The Delta independent., 1914-02-06
SAND CLAY ROADS AND THE
TIME TO WORK THEM

States, mainly in the southern states'
according to the office of Public
Roads, U. S. Department Of Agricul-
ture. The time to work the roads Is
in the spring when the soil is damp.
If the working Of the roads is de-
ferred 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
little, If any, of these roads existed.
The popularity of this type of road is
due to the facts that it is cheap,
comparatively firm and durable,
easy to construct and repair, and that
the materials out of which it is built
are plentiful in many sections of the
country.
The sand clay road is made by
mixing the sand and clay in such a
way that the grains of sand touch
each other, the spaces between the
grains being filled with clay which
acts as a binder.
The approximate mixture of sand
and clay may be determined by Ill
ling 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 1t reaches the point OF
overflowing. The volume of water
removed from the second vessel
represents approximately the proper
ton of clay needed.
The proper proportion of sand and
clay can best be determined, how
ever. as the work progresses, as some
clay will contain more sand than
others. In fact. clays are very fire.
auently found which already contain
about the right proportion of sand
If the road to be treated is sandy
the surface is first leveled off and
crowned with a road machine. the
crown being about one-half inch to
the foot from the center to the sides
The clay is then dumped on the sur
face and carefully spread, so that it
will be from six to eight inches in
depth at the center, and gradually
decreasing in depth towards the sides.
A layer cf clean sand is then usually
added, which is thoroughly mixed
with the clay, either by traffic or by
means of plows and disc or tooth
harrows.
The best results have been obtain
ed by thoroughly mixing or pudding
the materials when wet. For TINS
reason II 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 ano
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 1t
crown of not more than one inch or
less than three-quarters inch TO the
foot from the center to the sides. A
light coating of sand may then De
added. The use of the road machine
or drag should be continued at IRE
suent intervals until the surface Is
smooth and firm.
If the road to be treated is COM
posed of clay, it should first be
brought to a rough grade with ROAD
machine. The surface should then pe
plowed and thoroughly pulverized oy
narrowing TO depth of about four
inches after it is given crown OF
slope of about one-half inch TO the
foot from the center to the SIDES
II is then covered with six to eight
inches of clean, sharp sand, which Is
spread thicker in the center than n
the sides. The materials should theh
be mixed with plows and harro"s
while they are comparatively dry
after which they are finally puddied
with a harrow during wet weather.
II clay works to the surface and the
road becomes sticky, more SAND
should be add d.
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 stir
enough 10 pack well under the roller
of the traffic. Wide but shallow
bitches should be provided on both
sides of the road. and culverts or
cross drains should be placed wher-
ever water flows across the road. Tor
It is exceedingly important that the
sand on clay" roads be we'll drained.
After the clay on sand. or the sand
on clay road is completed, It should