The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-07-13
KEEPING ROADS SMOOTH.
Some Suggestions By American Highway
Association.

| The traffic ON earth and gravel roads
has constant tendency to develop ruts,
chuck holes and depressions. The chief
aim and purpose of road maintenance is
to prevent and remedy this destructive
action. To be successful and efficient,
road maintenance must be systematic
and continuous. Haphazard work i ex-
pensve and unsatisfactory.
If the road is very rough and uneven
or the crown very low, the road machine
or grader is very efficient for placing il
in shape. One must guard, however,
against the all too common practice of
scraping the sod and other vegetable mat
ter and refuse from the sides and bitches
onto the road. In general, on the clay
and heavy soil roads all vegetable or
spongy material should be carefully ex-
cluded. Such materials absorb moisture
readily and furnish but little resistance
against wear. The road surface should
be built up with the best material pos
sible-material which will pack and con
solidate under traffic and which will be
as nearly waterproof as possible and
will wear uniformly.
In general, the road machine or grader
should be used in the spring of the year
when the ground is moist and in such
condition that it will work easily and at
the same time pack well under passing
traffic. Considerable skill and Judgment
is required to use the road grader to the
best advantage. An unskilled and care
less operator will sometimes actually
leave the road in worse condition than
when he began work. Do not serape sod
and refuse into the road. Good earth
is far better, as it will not decay nor alb
sorb moisture so readily. De not be
guilty of the too common practice of
leaving a windrow OF clods or lose earth
along the middle of your road TO impede
traffic and absorb water at the first rain.
Leave the roads smooth over the entire
surface and traffic will spread and be
less likely TO produce ruts. Always use
the grader in such a way as to make
the road better and not worse for the
passing traffic.
When the road has been placed in good
condition as to crown and smoothness,
he road drag is the best tool for main
aiming il in that condition. Drag the
Dad after each rain while the surface is
till moist but not sticky. Use light
lrsg and move only very little earth
ust sufficient 10 ill the ruts and de-
'ressions and leave a slight surplus IL
he crown is low. Ride on the drag and
hift YOUR position according TO the
mount Of earth necessary TO be moved.
I the rain has been of long duration 10
nav be advisable TO drag the road twice;
rst very soon after the rain and again
rhen the CLAY is driving out or beginning
0 set.
Do not drag dry road. Successful
Raging is dependent on certain
mount OF water or moisture IN the road
nrface. Practically all claws and most
pills. II not too sandy, will puddle II
'orked when wet. and on drying out
in set very hard. The drag in connec-
on with traffic Is essentially a pudding
lachine. which. when properly usea,
'aves the road surface crowned and
,vercd with a smooth layer Of puddled
"a densely packed soil. This LAYER Is
nearly imper,ious 10 water A. il Is
,ssible to make il. Following rains
I'd little or no place for lodgment. as
IL water quickly runs of TO the side
tches. Unless the rain is long contin-
a tho road surface j. not softencd 10
y great depth The prompt use Of the
az after each rain leaves the surface
iooth and ready 20 Withstand the next
orm.
Therefore. 10 make your road smooth.
r a road machine Or grader 20 put u
proper shape IN the spring IF the
ar. To keep vour road smooth. use
. road drag judiciously after each
in. This uifl Keep an earfa Or gravel
ID IN the beet shape in which 4 y
ssibls to maintain i throughout IRE
a. uEnE4rLf