The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-03-11
Construction of Earth Roads
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soils differ FOR agricultural purposes.
30 they differ for roads, SAYS the
roads expert at the department of
agriculture. Clay or soils of fine
texture usually make poor roads. es-
peciaily IL they contain much vcgct-
able matter. The coarser soils. how
cvcr. which contain some sand or
gravel VIII often make very salts.
factory roads Tor light traffic provid-
ed they are kept in proper repair.
II The rnad is composed of fine
clay or ~oiI. u VIII sometimes pay TO
resurfaoc Il with top soil from an ID
jaccnt field. which has sand or gravel
miNed with II. This method. called
the top-soil method. Is now in sue
cessful use m Virginia. North Caro-
lima and Georgia and probably other
states.
n earth road can hest be crown
"a and ditchcd with "A road machine.
and not with picks and shoveis.
scoops and pluws ono road mas
chino with "a suitable power. and op-
orator. viii DO the work 90 many
men with picks and shovels. and do
~ letter
The road machine should Doc used
when the SOL b. damp, so as Co make
The soil bake whe IL dries out. lf
d D. worked dry, 30 takes more power
10 draw the machine. aud besides.
dry earth and dust retain moisture
nnd quickly rut after rains The use
at ciods. sods weeds or vegetable
matter In building earth Dads should
be avoided because they ais retain
moisture.
u b. % great mistake to put the
working Of the earth off until Au-
gust or September The surface ia
then baked dry and hard u b. not
only difficult To work bur ID b. I'M
satisfactory as long "a the dry
weather htsts and then turn Ia mud
zee soon as the rains begin. By using
the road machine in the spring OF
the year while the soil il soft and
damp, h surface Is more easily
shaped aHd soon packs down Into 4
airy hard crust which is less liable
TO become dusty in summer or mud
oy In winter.
Storm water should he disposed of
quickly before u has time To- pcne-
tratc deeply INTO the %surfuco. This
can bee done hy giving the road "a
crovn OF slope from the center To
the FideE For an earth road which
h 20 Get wide thc center should b.
not lcss than ELK inches nor moro
than ~ inches higher than the cut
~ edges of he shoulders 4 mar
row road which is too high m the
Middle VIII become ruttod almost az
quickly us one which In too fla for
tho rcas8n that on the narrow road
an the Traffic Is forced to use only
a narrow strip.
Shoulders are often formed on
both sides of the road which prevent
storm water frnm flowing into side
bitches. retaining a IN the ruts and
foficning he roadway. These rnts
and shoulders can be- entirely elimin-
aied with the road machine or split
log drag
ordinarily the only bitches needed
are those made with the road ma
chine. Wlach are Wild and shallow.
Deep, narrow bitches wash rapidly.
especially on steep slopes which h.
another good reason Tor decreasing
tho stcepneas ~ the grades II lA
difficult 10 maintain an earth road.
or any kind OF rogd for that matter.
on 3 steep grade
The width OF the earth road vii.
depend on the tame A. a rule. rs
or 10 feet FROM ditch TO ditch q sur.
nclenti " .ae road h. property
crowne A road that h.
than 20 feet n difflcult to maintain
for the above stated reason that on
narrow roads the teams are more apt
20 track than on "a wider road cann.
ing "a Ia n subjected Ca heavy
hauling.
The rond should not be- looscned.
dug or plowcd up any more than h.
absolutely necessary The road
should be- gradually raised not low
cred. hardened. not softencd.
an fiat lands. where water moves
slowly, efoding material should Do
taken from the lower ditch and cuI-
Nerts supplied where waterways oc-
or. A shallow ditch on the upper
side makes u possible a. give culYertA
q good fall Two or more small
nlfeH ipsioai ~ cue large one ~