The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-07-06
EARTH, SAND-CLAY. AND GRAVEL ROADS



ment OF Agr1culture.)
Well-balanced and experienced judg-
ment regarding the relative Importance
OF the various details involved Is a
much more valuable asset in undertake
ing to locate rond than mere techni-
cal skill in handling surveying instrn-
ments. No knowledge gained from
books alone can give that complete
grasp OF the relations existing between
a public road and the community 1t
serves which is so necessary IL the
location and desi gn of the road are to
secure the greatest possible good from
the money expended.
In locating or relocating public
road the prime considerations should
be, first. the comfort and convenience
Of the travelling public which 1t is in.
tended to accommodate, and, second,
the economy Of public funds. The first
consideration fixes the general location
of the road and limits such details Of
design and layout as affect the safety
and comfort of travellers. The second
should control the detailed working
out Of location to suit the topography
or surface layout of the region through
which the road passes, with due re-
gard for such features of the design
as affect the cost Of construction, Of
maintenance and of hauling over the
completed road
The comfort and convenience OF
travellers, requires, first, that the road
pass conveniently close to the dwell
ing places Of those for whose particu-
lar use 1t is built; second, that it be
free from dangerous curves and grades
and sufficiently wide for safe travel /;
and, third, that the surface be such as
to remain reasonably firm and smooth
and to become neither very dusty nor
very muddy under any combination of
weather and traffic conditions. The
extent to which any particular road
must meet these requirements depends,
of course, on the state Of public sentl-
ment In the community which pays for
the road. But in most communities it
is safe to assume that the standards Of
excellence as regards the accommodate
ton demanded of public roads will be
raised rather than lowered. Due fore
sight, therefore, should be exercised in
working out the location and design
of road. SO that later improvements,
such as reducing grades, increasing the
width of the Travelled way, or con-
structing better surface, can be made
without the necessity Of making expen-
sive changes In the location or other
wise wasting any considerable part OF
the work already accomplished.
Location Of Roads.
A few general rules regarding the To-
cntion and design of public roads may
be stated briefly as follows:
/. Avoid sharp curves In the road
because such curves are menace Il
traffic. On light grades and leve
stretches tie location should be prefer
ably such that a traveller may see a
least two or three hundred feet aheat
from any point on the road, and OIL
sleeper grades this distance should b.
Increased II automobile traffic is to b.
reasonably safe. Where the view i
unobstructed and the grade is practi
cally level, country roads of ordinar
only about two hundred feet withou
seriously inconveniencing traffic, Blu
to safeguard against accidents the RI
dius of curves located on grades shout
be preferably not less than about 80
or 400 feet, even if the view is pei
fectly OPEN
2. Provide ample width for vehicle
,ch Of av yxit
Travelled way.
3. Bear In mind that If a road eve
becomes of any considerable impo
lance, it's users probably will deman
that all the sleeper grades be reduce
TO the lowest maximum that woul
conform to the general topography {
the region which the road traverses.
4. Avoid all unnecessary distanc
Aside from the advantages to trait
of a short route, each mile of add
tional road involves a considerab
extra yearly expense for maintenance
and this consideration alone may wa
rant considerable expense in shorte
ing the route when the road is co
structed, provided that the decrease
UlStuntS uttS not materially 1AliSd
the steepness of the grades.
5. Regard land lines only In so Fl
as this may be done without decrea
ing the usefulness of the road or /
creasing its ultimate cost. The tie
dency in most rural communities is
locne all new roads along land line
regardless of the suitability of q
route, and this has been responsib
for much waste in the past. Not
frequently roads located along la
tines have been graded at consideral
expense, and abandoned later when t
community demanded more high
improved road with better grades.
6. Give reasonable consideration
the pleasing features of the locate
A large part of the travel on m'
country roads is for pleasure, and
degree of pleasure experienced in dr.
Ing is largely dependent upon
scenic attractiveness of the road.
Laying Out a Road.
The actual procedure of laying