The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-12-23
LOCATION OF PRIVATE
ROADS ON THE Farm

fer in general from the public road
only in the amount and kind of traf
fic which they carry. The funda
mental principles involved in thei
construction and maintenance are tn,
4 same. But, as the farm road il
called on to bear far less traffic, thu
ordinary methods of construction ant
maintenance are so modified and tn,
use of materials so adapted as Il
meet the special requirements anC
reduce the cost. To build the farm
roads in the same manner as public
thoroughfares, which carry mucl
greater traffic, in general would be {
useless waste of money.
The first consideration is the loca
ton of the roads and paths about the
farm. The roads and paths are 0
part of the permanent farm plant
Consequently they should be so loca,
/ ted as to best serve the purpose fol-
which they are intended, should fiji
in with the general scheme of the
farm, and at the same time should
avoid as much as possible places
which would require difficult and ex
pensive construction or maintenance
The main consideration, however
must be to secure the highest degree
of efficiency from the farm plant as
a whole.
The earth road is the most com
mon type of farm road and will
probably so remain. When properly
crowned, drained, and maintained
with the split-log drag or other SINH
lar device, the earth road, on all but
few exceptional soils or in a few
places Immediately around the farm
lots and buildings, can be made to
answer the requirements fairly well.
A little grading will in general give
the earth road crown sloping from
the center toward the side bitches at
a rate of about inch to the foot, and
side bitches of sufficient size to carry
away the storm water can usually be
constructed without difficulty. If the
ground is springy the side bitches
may be made deeper, or the ground
water may be carried away by tile
drains.
The fundamental requirement of an
earth road is always good drainage.
This involves, first, the removal of
the water which reaches the surface
of the road from precipitation or 9TH
erwise; and second, in certain places
the removal of any ground water
which reaches the road from under
ground seepage. Surface drainage is
accomplished by securing a reason
ably firm crowned roadway and pro-
viding bitches of sufficient size and
with ample grade and frequent out
lets. Sub-drainage to remove the wa
ter from beneath the road surface or
to prevent its passage into the road
bed is usually accomplished most eff
fectively by so-called blind drains or
by means of properly located tile
drains.
Roadsa nd drives Immediately
around the farm yards and barns
which are used very frequently are
usually of sufficient Importance to
warrant some surface improvement.
Very light or exertmely sandy soils
cut up badly in dry weather, while
certain heavy and absorbent soils
become very sticky and soft during
the rainy season. Where any con-
siderable amount of hauling is neces-
sary, roads over soils of this charac-
ter may require to be surfaced.
Many of the materials ordinarily
in road construction will
be found too expensive for use in
the farm roads. One or
more of the following will, however,
usually be found available and with
in the means of the farmer for sur
facing his roads and paths; Gravel,
mixtures of sand and clay, cinders,
brickbats from old buildings, brick
yard waste, and quarry waste. The
selected should, however,
be hard enough to withstand crush
ing under heavy loads and possess
sufficient binding power to compact
well and maintain a firm, hard sur
face under all ordinary weather con-
ditions.
Drainage and a good foundation !
are the first considerations in inn
a road with a hard surface
The best pissible foundation is a
good earth road with a low crown.
Earth shoulders may be graded upon
each side to prevent the surfacing
material from spreading, as in the
of an ordinary macadam
road. The material used for surfac-
ing should be placed in a uniform
layer or layers on this foundation
and should be given sufficient crown
10 shed the rain waters to the sides.
If a road roller can be secured the
may be quickly consolida-
ed, otherwise considerable time will
be required for it TO be consolidated
~ the traffic. During this process