The Washington times., 1916-08-04
GOOD ROADS POSSIBLE
WITH A LITTLE CARE .
Uncle Sans Experts Declare
Judicious Grading Effective
on Highways.

Although It will be impracticable for
than a small per cent of the roads Of
the country with hard surfaces" said
the United States Office Of Public Roads
today. roads should not be neglected.
ana With little care In many cases
may be made adequate to the needs Of
Many country roads, the Government
experts said. may be greatly improved
by 1udicious grading and systematic
ima,htensnce; ~ IN. ss Frequently. especially
clay to the natural soil Of the road 10
all that Is necessary to make a road
sufficiently sanic good for all practical pur-
Thousands of miles OF roads that
meet the needs Of many localities as
well as would a more expensive type OF
contraction have been built in the South
at an average cost of $3.50 a mile" the
Rules for Earth Roads.
Earth roads should be at least twenty
feet wide and preferably twenty-four to
thirty feet: they should be crowned with
a rise OF one inch to the foot toward
dt,.nss the center; tsro,h they should have aide
bed should be raised above the general
level OF the country to secure drainage.
For grading and crowning the road, q
drag made Of the two halves Of a split
Is made by joining the halves in a ver-
teal position and attaching chains and
double-trees SO that when drawn by
horses Il moves along the road at an
the side Of the road. SO that the earth
may be directed toward the center.
The drag should be light enough to
be lifted by one man. Dry. red cedar 10
the best material for the drag, though
red elm and walnut are excellent. Soft
maple. elm. or willow are superior for
this purpose to oak. hickory. or ash. A
platform may be placed on the drag for
expensive. says the Government bureau,
and when used In conjunction with n
road machine. helps much toward tho
construction OF good road. Dragging
often costs but 80 cents a mile. A mile
OF road can be dragged In a few hours.
Sand Clay Road.
In constructing the sand clay road, q
sand road Is first shaped and then COW
cred with from four to six inches Of
| clay. The sand and clay are thoroughly
mixed with a tooth-harrow. first dry.
On a clay roadbed. the same process
| is followed with sand. except that the
clay should be well plowed up to in
sure a good mixture.
rainy weather. When the mixing has
| been completed. the road is brought to
| a crown Of one inch to the foot with q
split-log drag and covered with. thin
layer Of sand. After several rains, an.
| other layer of sand may be applied to
the surface.
The principal thing to be observed in
the construction Of the sand-clay road
| Is an even mixture Of the sand and the
clay. Joint" clays should not be used.
The sand should be coarse and sharp II
possible. Il,
In the gravel road the first layer Of
gravel. or coarser size. is laid over q
prepared roadbed Of earth to q depth
Of about four inches at the center and
three inches at the side. The second
course is put on two inches at the cen.
ter and about IN at the sidcs. The
whole should be well rolled and proper
bitches constructed at the sides.
Gravel for use In road construction
should be submitted to a road expert for
examination as to their fitness. Many
Eravels are wholly unsuited for the
| purpose.