that, is the level of the earth should !
be trifle higher than the planks or |
steel tubing now being so widely used.