The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-01-18

keep water out of the roads. Beyond a
doubt one of the prime factors in the
their condition has been the failure to
Systematically maintain them when
built Ruts and holes were allowed to
become fixtures and to fill with water
until even careless driver would en-
deavor to avoid them and soon the
road for its whole width was turned
into a. quagmire.
A few shovels of earth applied at the
outset would have prevented most of
the damage and it is to such oversight
that the expenditure of the greater
part of the enormous sum named as
spent on roads in Wisconsin was due,
the money being devoted to rebuilding
roads which could have been kept in
good shape for very much less if their
maintenance had been Systematically
looked after.
1t is this question of road mainte-
nance which has led the authorities of
some of the Michigan counties which
have been building improved roads of
late years under the state law of Mich
igan, to adopt the railroad plan of sec
tion foreman, each man being given a
certain section of road which he is re-
quired to keep in order.
When the road is built, a supply of
crushed rock is left at convenient dis
tances by the roadside. The foreman 10
required to inspect his section careful
ly. Whenever he sees hole starting,
he puts a shovel or two in and lamps
it down and stop is put to the dam
age. 1t is the old principle of a stitch
in time saves nine,n over again.
The fundamental principle Of good
road building from the days of ma
cadam has been proper drainage. This
is especially necessary with dirt roads,
which for some years to come will I'M
doubtedly form chief part of the road
mileage of Wisconsin and other western
states. Water must be kept out of the
foundation if such roads are to be kept
in good condition on the surface.
GA dirt road differs from the same
soil in an adjoining field,' says Ar
thur R. Hirst, Wisconsin highway en-
gineer. "Rain falling on the field,
whether freshly ploughed or not, will
soak in, but falling on the road, every
hoof mark will hold it's fill of water.
HThis is due to the fact that the
constant travel over the road changes
| it into the condition of puddled earth,
which is impervious to water, almost
like puddled clay. The action of the
horses hoofs works out the moisture
and packs the soil so that the rain is
held on the surface and muddy roads
are the result. Most of the dirt roads
in the state would be reasonably well
drained by the ordinary side bitches if
these were kept free from grass and
weeds so as to offer free passage to the
water, especially if the split log drag
were used to give the road good
crown.
.The water would then run off from
the impervious surface Of the center of
the road and be cared for by the
bitches, the result being that good
roads would be found where only mud
holes were prevalent before. This is
why we preach the gospel of the split
log drag wherever we go in the state. =
The rules for road maintenance, as
given by the state commissioner, are
few in number and so simple that he
who runs may read. There are four of
them and they are as follows:
Keep the ruts and pitch holes filled,
always with the same kind of material
as that of which the road is composed,
in order to force the water to run
quickly into the bitches.
Keep weeds, grass and brush cut
away from the sides to permit rapid
drying.
Keep the bitches and culverts free
from obstruction by dead weeds etc,
to permit the water to run away before
it has time to soak into the foundation
and soften it.
Keep loose stones, etc., off from the
surface and use the split log drag as the
best and cheapest method of obtaining
and maintaining a good clay Or gravel
road.