Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-01-23

mately the proportion Of clay needed.
The proper proportion Of sand AMI
clay can best be determined, how
ever, as the work progresses, as some
clay will contain more sand than 9th
ers. In fact, clays are very frequent
ly found which already contain about
the right proportion OF sand.
II the road to he treated is sandy,
the surface is first levelled off and
crowned with road machine. the
crown being about 1-2 inch to the
foot from the center to the sides. The
clay is then dumped on the surface
and carefully spread, so that It vii
be from e inches in depth at the
center, ard gradually decreasing in
depth towards the SIDES. A layer o.
clean send is then usually adied,
which IS thoroughly mixed with the
clay ci'scr by traffic o. BY means of
plows ma disc or tooth harrows.
The best results have been obtain
ed by thoroughly mixlEs o. puddlying
the materials when wet. For this
reason, 1t is desirable that the mixing
be done in wet weather. The mixing
can be left to the traffic after the
materials have been properly placed,
but this involves a whole winter and
spring Of bad road, and even then
the mixing is not always satisfactory.
In all cases, 1t is advisable to dress
the road with road machine or
split-log drag after the materials have
been thoroughly mixed, and to give
1t a crown of not more than inch
or less than "a inch to the foot from
the center to the sides. A light coat
ing OF sand may then be added. The
use of the road machine or drag
should be continued at frequent in
tervals 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 road machine.
The surface should then be plowed
and thoroughly pulverized by harrow
ing to depth of about inches af-
ter which it is given a crown or slope
of about 10 inch to the foot from the
center to the sides. 1t Is then covered
with to s inches of clean, sharp
sand, which is spread thicker in the
center than at the sides. The mater
ials should then be mixed with plows
mad harrows while they are compara-
lively dry, after which they are final
ly puddled with a harrow during wet
weather. If clay works to the surface
and the road becomes sticky, more
sand should be added.
The road is then shaped, crowned,
and ditched in the usual manner with
road machine. This should be done
when the surface is soft, yet stiff
enough to pack we'll under the roller
or the traffic. Wide but shallow
bitches should be provided on both
sides OF the road, and culverta or
crossdrains should be placed wher-
ever water flows across the road,
for it is exceedingly important that
the sand or clay" roads be well
drained.
After the clay on sand, or the sand
on clay. road is completed, 1t should
be carefully maintained until the sur
face bcomes firm and smooth. The
construction of this type of road is
by no means quick operation. II
soft. sticky places appear, more sand
should added, and II loose, sandy
places are found. more clay is need
ed. 1t is just as important to attend
to these small details as to any other
part of the work. for, If they are neg
lected, the road is liable to fail.