Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-11-04
REGARDING ROADS IN WINTER

Washington, D. c., Water, not
cold, is the cause of the deterioration
of roads in winter, according to the
road specialists of the United States
Department of Agriculture. 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 al
| ways detrimental to highway.
When cold weather turns this water
into ice, the damage that it does is
greatly increased. Ice occupies con-
Sideiubly 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
"A confined vessel. The same action
takes place when a 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 disintcgJ'ated and ruts badly. If
this process is repeated number of
times during the winter, Il gravel or
macadam road may be practically de-
stroyed, while an earth road may be-
come entirely impossible.
A dry road will not heave. Rock,
gravel, sand, and even clay when per-
fectly dry contract slightly on freeZ-
/ In, n,.la,. +A Fran,;,pr
these materials must contain or be
mixed with water, and the more water
they contain the greater the eXpan-
sion which takes place. But so long
as the road remains frozen, the
damage does not become apparent,
Hence the frequent and erroneous
idea that il 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-broker
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 70 melt and assume it's original
volume as water.
The remedy is Self evident Keer
the water out of the road. The time
to begin preventive measures is earl!
in the fall, before the rains begin. II
the road goes into the winter thoro.
ughly dry with the surface ana
drainage in good condition, the
chances are extremely favorable thai
it will come out all right the follow
ing spring.
Keep the bitches and drains open
Remove all accumulations of weeds
grass, etc. which tend to retair
moisture and o5struct drainage
Furthermore, do this work early
while the ground is still dry and hard
Vegetation and litter hold water like
a sponge and allow it gradually t.
soak in and soften the earth. The
job before the road man is to keep the
hard dry surface formed in thu
summer time from becoming softenet
by the fall and winter rains ant
SHOWS. When the fall rains begir
the earth or gravel road should b.
dragged frequently to prevent th'
formation of ruts and the collection
of water. All travelled places oil
macadam surfaces should be CAREFUL!
filled in and consolidated.
During the winter, whenever ;
thaw is coming on, the cross drains
and side bitches should be opened III
as far as possible. so as to preven
water collecting along the roadway
II the thaw is so pronounced that th
roadway is softened, the drag shoult
be used; sometimes one-round trip o
the drag, with the hitch reversed, viii
entirely rid the earth road of slusi
and melting snow and leave the roa'
surface practically dry. Don't get tn
idea that the drag is not needed c'
your earth and gravel roads in th'
winter time. Instead, keep it wher
you can get at it readily, for if tn,
winter is an ordinary one you will
need it many times.
Winter destruction begins in tn
early fall. The best way to preven
such destruction is to forestall il
Keep the road dry, and remember tha
so long as it remains so, it will no
e seriously injured by frost. Keel
the drains open, the ditches clear
remove all vegetation and litter, am