The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-11-06
WINTER CARE OF ROADS.

Water, not cold, is the cause of the
deterioration Of roads in winter, &C
cording to the road specialists of the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture. Cold weather does not in itself
injure roads, no matter whether they
are earth, gravel, or macadam. In fact,
an earth road will stand more traffic
when it is solidly frozen than at any
other time. Excess water, however, is
always detrimental to a highway. When
cold weather turns this water into ice,
the damage that it does is greatly in
creased. Ice occupies considerably
more space than the water from which
it is formed, and every person who has
lived in cold climate is familiar with
the powerful bursting effect Of water
when left to freeze in confined vessel.
The same action takes place when
wet road freezes to any considerable
depth. 1t simply bursts, or, as we
generally term it in road parlance, the
road heaves Later, when the frost
leaves, the road is disintegrated and
ruts badly, If this process is repeated
a number of times during the winter,
Ia gravel or macadam road may be
practically destroyed, while an earth
road may become entirely impossible.
A dry road will not heave. Rock,
gravel, sand, and even clay when per-
fectly dry contract slightly on freeZ-
| ing In order to expand on freezing,
these materials must contain or be
mixed with water, and the more water
they contain the greater the expansion
which takes place. But SO long as the
road remains frozen the damage does
not become apparent. Hence the fire.
lquent and erroneous idea that it is the
thaw which Injuries the road. The
injury was done when the water in the
road froze and the particles of the
road. surface-hroken stone, sand, or
still finer particles of earth or clay
were pushed apart by the expanding
power of the freezing water The thaw
merely allows the ice to melt and
assume it's original volume as water.
The remedy is selfevident. Keep
the water out of the road. The time to
begin preventive measures is early In
the fall, before the rains begin. II the
road goes into the winter thoroughly
dry, with the surface and drainage in
good condition, the chances are ex-
tremely favorable that it will come out
all right the following spring.
Keep the bitches and drains open.
Remove all accumulations of weeds,
grass, ETC., which tend to retain mois-
ture and obstruct drainage. Further
more, do this work early, while the
ground is still dry and hard. Vegeta-
ton and litter hold water like sponge
and allow it gradually to soak in and
soften the earth. The job before the
road man is to keep the hard, dry
surface formed in the summer time
from becoming softened by the fall and
winter rains and SHOWS. When the
fall rains begin the earth or gravel
road should be dragged frequently to
prevent the formation Of ruts and the
collection of water. All raveled places
on macadam surfaces should be care
fully filed in and consolidated.
During the winter, whenever thaw
is coming on, the cross drains and side
bitches should be opened up as far as
possible so as to prevent water collect
ing along the roadway. If the thaw is
so pronounced that the roadway is
softened, the drag should be used;
sometimes one round trip of the drag,
with the hitch reversed, will entirely
, rid the earth road of slush and melting
snow and leave the road surface prac-
tically dry. Don't get the idea that
, the drag is not needed on yoru earth
and gravel roads in the winter time.
, Instead, keep it where you can get at
it readily, for If the winter is an ordi-
} nary one you will need it many times.
r Winter destruction begins in the early
fall. The best way to prevent such
r destruction is to forestall It. Keep the
t road dry and remember that SO long as
1t remains so it will not be seriously
! injured by frost. Keep the drains open,
the bitches clear, remove all vegetation
q and litter, and use the drag frequently.
D If the road is kept dry to depth Of
G two feet below the surface there will be
i. little trouble from the coolest winter.