The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-11-04
WINTER CARE OF ROADS
Keep bitches and Drains Open and
Use Road Drag 10 Prevent Injury
by Freezing Weather.

utWFiofatlon OF FoAuS IN winter, ae
cording 10 the road specialists Of tn
department Cold weather does not /
itself injure roads, no matter whethe
they are earth gravel, or maeadan
In fact, an earth road will stand NOR
traffic when il is solidly frozen than a
any other time Excess water, how
ever, is always detrimental 20 high
way When cold weather turns thi
water into ice, the damage that it doe
is greatly increased. Ice occupies con
siderably more space than the waite
from which it is formed, and ever.
person who has lived in a cold climat
is familiar with the powerful bursting
effect of water when left TO freeze il
a confined vessel. The same actor
takes place when a wet road freeze
TO any considerable depth. 1t simpl,
bursts, or, as we generally term il il
road parlance, the road heaves. Later
when the frost leaves, the road is dis
integrated and ruts badly. If thi:
process is repeated number of times
during the winter, gravel or macad.
am road may be practically destroyed
while an earth road may become en-
tirely impossible.
A dry road will not heave. Rock
gravel, sand, and even clay when per-
fectly dry contract slightly on freez-
ing. In order to expand on freezing,
these materials must contain or be
mixed with water, and the more water
they contain the greater the expansion
which takes place. But so long as the
road remains frozen the damage does
not become apparent Hence the fire.
quent and erroneous idea that it is the
thaw which Injuries the road. The in
jury was done when the water in the
road froze and the particles of the
road surface-broken 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 TO melt and
assume its original volume as water.
The remedy is self-evident. Keep
the water out of the road. The time
to begin preventive measures is early
in the fall, before the rains begin. If
the road goes into the winter thor
oughly dry, with the surface and
drainage in good condition, the
chances are extremely favorable that
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 retain mois-
ture and obstruct drainage. Further
more, do this work early, while the
ground is still dry and hard. Vegeta-
ton and litter hold water like
sponge and allow it gradually to soak
in and soften the earth The job be
fore the road man is to keep the hard,
dry surface formed in the summer
time from becoming softened by the
fall and winter rains and SHOWS.
When the fall rains begin the earth or
gravel roads should be dragged fire.
luently to prevent the formation If |
ruts and the collection of water. All |
graveled places on macadam surfaces
should be carefully filled in and CON
,olidated.
During the winter, whenever thaw
S coming on, the cross drains and side
litches should be opened up as far as
possible so as to prevent water col
Getting along the roadway. If the
haw is so pronounced that the road
way is softened, the drag should be
Ised, sometimes one round trip of the
rag, with the hitch reversed, will
ntirely rid the earth road Of slush
nd melting snow and leave the road
urface practically dry. Don't get the
1ea that the drag is not needed on
our earth and gravel roads in the
inter time. Instead, keep it where
on can get at it readily, for if the
inter is an ordinary one you will
eed it many times.
Winter destruction begins in the
arly fall. The best way to prevent
UGH destruction is to forestal it.
,eep the road dry and remember that
0 long as it remains so it will not
e seriously injured by frost. Keep
he drains open, the bitches clear, re-
rove all vegetation and litter, and
Sc the drag frequently. If the road
kept dry to depth Of two feet
Glow the surface there will be little
.ouble from the coolest winter
Weekly News Letter.
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