Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-12-03
v 0opsToCK, VIRGINIA.
RI AY. DECEMBER 3. 1915
BAU SPOTS IN ROADS.

C-Hpol dly iVpdilS ~ loduS
are, al least should be, confined
10 emergency measures. In pro-
portion to the results obtained,
temporary work is always ex-
rensive and is never justified by
rdinary conditions. Unusual
conditions. however, often occur
t plague the road man. For
,xample, the closing of main
Highway to traffic becaus OF
construction, repair, or washouts
rlay suddenly throw a heavy
attic for a short time on little
ed and probably unimproved
yway. Clearly, in such case
temporary expedients are legiti-
III tie.
The most common troubles
met with in a case of this kind
are mudlIoles and ruts if the soil
is heavy, and dust and loose
s,nd if the soil is light or sandy.
On clay or gumbo road mud
holes usually cause the most
tr 'uble. AS water is absolutely
IL cessary for the existence of
inudnole. any trea tment, Whetht r
temporary or permanent in
character, must provide for get
ting rid Of the water. The first
step is, therefore, to dig trench
to he side and allow the water
and mud to drain. If necessary,
ooen up also the Size bitches.
Furthermore. remove all of the
# n,u left in the mudhole. I'll
bottom of the trench should bt
filled with broken stone or coarst
gravel so as to provide a drail
to prevent any further accumula-
t on of water. Gravel is the best
material for filling the old mud
hole. If gravel is not availa bic,
Use the best earth at humid, lamp
ing it down in 3 or inch layers.
| possible, spread little gravel
or said over the new fill. which
should be made slightly highe r
than the adjoining road surface.
The best Urea tment of all, how
ev~r, is to keep the drainage in
god condition. Serious mud
holes will then rarely develop.
Don't try to fill a mudho'e
W tEIout first draining out the
water and removing the soft
mud. Don't try to fill it wi h
Large stones. because if this is
done there will soon be two mud.
holes instead of one. Don't try
to fill mudhole with sods OF
similar material which absorb
water readily.
On an earth or gravel 70; d
rutS are best treated with tie
Dig. Don be afraid of drag O.
gag too often during a rain,
spell. If a thin coat of sand or
gravel be spread over the road
surface when it has been softer
ed by rain and then worked in
BY ira ffiC and liberal use of the
drag, poor earth road can b.
mach improved and made to
Garry surprisingly heavy traffic
for a short time.
In contrast to the ay or
gumbo road. the sand ROAD Ives |
least trouble during wet wea ther. |
On sandy roads anything tia
will prevent the free movemen'
Of the sand particles will be o
value AS long as the road i, |
da mp, the surface tension C tn,
capillary water acts as bind,
and holds the separate grains {
sand in place. A II efforts should.
therefore. be directed toward |
preventing the sandy places from
drying out, or to adding some
binder. The addition of CLAW
furnishes PCS tive binder and
is really the best ard most per-
manent treatment. The addition
Of any fibrous material such as
straw, spent ian bark, sage |
brush, or pine needles is of value
al d, when spread on the road |
ard covered with thin coat of |
sand or allowed to work into tile |