The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-03-28
HOW TO 6U|LD
A DIRT ROAD
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR
ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN
THIS STATE
PROF. SOLBERG GIVES DIRECTIONS
The Inquiries for information Have
Led Prof. Solberg to Issue the
Following Information.

Prof. H. c. Solberg, head of the
mechanical department of the State
college, and we'll known road expert,
has received so many inquiries for in
formation that he has issued the fol-
lowing letter giving some practical
suggestions for dirt road construc-
ton:
During the past few months sever
al highways have been projected
across the state, and some Of them
are designated as "transcontinental
highways The time is near at hand
when the actual work Of road con-
struction must be begun, otherwise
these projected highways will not be
Of any particular benefit to anybody.
Hence, a few suggestions as to the
proper method of dirt construction
may be in order and perhaps Of con-
siderable value.
If a road is intended for interstate
travel. it must be constructed so as
to be suitable for all kinds of high
way traffic; hence a few fundament-
al principles must be observed in the
construction Of this road, that have
heretofore been absolutely neglected
in all local road construction in
South Dakota. The most important
is the width Of the roadway.
If we assume that no work has
been done on the road, the simplest
way to proceed will be as follows:
First, set stakes twenty rect apart
for the main roadway. This should
he done the full length Of road so
as to make it straight. Then, out
side of this twenty foot limit, start
the blowing, and pillow ten feet wide
on both sides. Then move the sod
from the outside to the center max
ing the roadway as nearly level as
possible.
After all the sod is moved into the
roadway use a sod cutter and thor
oughly cut and p~ulverize the sod. Do
not under any circumstances allow
the sod to remain in Jumps and rot,
for it will absorb moisture and con-
tinue to settle uneven for at least
two years,-thus producing holes in
the roadway, that will make it unfit
for any and all kinds of traffic. First
pulverize the sod, then put more dirt
on the top. If the rest Of the dirt Is
lumpy ~pulverize that also; it will
then pack wen.
Then finish the roadway with a
grader, making the center of the
twenty foot roadway about 6 or 7
inches higher than at the edge and
construct a browning surface. Also
make a gently curved slope clear to
the gutter. This will practically pro-
duce a thirty-eight foot drive way
from gutter to gutter.
The writer knows that many will
claim that this is wider than neces-
sary; but when it is considered that
this road Is intended for all kinds Of
travel, the road must be constructed
so wide that no person with a load Of
hay or any kind Of wide machinery
can block the road and prevent an
other party from passing by, no mat
ter in what direction the parties are
going. The writer has frequently ap-
preached a load Of hay with a light
rig and been compelled to travel be-
hind that load for considerable dist
ance, because the driver would not
turn out part way. The grades we're
too narrow and the cutters, OF rather
bitches, were too steep to venture
into. If we intend to encourage any
great amount Of tourist travel over
our roads, the tourist must be treated
with courtesy, hence the roads must
be constructed so wide that a condi-
tion Of this kind will be impossible.
Again, IL a road is constructed too
harrow at first, and 1t becomes neces-
sary to widen it afterwards, the dirt
must be moved back and re1lled
where 1t was taken out first; thus
Increasing the cost Of construction at
least twice what 1t should be, and at
the same time. the road will not be
as solid for several years as 1t would
have been had the original road been
constructed wide enough. Where