Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1912-04-05
DIRT ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Some Practical Suggestions for Dirt
Road Construction In
South Dakota.

(By H. c. Solberg, Professor of Me-
Shanical Engineering. State College,
Brookings, s. d.
During the past few months sever
ii highways have been projected
lcross the state, and some of them are
designated as "transcontinental high
ways" 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 road construc-
ton may be in order and perhaps Of
considerable value.
II road is intended for interstate
travel, it must be constructed so as
to be suitable for all kinds of high
way traffic; hence few fundamental
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 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 feet apart for the
main roadway. This should be done
the full length of road so as to make
it straight. Then, outside of this
w fu c%n
and pillow ten feet wide on both sides.
Then move the sod from the outside
to the center making the roadway as
nearly level as possible.
Pulverize the Sod.
After all the sod is moved into the
roadway use sod cutter and thor
oughly pulverize all sod. Do not I'M
der any circumstances allow the sod
to remain in Jumps and rot, for it will
absorb moisture and continue to set
tie 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 pull.
verize that also; it will then pack
| even.
Finishing Touches.
Then finish the roadway with grad.
CT, making the center of the twenty
foot roadway or inches higher than
at the edge and construct GROWING
surface. Also make a gentle curve
slope clear to the gutter. This will
practically produce thirty-eight foot
rdiveway from gutter to gutter.
Make Wide Road.
The writer knows that many will
claim that this is wider than neces
sary; but when it is considered tina
this road is intended for all kinds O
travel, the road must be constructed
SO wide that no person with Loaf
Of hay or any kind of wide machiner!
can block the road and prevent an
other party from passing by, no mat
ter in what direction the parties arr
going. The Writer has frequently ap
preached load Of hay with a ligh
rig and been compelled to travel be
hind that load for considerable dis
lance, because the driver would no
turn out part way. The grades wer'
too narrow and the cutters or rather
bitches were to steep to venture into
If we intend to encourage any grea
amount of tourist travel over oul
roads, the tourist must be treated
with courtesy, hence the roads mus
be constructed so wide that a condi
aon of this kind will be impossible.
Best is Cheapest.
Again, If a road is constructed TOT
narrow at first, and it becomes neces
sary to widen it afterwards, then dir
must be moved back and refilled where
it was taken out first; thus increasing
the cost of construction at least twice
what it should be, and at the same
time, the road will not be as solid fol
several years as it would have beer
dad the original road been construct
ed wide enough. Where road grad
ing machinery can be used the work
can be done very much cheaper thar
by team work and scrapers.
Pack The Roads.
The next point in Importance in
connection with dirt road construction
that has been overlooked in the past
is the use of the steam roller Where
considerable dirt is graded up, the
same will remain loose and spongy
for a considerable time, and wagon
with a heavy load will tend to cut
through. This can be avoided alto
gether by using a ten ton road roller
which will pack the dirt solid enough
for all kinds of loads. An ordinary
traction engine can be used for this
packing, but the luggs on the drive
wheels will form pockets in the sur
face. These pockets will be covered
With loose dirt and after every rain
will retain considerable moisture that
GILL tend to destroy the road surface.
Whereas the wheels on the steam rol.
Ter will prouce a smooth surface tina:
will act as a perfect water shed; and
at the same time the road will be
so solid that every man with heavy