Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-02-05
SAND CLAY ROADS AND
THE FINE TO WORK THEM,

States, mainly lnkthe Southern states
according to the Office of Public Roads.
ri. S. Department of Agriculture. The
time to work the roads is in the spring
when the soil is damp. If the working
of the roads is deferred until late in
summer when they are dry, they are
not only much more difficult to put in
proper shape but the cost of repair IS
greater than if they were worked early
in the spring.
Previous to 1894 comparatively lit
tie, if any, of these roads existed. The
popularity of this type of road is due
to the facts that it is cheap. compare
lively firm and durable, easy to con
srruct and repair, and that the mate
rails out of which it is built are plen-
tfful in many sections of the country.
The sand-clay road is made by mix
ing the sand and clay in such a way
that the grains of sand touch each
otter. the spaces between the grains
be ng filled with clay which acts as a
binder.
The approximate mixture of sand
and clay may be determined by filing
a vessel with a sample of the sand to
be used. and another vessel of the
same size with water. The water is
poured carefully into the sand until it
reacher the point of over1owing. The
volume of water removed from the
second vessel represents approximate
" the proportion of clay needed.
The proper proportion of sand and
clay can best be determined, however.
as the work progresses, as some clay
will contain more sand than others.
In fact, clays are very frequently
found which already contain about the
right proportion of sand.
If the road to be treated is sandy,
the surface is first leyeled off and
! crowned with a road machine, the
crown being about IL inch to the foot
from the center to the sides. The clay
is then dumped on the surface and
carefully spread, so that it will be
from 6 to 8 inches in depth at the cen
ter, and gradually decreasing in depth
towards the sides. A layer of clean
Sane is then Usually added, which IS
thoroughly mixed with. the clay, eth
er by traffic or by means of plows and
disk or tooth harrows.
X NH Ioz4 1z,J -
by thoroughly mixing or pudding the
materials when wet. For this reason,
it is desirable that the mixing be done
IN wet weather. The mixing can be
left to the traffic after the materials
Rave been properly7placed. but this in
vclves a whole winter and spring OF
bad road, and even then the mixing is
not always satisfactory. In all cases,
it is advisable to dress the road with
a road machine or split-log drag after
the materials have been thoroughly
mixed, and to give it. a crown of nos
more than 1 inch or less than ga inch
tc the foot from the center to the
sides. A light coating of sand may
then be added. The use of the road
machine or drag should be continued
at frequent intervals until the surface
is smooth and firm.
If the road to be treated is compos-
ed of clay, it should first be brought
to a rough grade with a road machine.
The surface should then be plowed
and thoroughly p~ulyerized by harrow
ing to a depth of about 4 inches after
which it is given a crown or slope of
about 1-2 inch to the foot from the
to the sides. Tt is then covered
s to s inches of clean, sharp sand,
Ehich is spread thicker in the center
han at the sides. The materials
then be mixed with plows and
arrows while they are comparatively
Try, after which they are finally pud-
lied with a harrow during wet wealth
II. If clay works to the surface and
Dad becomes sticky. more sand
be added,
The roa is then shaped, crowned,
nd ditched in the usual manner with
road machine. This should be done
vhen the surface is soft, yet stir
rough to pack we'll under the roller
the traffic. Wide but shallow
itehes should be provided on both
ides OF 1.-The road and ~culverts or cross
should be placed wherever wa
flows across the roads, for it is ex-
eedingly important that the sand on
lay" roads be well drained.
After the clay on sand, or the sand
clay, road is completed, it should
G carefully maintained until the sur.
becomes firm and smooth. The
obstruction of this type of road is by