Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-23
SAND CLAY ROADS
IN STATES SOUTH
Popularity of Type Due to Its
Cheapness, Department of
Agriculture Finds.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 23.-There
are at present about $4,000 miles of
sand clay roads in the United States,
mainly in the southern states, accord
ing to the office OF public roads. United
States department of agriculture. The
time to work the roads is in the spring
when the soil is damp. IL the working
of the roads is deferred 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 lit
tie, If any, of these roads existed. The
popularity of this type of road is due to
the facts that it is cheap, compare
lively firm and durable, easy to con-
struct and repair. and that the ma
terials out of which il is built are plen-
tiful IN many sections of the country.
The sand clay road is made by mix
ing the sand and clay in such way
that the grains of sand touch each
other, the spaces between the grains
being filed with clay which acts as
binder
The approximate mixture of sand and
clay may be determined by filling yes
sci 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 it reaches
the point Of Overlooking. The volumes
of water moved from the second ves- !
sci represents approximately the pro- |
portion of clay needed.
The proper proportion of sand and
clay can best be determined, as the
work progresses, as some clay will con-
tain more sand than others. In fact,
clays are very frequently found which /
already contain about the right pro-
portion 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 surface and
spread. SO that it will be from
S to inches in depth at the center,
and gradually decreasing in depth to-
wards the sides. A layer of clean
sand is then usually added, which is
mixed with the clay, either
oy traffic or by means of plows and
iisk or tooth harrows.
The best results have been obtained
by thoroughly mixing or pudding the
materials when wet For this reason,
is desirable that the mixing be done
n wet weather. The mixing can be
eft to the traffic after the materials
lave been properly placed, but this in
-olves a whole winter and spring of
,ad road, and even then the mixing
S not always satisfactory. In all
ases il is advisable to dress the road
With road machine or split log drag
fter the materials have been thor
ughly mixed, and to give it crown
( not more than one inch or less than
hree-fourths inch to the foot from the
enter to the sides. A light coating
( sand may then be added. The use
Z the road machine or drag should be
ontiuued at frequent intervals until
ne surface is smooth and firm.
If the road to be treated is composed
I clay, il should first be brought to a
'ugh grade with a road machine. The Il
irface should then be plowed and 81
thoroughly pulverized by narrowing to
depth OF about four inches, after =.
hich II is given crown or slope OF -
,out one-half inch to the foot from
e center to the sides. 1t is then COW !.
ed with six. to eight inches of clean.
arp sand, which is spread thicker in -
e center than al the sides. The ma -
rails should then be mixed with -
ows and harrows while they are CON- -
dry, after which they are h.
Ially puddled with a harrow during -
It weather. If clay works to the sur =,
&c and the road becomes sticky, more -
nd should be added. 81,
The road is then shaped, crowned. ~
d ditched in the usual manner with
road machine. This should be done
len the surface is soft. yet stiff 20 20
ough to pack we'll under the roller or
: traffic. Wide but shallow bitches -.
ould be provided on both sides of -.