The Republican journal., 1915-11-18
RURAL ROAD WORK.

ENeStlonS 10 Rural communities tor the
obstruction and Maintenance of Roads
EIbat full value may be received for
l money appropriated for road pur-
les and that the best results obtain
h may be secured it is essential that
right man shall be placed in charge
Rad work. He should be selected
only because he actually knows
Re about good roads than any other
sOn in the community, but also be-
gse he can get the best results from
money furnished. 1t is not sufficient,
sever, to let the matter rest with the
ointment of a road overseer. He
! sli receive the whole hearted support
&he community in the work. 1t should
seen to that under the conditions and
FL the money furnished the commun-
j lis getting what it has right to ex-
San the way of road improvement. 1t
We'll to remember that if for any rea-
an Incompetent man is placed in
srge of the work the responsibility for
] lure rests upon the community. There
Did be no other consideration, there
Il, in selecting road overseer than
Il of securing man with the ability
#terform the duties required. 1t should
Eealized that good roads have much to
#Eith the prosperity of community and
&umted action in the right direction
b. surest and quickest way to secure
here the road overseer has had but
Il experience in road work, or where
i new and difficult problem is pre-
&ed 10 the experienced man. the Of
u Of Public Roads and Rural Engineer
EOf the department, when requested,
81 offer advice and suggestions for car
6kg on the work and how best to over
II the difficulties.
secure satisfactory road of any
e 1t is absolutely necessary to re-
K1ber: First, drainage; second, drain
and third, drainage. The earth
y properly cared for. will answer
fl sactorily for the traffic of many
B sections that can not afford the
8 2r types of roads; but the earth road
be we'll drained. After this fact is
81 Understood, two other requirements
be taken up-the location of the
& and the reduction of grades to a
b aa average of 5 per cent.
Il th the exception of sandy roads,
a. are easiest for travelling when
r. all roads must have proper side
& hes to carry away the surface water.
rier to lead this surface water to
q ditch, the road surface must have
- or rounded roof, highest in the
St ter and sloping toward the side
Pies. A very easy and satisfactory
81 to keep earth, clay, and gravel
Sfs crowned, by the use of the split
itag, is explained in Farmers Bull
Il 597, copies of which may be obtain
pon application to the department.
&Eiter the road has been crowned and
n crown is kept in condition by the
Use of the road drag, it should be
to that bitches are kept free from
u.s. ETC., and that they are deep
agh to carry off the water which
unto them. In most cases a wide,
iow ditch is best. Deep bitches are
geFols to traffic. At spaces of every
hundred feet along the roadway a
Pert of some kind should be placed
srry away the water which has gath
IN the bitches.
road properly built generally will
have an average grade of more than
cent. By "per cent of grade" is
Ent the number of feet the road rises
Climbs" for every 100 feet of its
h On road of l per cent grade
lorses need pull the load up rise of
foot for every 100 feet they trav-
Il mas been found that where horse
pull full load on level ground;he is
10 pull only one-half THAT load on a
cent grade. and only one fourth
load on 10 per cent grade. More
must be made to and from market
road with just one bad hill in order
aal Just the same amount that can be
ca at one trip on level road.
aletin 220 of the Department of Ag-
lure contains pictures of small mod
ga good roads, some of which might
81 very helpful in understanding the
fuetion of a road. One model illus
Y the uses of the different kinds of
leg, culverts, etc. Another model
F' the relocation of a road. A steep
Y the old road has been avoided by
atng the road around the foot of
VII, saving the horses many hard
relocating the road may be ex-
ss at first cost, but very often re-
NE community many times over in
savlng of labor, time, horses, and
pnent.-U. S. Department of Agri-