Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1916-04-07
How to Build and
Maintain Dirt Roads

ma ntenance of earth roads, es-
pecially those on heavy soils, is |
good drainage. So long as the
water can be kept from penetra-
ting deeply into these roads they
will remain at least fairly pass
able. To accomplish this on
average earth roads, however, is
far from easy. During the early
part OF this season of the year
rains are often of long duration
and tend to saturate the soil.
Water from melting SHOWS is
perhaps even more penetrating
than long-continued rains, while
alternate freezing and thawing
of the wet surface tends to in
crease the porosity of the soil and
permit even more ready access of
water into the foundation.
The chief attention of the
road man must therefore be di-
rected toward getting and keep
ing the water away from the
road. So long as the foundation
can be kept dry, even a heavy
freeze followed by a rapid thaw
will do little or no 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 susta n the
traffic without serious rutting.
On the other hand, a saturated
soil expands greatly OH freezing.
and when it thaws out has not
I lost practically ali power of sus-
tanning 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 main
tenance of earth roads requires,
therefore, first, preventive meas
ures, which must be taken the
previous fall or summer, so that
the road will go into winter prop
erly graded, we'll compacted, and
with good provisions for drain.
age; and, second, timely, contin.
uous, sy stematic, and intelligent
! attention throughout the winter
and spring.
1t is true that the only sensi.
BILE 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 g
long time to come. These roads,
however, need not become i'm.
passable mud lanes every winter
or spring. A certain amout OF
timely and intelligent attention
during the late winter and early
spring will yield results common
surate 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 to maintain any
of the high-class pavements. 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 a
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 a 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 fhis season