The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-10-08
.M.E OF ROAD Mantle
PIX n WEE AND REPAIRS.

nbase of the road problem
mere IS ~ ant than that of mainte-
4 inpol r,aneral impression that there
I. The zines of roads that are per-
CERTAIN p ' erroneous. No permanent
rspt IS or heen constructed. or ever
bss EYER ardipg to the road specialists
I he, seseoo,artment. The only Things
|be as 9P hat may be considered per-
VI > ros a the the grading. culverts, and
[lsnt ar poads constructed by the most
Egs:. IVA. IVA engineers will soon be
EipI hlg e. the traffic, frost, rain, and
[poyed w Wy they are properly main
II uo p@t tbe life OF these roads may
BID, Dut nv systematic maintenance.
||grOIgJJuw vii not only be improved by
gpcf fo a,ntqaance, but may become bet
igsr . a,'i tban good road without it.
Ii tl I, 'a md last commandment in
be DIS! maintenance is to keep the
tb Toau IN drained. To insure good
foe vs." 'ba ditches should be kept open,
Insge al, removed, and a smooth
sbs'i u.Tntsined. Except for very stony
20 ll'i a6 machine or scraper may be
ltbe iOe IF .etively for this work. The
,Vefy b Snl be used once or twice a
fbI1e Sl ,he work should be done when
i sol 's so that it will pack and
ls9l hard crust. Wide and shall
K ID" I,c,.s should be maintained
slos H. Ven fall and capacity to dis
3 sall, anfface water. These bitches
! u most places be constructed and
W. 9TH q road machine.
~ isa rstsBle matter, such as sods and
y vi 55toI54 be kept out of the road,
sl'' ' Yak. spongy surface, which
tlPl n1,srure. Clods are also OBJ
sp' for they soon turn to dust or
ll''a nj r5r that reason roads should
!, p be worked when dry or hard.
~ l,, ~ ar loose stones are equally OBJ
siIs aS.l If a smooth surface is to be
aI 'sI;t. iog drag or some similar device
'pr Mini in maintaining the surface
~! usb bitches and cross section
!. o onl be secured. This drag can
7 !. @' ns4i to advantage on a gravel
= " 1.eII As on an earth road. The
L ~ involved in dragging is that
lsF ar7 most heavy soils will puddle
: p p and set very hard-when dry.
! XIII attention that the earth road
! l-, mnsi be- given promptly and at
- .,onsr time # the best results are to
sY "rsgclng roads only a small amount
.,rb + moved, Just enough to fill the
- ara dpnressions with a thin layer of
,te cIsT or earth which packs very
Iso hat the next rain instead of find
MIS-. Expressions and clods in which
,nIiecr runs off, leaving the surface
little affected.
h. rag should be light and should be
s sr aver the road at an angle of about
isyrees. The driver should ride on the
rSnd should not drive faster than a
One round trip, each trip strad-
D wheel track, is usually sufficient
n the ruts and smooth the surface.
the road should be dragged
ysvery bad spell of weather, when
oI is in proper condition to puddle
land stI!l not adhere to the drag. 1t
ps5 IS very bad, it may be dragged
N very wet and again when it begins
sg out A few trips over the road
-qys ta operator an idea as to the
time 10 rag. Drag at all seasons,
doaot if4g il dry road.
he sop- OF crown of an earth road
Nd be abm; inch to the foot. Ii
crown becomes too high, it may be
need BY ragging toward the ditch
eai Of from il. If the drag cuts too
d. shor.e The hitch and change your
itor o. tfs drag. If it is necessary
protect the face of the drag with a
b Of iron IL should be placed flush
f tie gr of the drag and not pro-
tng. a cutting edge should be avoid
8ti5 usin object in dragging is to
Tar tie aaar soil into position.