The Harrison times., 1915-05-08
WINTER ROAD WORK NEEDED
Many Little Improvements That Can
Be Made Which Will Combine
to Improve Conditions,

American farmers seem to lose sight
Of the fact that our roads are tray
eled and cut up by man and beast ana
washed full Of bitches by the elements
for twelve months every season, while
the period during which there is any
improvement along the highways
covers but onehalf that length Of time
perhaps less than that
Is 1t any wonder that our road sys'
tenn improves SO slowly under such
conditions? Winter road work Is Of
vital importance. or course we can
not get out and dig, plow scrape and
grade in sections where the ground Is
frozen, but there are many little I'm,
provcments that can be made which
will combine to establish more favor
able conditions, both during the winter
and when the time comes for more
active work next season.
Sometimes It is a strip Of brush or
shrubbcry along the fence that ought
to be removed, but I'm any event they
must be got rid Of hence they In
addition to the above detrimcnt, prove
a nuisance to the travelling public in
the summer by shutting off the air
when the days grow sweterng Then,
too the drying effect Of the sun and
wind Is shut out from the roadbcd and
this also Yields a most detrimental In.
Auence on the condition Of the roads.
But one must exercise good judg.
ment in the disposition Of brush grow
ing along the road II the drain ditch
on each side Of the track Is somewhat
deep, toss the brush into 1t till It Is
the proper depth for good drainage,
and to prevent further wash then
throw In no more.
II the ditch Is about the right depth
at the start, keep all the brush out Of
It 80 that ample drainage Is certain,
Bear In mind that correct drainage Is
the most important factor TO be CON
sIdcrod - the maintenance Of good
roads. A firm, compact roadbed can.
not exist where water settles on the
surface or soaks into the soil and re.
mains there
Then, many bridges get In bad re.
pair during the winter months, A
board or two may be loo9cnod or Il
treachorous hole may be- just right
for ono or both Of the horses to step
foot into It md break a bone. By
Reening an eye on these places, one
win be- enabled to repair them Just
before they become dangerous, which
win holp TO distribute the road work
through the whole year Instead Of
only six months NJ q time, 0S well ag
arranging 20 tha' all Of the labor may
be M nearly cleaned up as possible
when the spring comes Then real i'm.
proycmcnt Of the road may be carried
on Nt once, without any preparatory
or repair work being done,
The most important thing that must
be kept constantly In mind Is that Of
dragging the roads whenever praclica.
bic In winter. or course we cannot
make use Of the drag every day, but
there are days when the slight thaw,
Ing again begins to freeze on the sur
face Of the earth, the dirt IL brittle
enough to be moved and yet II will
not roll or clog up on tho drag. This
IL when the roNd reaches Its worst
stage through being cut up by travel
and II II IL loft IN thla condition II
freezes that way making II rough and
rutty tIll It thaws out the folGw'og
day
Wording down with the drag VIII
brush of and crush the clod8 and the
high places, 0llmg mp low and mDy
spots leaving Tive roNdbod smooth and
more compact The ground then
freezes up before II IL cut un much
more by travel and thus Jho uNrl. will
hn smoother and easter lhnu If allowed
to rrco,o up Just og the whole day'a
travel left II.
Any snow or rain that fulH ON "A
stretch Of road thus treated with the
drag win have no Wts ana low place.
to retain the wAlor md make the
roadbod SOFT yielding and dIrculD 10
drain or dry of
Fupalah Huaz. etuH