The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-07-21

ed: Where one portion of the roat
lis too sandy and another nearly pure
clay, an exchange of material, spread
in thin layers, and mixed by dragging
is an example of the intelligent use
Of material. It may be advantageous
to borrow" even from quite dis
tance, few dozen loads of sand to
use in this way on a stretch of clay
road, or vice versa. ...-.
| When the reduction of steep grades
| is being considered, bear in mind that
| fully three times as much power is
required to draw a certain load UP a
| 10 per cent grade "a grade having a
rise of ten feet to each 100 feet in dis
tance) as it requires to draw the same
load up a 8, per cent grade. Moreover,
steep grades demand more labor to
properly maintain. No grade on a
main travelled highway should be
sleeper than per cent. In case spongy
places are discovered, the soft materi-
al should be removed therefrom and be
replaced with the same material as
found in the roadway on either side Of
the soft spots. -
Inasmuch as highway construction
involves problems that demand scien-
tific treatment all such improvements,
as surety that the results will be
satisfactory, should be made under the
supervision of an experienced engineer.
lIle IuOTS carefully anu correctly Lne
construction work is performed, the
easier will the road be to maintain
After being constructed, the high
way, like the railway, must be main
tained-not simply fixed" once or
twice year, a make shift to which we
have clung too long, but systematical-
, ly maintained, whereby by an hours
work today saves nine next week. Far
more satisfactory results would be Sc
cured If, instead of expending all the
road fund on construction-depe
on the usual spring time repairs as the
only maintenance-We would expend
only partaof the road fund on con-
struction and reserve the balance Ca
liberal balance) to cover maintenance
expenses. And maintenance, bear in
mind, consists not only In repairs, but
includes inspection also. That inspec-
t1on may be effective, it must be fire.
quent and systematic. To anticipate
road trouble, to remove a possible
cause of damage before damage be-
gins, and to make repairs before un-
foreseen damage becomes great, is the
secret OF successful and Inexpensive
maintenance. The filing of ruts and
chuck" holes while yet small, or the
opening Of a clogged side ditch just
before a storm, may avoid what other
wise would be extensive damage
Where funds to pay a regular patrol
man are not available, each farmer
living along the highway might inspect
a portion of the road adjacent to his
lands and promptly report to the town
or district supervisor any needed re-
pairs--other than those which he could
himself easily make.
In the maintenance of earth roads
no implement is more useful than the
road drag 1t must be persistently
used. however, especially after rains.
The most effective time depends on
the quality of the road material and
other local conditions. The mud pie
consistency is too soon, while the pull
Verfzing condition Is too late. A few
experiments in each locality will prove
a better guide than any advice on pa
Ger. The frequent use of the road drag
is also effective in diyerting travel
from a single track, resulting in
longer lived and smoother highway. AS
in road construction, SO in mainten-
ance. water is the great enemy. Hence
special effort must be axerted to keep
both ground and surface water away
from the road.