New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-01-07

index of the intelligence and refine
ment Of a community, and that, also,
would be measurably true.
Public roads are usually laid out
by legal process, and some provision
is made for their maintenance; but,
owing to varying conditions, such as
density and wealth of population,
expense of building and up-keep, the
law cannot be made very explicit
with regard to the amount which
must be expended for such purposes,
and much is left to the Judgment, or
caprice, of each respective commun-
ity, consequently the condition Of
the roads is reliable indication Of
the interest taken by community
in it's local welfare.
The word road is not very definite
in Specification. 1t may be applied
to almost anything from an ancient
cathedral to an asphalt pavement.
Highway is better because it means,
literally, a road which has been
graded, or built up. The modern
"good road" or highway" is the
result Of a process Of evolution. 1t
embodies the wisdom Of experience.
People have learned that one of the
most important requisites for good
road is adequate drainage. The main
idea of the modern highway is to
secure efficient surface drainage.
When the surface of such road is
kept in proper condition water runs
off without wetting deeply into the
roadbed, and, as consequence, the
road is not badly cut up by heavily
loaded wheels. 1t also has another
advantage, because when well grad
ed up, the snow usually blows off in
winter without seriously wetting it's
surface.
Grading-up, however, does not fill
all the requirements of proper drain
age. Provision must be made not
only for water to run off the road,
but, likewise, away from it. If roads
are SO constructed across low places
as to dam the water back and pre-
vent it flowing away readily it will
soon soak through the road-bed and
make it so soft that it will be cut
into deep ruts by wheels. That will
also take place where marshes are
"filled-in," as a result of absorption,
unless the marsh is first drained, or
the road built up very high. 1t is
common mistake to make culverts SO
small that they are inadequate to
carry off the water after heavy rains,
thereby causing it to run over and
wash the track Another disadvan-
tage of the small culvert is that it
fills with ice in winter and is not
thawed out early enough in spring
to carry away the water from melt
ing snow.
It is a mistake to suppose that
roads are most easily built and main
tanned on level ground. Such is not
the case. Good roads can be more
cheaply built in moderately rolling
country than on very flat land, be-
cause it is so much easier to secure
efficient drainage. In either case they
should be we'll graded up, though
that is much more essential on fiat,
than on rolling land, It is a good
rule to always make greater provi-
sion for drainage than you believe
can possibly be required.
Fairly good roads can be made,
and maintained, in almost Any Sec
ton Of the country, from material
available on the spot, though there
are some exceptions. Having buft
a road, in proper form, if its surface
can b e thickly covered with good
gravel which will pack WE'LL. it WIFI
prove of very great advantage. Such
roads are less slippery in wet weather
much more durable, all together
more satisfactory, and generally more
economical in the end. The impor-
tant points in road building are to
keep them we'll graded up with q
smooth surface sloping we'll to- either
side, and free from hummoeks. Such
a sloping surface lets the water run
off quickly. When knobs or hum
mocks are left in the track passing
wheels work holes on each side Of
them whether the road is wet or dry.
When roads are once we'll made
it would be an immense financiaR saw
ing, and add greatly to the comfort
of those who use them, if an efficient
road-patrol, could be organized and
maintained to keep them i'm order.
Men should be hired to inspect roads
frequently, especially during and at
ter storms, to prevent water run
ming in or across the track. and to