The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-09-12
returning OF The opposite side. Unless

returning OF The opposite side. Unless
the road is already in good condition 1t
shOnld be dragged after every heavy
rain, when the mud is in such cundi-
ton as to puddle well and still not ad-
here too much to the drag, a few trips
over the road will give the operator u
clew as to the best time to drag Dras
at all seasons of the year. but do not
drag a dry road. If road is dragged
immediately before cold spell the
road will freeze smooth.
Always drag a little toward the cen
ter with the aim of keeping the slope
of the crown about an inch to the foot
Ii the drag cuts too much shorten the
hitch Oh change your position on the
drag. The best results from dragging
are obtained only by repeated applica-
tons. A good system of dragging is
that which is practiced IN Kansas and
Iowa, where road authorities are au
thorized to let contracts to farmers for
dragging the roads abutting Oh their
ianus
" 81
such as gravel and macada M. different
methods must be pursued. The causes
OF wear on hard roads are the weather.
the wheels of vehicles and horses
shoes The weather acts to some cx-
tent directly on the materials. but to a
much greater degree indirectly. Frost
is one of the most active of the destruc-
tive agencies. The expansion and con-
traction caused by frost sometimes
lead to general disintegration of the
surface This is especially true where
clay is used as d binder and where the
icad surface is porous or the drainage
poor. When such road thaws out
after a hard frost the macadam will
practically be a layer of loose stones.
into which the traffic will cut, forming
ruts. Frost has but little If any effect
on dry, well kept road.
Look after the drainage very careful
" in the fall and be sure that the sur
face is as nearly waterproof as pos
sible, so that the road will go into the
winter dry and not full of water Vio-
lent rains often wash out the binder
and sometimes the smaller stones as
well, leaving the surface both rough
and porous. The amount Of material
lost from the road by this means is
often larger than the toll exacted by
| traffic
The following hints may be found
useful in the maintenance and repair
Of gravel and macadam roads:
| Never allow rut or hole to remain
On the road. but fill it at once with
chips from the stone heap. When the
road is built the contractor should be
required to place at least 100 tons OF
surface material and screenings at 9
convenient place for each mile of road
constructed Always use chips fol
patching and for all repairs during the
summer months.
Never put fresh stone on the road il
by cross picking and raking the sur
face can be kept in the proper condi
tion and cross section. The rake i.
the most useful tool used in roae
maintenance. Large patches of stone
should not be spread over the who!,
width of the road at one time. The
bulk of all repairs should be made be
fore Christmas. so that the road vii
go through the winter in good condi
ton.
In moderately dry weather Away!
pick up the old surface into ridges 81,
inches apart and remove all large ant
projecting stones before applying new
material Never apply stones NOR
than one stone deep. but add a secnn,
layer when the first is worn in If on
layer is not sufficient. Never cracl
stones on the road, for If you do
smooth surface will be out of the qucs
ton. Never leave the stones in ridges
All large stones, blocks of wood an
other distractions used for divertin
traffic should be removed at nightfaI
or the consequences may he seriou.
Never put stone OH the road for r,
pairing purposes that will not pas
freely in every direction through tw
inch ring. Smaller stones should h
used for patching. Macadams advic
was that no stone should be placed i
6 macadam road which the workma
could not get in his mouth. TraprOcl
granite and other hard stone shoul
be broken finer for repair work tina
the limestones and other softer rocks.
Use screenings if possible for bindin
together newly laid material. Roa
sweepings, horse droppings. sods al
other rubbish when used for this pu
pose will ruin the best road ever col
gtructed Water worn or rounded stone