New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-04-05

by rapid thaw will do little or no, real
damage to the road surface. A dry soil
does not ~heave. The foundation will
therefore still be solid, and the road will
be able to sustain the traffic Without
serious rutting. On the other hand, a
saturated soil expands greatly on freezing,
and when it thaws out has not only lost
practically all power of sustaining the
weight of traffic, but also is in an ideal
condition for taking up or absorbing still
more water, and thus forming still more
mud. The spring maintenance of earth
roads requires, therefore, first, preven-
tive measures, which must be taken the
previous fall or summer, so that the road
will 60 into winter properly graded, well
compacted, and with good provisions for
drainage; and, second, timely, con-
tinuous, systematic, and intelligent at
tention throughout the winter and spring.
Spring Work Pays.
It is true that the only sensible: and
really economical thing to do with earth
roads on which the traffic has reached a
certain volume is to hard surface them.
But the larger part of our earth roads
must remain such for long time to
come. These roads, however, need not
become impossible mud lanes every
winter or spring: A certain amount of;
timely and intelligent attention during
the late winter and early spring will yield.
results commensurate with the cost.
We must also learn that it requires as
great, if not greater, skill and experience
to maintain an earth road properly as Ito
maintain any of the high-class; pave
ments. The fundamental principles of
earth road maintenance are few. and not,
difficult, but to carry out these principles
under the almost infinite variations Of
conditions with which the road man finds
himself confronted requires high degree
of intelligence, skill, and experience.
Not until we realize these facts and put
them into practical application will we
have the earth roads which it is possible
for us to have.
During the early part of the season, as
long as the weather is very rainy or there
is melting snow on the ground, it will pay
to have the road man go over the road
daily to see that the drains and side
| bitches do not become clogged and to
note the need of any necessary, repairs.
A few minutes work with a. shovel may
prevent serious washout or damage
| which, If not promptly checked, might
make the road practically impossible.
The road drag or some other similar
device finds its greatest usefulness during
this season. 1t may be used to good ad-
| vantage to clear the roadway of slush
and melting snow and so. prevent this
water from soaking into and softenine
the subgrade. To fill ruts, smooth the
surface, and maintain the crown Of the
road, the drag is unexcelled when in the
hands OF a skilled operator: An un'
skilled man may do more harm than good
Furthermore, the actual condition of the
road during this period will depend very
largely on the knowledge Of the road
man as to just when to drag, as we'll al
his skill in the operation OF the nipple:
ment.
In addition to the maintenance, pro.
vision should be made for doing all neces.
sary grading or earth work as early in The
spring as possible in order that it may be.
come thoroughly consolidated before, the
dry weather of summer. If the work is
done too late, the road, will not only
probably become very dusty in dry
weather but will need additional atten.
ton later in the fall. Where the soil i
heavy clay or gumbo the condition of the
road may be very materially improved
by adding sand from time to time as that
already on the road is worked in by the
passing traffic and the drag, ..
Only rarely do our earth roads, even
when neglected, become equally bad Owe,
their entire length. Most frequently the
really bad places are confined to com.
paratively short sections, while the re:
mainder of the road is fairly passable
An examination Of the worst will usually
show that the drainage, either surface Of
underground, is seriously at fault. The
troubles can be remedied by providing
the necessary s1rairaoa and ~ nearly
every case could have been prevented by
q comparatively small amount Of, timely
and properly directed. attention. The
lesson is obvious. systematically or
ganized and properly directed mainte
nance throughout al seasonsis our only
guaranty Of fstirly passable earth roads
during DUR the spring: Of the year.