Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-01-07
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ROADS r
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WINTER ROAD WORK NEEDED
Many Little Improvements That Can
Be Made Which viii Combine
to Improve Conditions.

American farmers seem to lose sign!
of the fact that our roads are traV'
eled and cut up by man and beast ana
washed full of bitches by the elements
for twelve months every season, while
the period during which there Is any
improvement along the highways
covers but one-half that length OF time
perhaps less than that.
10 It any wonder that our road sys'
TEN improves so slowly under such
conditions? Winter road work Is OF
vital Importance. OF course we can
not get out and dig pillow, scrape and
grade in sections where the ground Is
frozen but there are many little I'M
provements that can be made which
will combine to establish more favor
able conditions, both during the winter
and when the time comes for more
active work next season.
Sometimes it Is strip OF brush or
shrubbery along the fence that oush'
to be removed but In any event they
must be got rid Of, hence they. In
addition to the above detriment, prove
q nuisance to the travelling public In
the summer, by shutting off the air
when the days grow sweltering. Then,
too, the drying effect Of the sun and
wind is shut out from the roadbed and
this also Yields a most detrimental in
huence on the condition OF the roads
But one must exercise good juds-
ment in the disposition Of brush grow
ing along the road II the drain ditch
on each side OF the track Is somewhat
deep, toss the brush into It till 1t Is
the proper depth for good drainage.
and to prevent further wash; then
throw in no more.
II the ditch is about the right depth
at the start. keep all the brush out OF
It 80 that ample drainage Is certain
Bear in mind that correct drainage is
the most important factor to be con-
sdered in the maintenance OF good
roads. A firm compact roadbed can
not exist where water settles on the
surface or soaks into the soil and re-
mains there.
Then, many bridges get In bad re-
pair during the winter months. A
board or two may be ioosened or a
treacherous hole may be just right
for one or both OF the horses to step
a foot into 1t and break bone. Bv
keeping an eye on these places. one
will be enabled to repair them Just
before they become dangerous, which
will help to distribute the road work
through the whole year. instead Of
only six months at time, as well az
arranging so that all Of the labor may
be as nearly cleaned up as possible
when the spring comes. Then real i'm
provement of the road may be carried
on at once. without any preparatory
or repair work being done.
The most important thing that must
be kept constantly In mind Is that OF
dragging the roads whenever practica
BILE In winter. or course we cannot
make use OF the drag every day, but
there are days when the slight thaw
ing again begins to freeze on the sur
face of the earth, the dirt Is brittle
enough to be moved and yet 1t will
not roll or clog up on the drag. This
Is when the road reaches its worst
stage through being cut up by travel
and II It Is left in this condition II
freezes that way. making 1t rough and
rutty till It thaws out the following
day.
Working down with the drag will
brush off and crush the clods and the
high places filling up low and rutty
spots, leaving the roadbed smooth and
more compact The ground then
freezes up before It Is cut up much
more by travel. and thus the track will
be smoother and easier than II allowed
to freeze up just as the whole days
travel left It.
Any snow or rain that falls on
stretch of road thus treated with the
drag will have no ruts and low places
to retain the water and make the
roadbed soft, yielding and difficult to
drain or dry off.