Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-12
COST AND LOCATION
OF EARTH ROADS.

The cost Of hauling over country roads
is largely determined by the size of the
load that can be hauled, the number OF
trips that can be made in a day and the
wear and tear on teams and equipment
according to the office of public roads.
department Of agriculture. Steep grades
as well as ruts and mud-holes serve to
decrease both the speed and the load.
On the principle that chain is no strong
er than it's weakest link the maximum
load that a team car draw Is the load
that 1t can draw UP the steepest hill or
through the deepest mud-hole on that
road.
Wherever possible roads should be To-
Gated on straight lines between terminal
points. In hily or mountainous coun-
try, however, the attempts to keep roads
straight between terminals often leads
to the serious error of heavy grades
Straightness and grade must therefor.
be handled together. The best location
Is one which is straight in general direc-
ton is free from steep grades is locat.
ed on solid ground and serves the larg.
est possible number of people. Road,
should be located for the benefit Of the
public as we'll as the private landowner
The elimination of one or two steet
hills on line Of road will frequently
enable horses to draw three or four times
as much as they could draw on the old
road 1t takes approximately four times
as much power to draw loads up 10 per
cent, grades 90 feet vertical in 100 feet
horizontally as on level, but on a four
per cent or five per cent. grade
horse can usually draw (for a short ume)
as much as he can draw on a level A
four per cent grade Is therefore consid-
cred the maximum on roads subject to
heavy hauling. Many steep grades may
be avoided by locating the road around
instead of over the hill-the handle Of
the bucket is no longer when held In a
horizontal position than In a vertical.
BY going around we avoid two steep
hills.
If the road must pass up a steep hill
or mountain sides, the steepness Of the
| grade may be decreased by increasing the
| length of the road. In other words. elm
mate steep grades by locating the road
on curved or zigzag lines. and not in
straight line from the bottom to the top
OF the hill, These curves should be care
fully plotted and the straight stretches
:
proves tho looks Of the road and does
not add materially to its cost.
In Studying the relation Of grade to
distance the following calculation Is In
tercstine: To VT ton one foot high
requires 1000 foot pounds OF energy; on .
road II" surface Of which Offers 100
pounds OF traotive resistance per ton .hs
same energy would roll the ton a hori-
zontal distance OF 20 feet. To save ons
foot OF grade the road may therefore IS
heightened 20 feet.
Roads should re,cr DC located so o.ce1
TO strsanl beds as TO be subject to over
Aow. or on ground which is constantly
damn and nrSyxhy.
The earth road should have 1T ieasl
six hours OF sunshine each day. This car
be secured either by locating the road
with southern or western oS?usure. or by
having Such brush and trees AS impede
! the, dryins action o, the sun and wine
this il rot 20 ne ss.ary, as a cer.ail
amount OF moisture $ reeded on suct
roads, especially in the summer time
/ Relooatin. roads is rot an .nginea ~.
problem alone. Or- must so conAdei
, the effect of the road on hose who nov
live upon it. Many farmers dislike q
! have the road placed IN !. of their hor.
, or out of sight OF L.. II requires tscI
and good Judgment to secure a suitsbl
location without aronsng marsh antas
onism.