Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-09-27
WINTER CARE OF ROADS.



Use Road Drag.
FSom Weekly yess Lssier. Gated States De-
pavfrens Of Acyieuissvs-i
Water, not cold, is the cause OF the dets-
riorstion OF roads in winter. according to
road specialists OF the department.. sCoid
weather does mot in itself iniure roads, no
matter whether they are earth, gravel OF
macadam. In fact, an earth road will stand
more traffic hen it is soiidly frozen than
ut any other time. Excess water, however,
is aiwa. detrimental to- highway. When
cold weather turns this water into ice, the
ds mage that 1t does is greatly increased. Ice
occupies considerably more spacs than the
water from which II 10 formed, and every
person who has lived in 9 cold climate IL
fnmiiiar with the powerful bursting efiecs
Of water when left to freeze in Q confined
vessel. The same action takes place when
vet road freezes to any considerable
depth. 1t simply bursts, or. ~ ~e gener-
ally term IL in road pariance, the road
heaves. Later, when the frost leaves, the
road Is disintegrated and ruts badly. II
this process is repeated . number OF times
during the winter, . gravel or macadam
road may be practically destroyed, while an
earth road may become entirely impsss-
able.
A dry road will not heave. Rock, gravel
sand. and even clay when perfectly dry
contract slightly on freezing. In order to
expand on freezing, these materials must
contain or be mixed with water, cpd the
more water they contain the greater the
expansion which takes place. But 30
long as the road remains frozen the dam
the frequent and erroneous idea that it is
the thsw which Injuries the road The in
jury wns done when the water in the road
froze and the particles OF the road sur
face-broken stone, sand, or still inner
particles OF earth or clAy-were pushed
apart by the expanding power OF the freez-
ing water. The thaw merely allows the
ice to melt and assume its original volume
as water.
The remedy is seis-evident. Keep the
water out OF the road. The time to begin
preventive measures is early in the fall,
before the rains begin. II the road goes
into the winter thoroughly dry, with the
surface and drainage in good condition,
the chances are extremely favorable that
it VIII come out all right the following
spring.
Keep the bitches and drains OPEN Re-
move all accommodations Of weeds, grass,
ETC., which tenf'to retain moisture and OBJ
struct drainage. Furthermore, do this
work early, while the ground 10 still dry
and hard. Vegetation and litter hold
water like sponge and allow 1t gradually
to soak Ia and soften the earth. The Job
before the road man is to keep the hard.
dry surface formed in the summer time
from becoming softened by the fall and
winter rains and SHOWS. When the fall
rains begin the earth or gravel road should
be dragged frequently to prevent the
formation OF ruts and the collection OF
water. All raveied places on macadam
surfaces should be carefully filed in and
consolidated.
During the winter. whenever thaw 10
coming on, the cross drains and side
bitches should be opened up a. far as pos
sibIe SO as TO prevent water collecting
along the roadway. II the thav Il 20 pro-
nounced that the road~ay 10 softened. the
drag should Be used; sometimes one
round trip OF the drag, with the hitch re-
versed, will entirely rid the earth road Of
slush and melting snow and leave the
road surface practically dry. Don't get
the idea that the drag b not needed ON
your earth and gravel roads in the winter
time. Instead, keep II whore You can get
at it readily, for ifthe winter 10 an ordi-
nary one you win need it many times.
Winter destruction begins in the early
fall. The best way to prevent such de-
struction is to forestall il. Keep the road
dry, and remember that 20 long % ii re-
mains 20 il will not BE- seriously injured
by frost. Keep the drains open, the
bitches clear, remove all vegetation and
litter, and use the drag frequently. II the
road il kept dry to . depth OF two feet
below the surface there will Be little
trouble from the coolest winter.
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1.-THE ETERNAL sAPHO."