The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1915-11-11
Rural Road Work

and that the best results oolalnaole
NAV be secured it is essential that the
right man shall be placed in charge
Of road work. He should be selected
not only because he actually knows
more about good roads than any other
person in the community, but also be
cause he can get the best results from
the money furnished. 1t is not suff
cient, however, to let the matter rest
with the appointment Of a road over
seer. He should receive the whole
hearted support Of the community
in the work. 1t should be seen to
that under the conditions and with
the money furnished the community
is getting what it has right to ex-
pect in a way Of road Improvement,
It isgwell to remember that if for any
reason an Incompetent man is placed
in charge OF the work the responsibility
for failure rests upon the community
There should be no other consiiera'
alton, therefore in selecting road
overseer than thot Of securing man
with the ability to perform the duties
required. 1t should be realized that
good roads have much to do with the
prosperity OF a community and that uni
ted action in the right direction is
the surest and quickest wav to secure
them.
Where the road overseer has had
but little experiende in road work, or
where some new and difficult problem
is presented to the experienced man
the Office OF Public Roads and Rural
Engineering Of the department, when
requested, will offer advice and sug
gestions for carrying on the work and
how best to overcome the difficulties.
To secure satisfactory road Of any
type, it is absolutely necessary to
remember; First, drainage; second,
dsainage; and third drainage. The
earth road, properly cared for, will
answer satisfactorily for the traffic OF
many rural sections that can not afford
the better types Of roads; but the earth
road must be well drained. After this
fact is we'll understood, two other re-
quirements may be taken up-the To-
cation OF the road and the reduction
OF grades to a general average Of per
cent. With the exception Of sandy
roads must have proper side bitches
TO carry away the surface water. In
order to lead this surface water TO the
ditch, the road Surface must have a
crown, or rounded roof, highest in the
center and sloping toward the side
bitches. A very easy and satisfactory
way TO keep earth, clay, and grave
roads crowned by the use Of the split
log drag, is explaided in Farmers
Bulletin 597, copies Of which may be
obtained upon application TO the de
partment.
After abe road has been crowned
and the crown is kept in condition BY
the wise use OF the road drag, it should
be seen TO that bitches are kept fret
from weeds, etc, and that they arr
deep enough to carry off the waite
which runs into them. In most case
a wide, shallow ditch is best. Deej
ditch are dangerous TO traffic. A
spaces Of every few hundred feet alon'
the road way culvert Of some kint
should be placed to carsy away tn
water which has gathered in the ditch
es.
A road properly built generally wi
rot have an average grade OF NOR
than S per cent. By per cent {
grade" is meant the number Of fee
the road rises or climbs" Ior ever
100 feet Of its length. On a road
per cent grade the horaes need pu
the load up rise Of only foot fc
every 100 feet they travel, 1t hs
been found rhat where eorse can pu
full load on level ground; he is acle |
pull only one half that load on a
per cent grade and only one .fourl
that load on a 10 per cent grad
More trips must be made to and fro
market on road with just one b;
a.1.. Ls..t .L