The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-01
GOOD ROADS TALK:
HINT FROM AMELIA
Easy to Make Good Highways.
The Thing Is to Keep
Them Good.

Amelia, Va, February 2s.-valuabIo
lessons have been learned concernin~
the maintenance of tho excellent soil
ROADS oil virginia being constructed by
state aid In many counties of the
state. In Amelia, where the soil 10
red. the first lesson Is Don't build the
road in patches" that Is. fow miles
hero and there and a few miles in
another locality. II 50. these little
patches are greatly damaged by mud
hauled on them from the unimproved
roads, and do scarcely anybody INV
good. SO build n continuous road from
one point To some other important
point by the shortest route which gives
the best grades.
Second. Avoid hills ana steep grades
If you have TO go further to do IL.
road washes badly down the hills, and
IL cannot be rcmedied except at urent
cost Prevent the washing by adopting
tho level route. Never mind III 1t does
put the road little further away from
somebody.
Third Use tho road scraper or split
log drag after every rain. and i'm
med,ateiS after the rain The scrapcr
handles the wet surface like a plas-
terer handles soft mortar Then the
wet surface Is united and plasterod
down Ii is all important To do this
before IL gets dry, and II will get DIV
In few hours if kept scrapcd
Fourth. Don't let the snow remain on
the road. The snow that recently fell
several inches deep laid on the road
nearly II week, melting slowly. and
was then followed by the several inch
snow OF February 20, and II did some
parts Of the new roads great damage
IL has never been soft no matter how
much rain fell. but the melting snow
softened II to the bottom. and loaded
wagons cut through to the rcd clay
under tho soil. doing incalculable dam
age. as most drivers reclilessly and
carclessly followed the same ruts
Firth. Use snow nlow and clear tho
ROAD OF snow rs soon AZ tho snow falls.
The writer was out of tho county
the week of February 20, but on his
return saw the necessity for snow
pillow. and ut once took the matter uu
with the board OF supervisors. Before
he could hear from them the snow Of
February 20 followed. and seeing the
necessity he at once constructed q snow
pillow In the following manner: Using
two oak boards 2Nl2X14 feet long. and
shaping them like a spread open
twelve Ieet at the rear. boiling the
front with three g inch by I-2 inch
bolts and coupling the rear With !,
Ext inch timber. cutting notches two
inches deep I'm the sides and four feet
from the ends. and fitting the exc inch
timber in edEcways and putting a
i0xl-2 inch bolts diagonaily through,
sides and brace at each end. and spiked
also. similar brace three feet long
was put across the front end and
spiked In. n fcw good planks were
placed over the top. lcngthwavs. a
heavy IRON cievis was boltcd near the
top in front. To which a double tree
and lock chain were attached The
lock chain passed through tin. ring
OF yoke on the roar tenn and another
double tree was attached 10 lock chain
Tor front team With four horses
IL trip up and down the rcnd brushed
IL perfectly clean Of snow for "a space
OF twelve feet wide. and in half an hour
the top, which was at first covered
with water, was dry In many places
nnd drying rapidly everywhere. By all
means get snow plow 10 work inn
mediatcly after II snow IL you would
preserve your road and prevent its ruin
The question Of maintenance of good
roads Is so important that these sug-
gcstions arc made to show how ii can
he done easily and cheaply. and must
be done promptly
mechanic Will construct IA snow
plow for SO. and II is worth $1,000 to
81 ''hu tb Ntep the SHOW from mcit!nE
on II rs this snow has done
Sixth. Boards of supervisors should
issue regulations to prevent hauling
when the road Is wet. liz is sanctioned
by the Supreme Court decision and Is
absolutely necessary.
Seventh. All citizens should keep
their londs off the good roads while
they arc soft, Nothing Will pay them
bottoE