The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-06-14
Hard Roads Must be Drained

Editor PALATKA NEWS:-
In reference to the Good Roads rally
in Palatka June 21St, have noted in the
Times Union of June 9th that "MeSSrS.
StinSon and Miller decided to make the
trip TO Palatka on Saturday and confer
with Mr.. Rursell and others, etc. and
also in Times Union of 9TH that "a Spe-
cial committee consisting OF w. r.
Carter, D. Kelly Roberts and Herbert B.
Race will make an automobile trip 10
Palatka to-day to perfect arrangements
for the coming rum" etc.
Did the parties reach Palatka today?
The rainfall at Federal Point by U. S.
Weather Bureau rain guage has been this
week as follows: June LIST, trace; June
I'd, II; Sd, .O6 4th, 20; 5th, 90; 9th,
l.40 9TH. 81 and Sth up 10 $50 p. m
2.4O inches. On the 9th there was
more rain fall towards Federal Point
than Palatka and on the 9TH the condi-
ton was reversed. On afternoon of the
4th made trip in an automobile (road.
SteD and the going was only fair, no
water on the road except little in the
mud hole at Orange Mills R. r. crossing,
but bad rutS in many places made chief
ly by heavy hauling in potato season.
On the 9th made round trip, arriving
in Palatla at a. m. and returning al
1870 p m. The going in the morning
was more muddy than on the previous
trip as il had rained some the previous
night met road machine just start
ing out at East Palatka, Scraping the
sides TO fill rutS and crown the road bed
Returning al night, after heavy showers
during the day, the going was bad
road-bed soft where not well drained
water in the throws at side of road in
all low places and six 10 eight inches of
water in the mud hole at Orange Mills
r. r. crossing.
On the 9TH the morning trip to Palatka
was softer going than on the previous
night and returning at 1870 p. m. there
were places almost impossible. The
only place near normal conditions ex-
cept al East Palatka r. r. crossing, was
about a mile from Graveyard branch
at Orange Mills TO the turn of the road
towards Hastings, and here there is a
ditch two feet or more deep on east
side OF the road, and short piece on
the other, which have kept the road
bed from getting Soggy. To mention
some of the worst places: On the
north east course of the road along the
Bahrenburg farm al East PaIatka there Is
only shallow ditch on the west side
of the road and water from the Bahren-
burg farm, which was flooded, was run
ming across the road Between Dog
branch and the r. r. crossing at Orange
Mills, with shallow ditch on east side
of the road, water was running across
the road and cutting gullies. There
were eight 10 ten inches of water in the
mud hole at Orange Mills r. r cross
ing, and further along by Mr.. Coles
place the road-bed was flooded in sever
al places and the water running across
into shallow ditch recently cut along
the east side of the road.
We have had three or four compara.
lively dry years. Some years ago Sir
Norman LOCkyer, the eminent English
astronomer who had made an exhaustive
study OF all the available worlds raj lfall
records, found that maximum periods
had occurred about IS years apart, and
the next maximum 10 culm. |
nate about 1913.
No road bed, even covered with vitri. |
fled brick, will stand if soggy with mois-
ture, ana the only remedy in this flat |
woods country is bitches on both sides
Of the road; and the bitches should |
drain at least two feet deep, with cross
,luices when necessary and outlets that
will rapidly carry off the water. I'm
less the road-bed is kept drained the
sand clay covering will not keep packed |
lsTd and the clay will wash ou', leav,
ng only sand.
A well drained road.bed covered with
| top soil and clay from the bitches,
liSCardng the quick sand, and kept
crowned will be far more satisfactory
han lie present Palatka- Hastings road .
With deep ruls having baked edges in
Try weather and mud in wet weather.
( wet weather continues and no further
lrainage is done on the Palatka- Has.
ingS read, there can be no tour from
jacksonville TO a Good Roads meeting
n Palaika on June 2lst for nobody will
ravcl that road for pleasure.
?. S..-June 10th, still raining; 40 on
he 9Th and 30 last night, a total of 6.97
inches so far for the month of June.
Yours truly,
f. S. HUBBARD.
FEDERAL Point June 10Th, 1912.