The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1915-10-28
DOING EFFECTIVE
RURAL ROAD WORK
Suggestions to Rural Comrnuni-
ties For the Construction and
Maintenance of Roads.

That full value may be re.
ceived for the money appropria-
for road purposes and that the
best results obtainable may be
secured it is essential that the
right man shall be placed in
charge of road work. Heshould
be selected not only because he
actually knows more about
good roads than any other per-
son in the community, but also
because he can get the best re-
suits from the money! furnished.
1t is not sufficient, however, to
let the matter rest with the APP
pointment of a road overseer.
He should receive the whole
hearted support of the commu-
nifty, in the work. 1t should be
seen to that under the condi-
tons and with the money fur
nished the community is getting
what it has a right to expect in
the way of road improvement.
1t is we'll to remember that if
for any reason an incompetent
man is placed in charge of the
work the responsibility for fail
ure rests upon the community.
There should be no other con-
Hsideration, therefore, in select
ing a road overseer than that
Hof securing a man with the bill
ty to perform the duties requir-
ed. 1t should be realized that
good roads have much to do
with the property of a eommu-
nifty an that united action inthe
right direction is the surest and
quickest way to secure them.
| Where the road overseer has
had but little experiences in road
work, or where some new and
difficult problem is presented
to the experienced man, the Of
flee of Public Roads of the de-
partment of Agriculture, when
requested, will offer advice and
suggestions for carrying on the
work and how best to overcome
the difficulties.
TO secure a satisfactory road
of any type, it is absolutely nee
essary to remember: First,
drainage; second, drainage
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. AT
ter this fact is we'll understood,
two other requirements may be
taken up-the location of the
road and the reduction of
grades to general average of
five per cent.
With the exception of sandy
roads, which are easiest for
travelling when damp, all roads
must have proper side bitches
to carry away the surface wa
tier In order to lead thissurface
water to the ditch, the road sur
face must have a crown, or
rounded roof, highest in the
lcenter and sloping toward the
Eside bitches. A very easy and
satisfactory way to keep earth,
clay, and gravel roads crowned,
by the use of the split-log drag,
is explained in Farmers Bulle-
tin SGT, copies of which may be
Ilobtained upon application to
tthe department.
After the road has been
crowned and the crown is kept
in condition by the wise use of
the road drag, it should beseen
to that bitches are kept free
from weeds, ETC., and that they
are deep enough to carry off
the water which runs into them.
In most cases wide, shallow
ditch is best. Deep bitches are
dangerous to traffic. At spaces
of every few hundred feetalong
the roadway a culvert of some
kind should be placed to carry
away the water which has gath
cred in the bitches. = Extract