Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-12-25
Importance of Proper
Road Maintenance

There Is no phase of the road prob.
lem nor important than that of main.
.ena zee. The general impression that
10 are certain types of roads that
are permanent is erroneous. No per-
mGnent road has ever been constructed
or ever will be, according to the roai
specialists of the U. S. Department Of
Agriculture. The only things about q
read that may be considered pcTma.
neat Are thu ~r7ding, culverts and the
bridges. Roa 5 constructed by the
mcst sdllful h way engineers will
coon be destroy Dy the traffic, frcst,
rain and wind, unless they are prop.
cry maintained. But the life OF these
roads may be prolonged by systematic
maintenance. A poor read will not
only be improved by proper mainten.
ancc, but may become better in tims
than, a good road without it.
Tho first and last commandment in
cc.rsh road maintenance is to keep the
surface well drained. To insure good
drainage the bitches should be kept
open, all distractions rem oveG and 4
| smooth crown maintained. Except for
'S-s otohy QUIZ AOiu LldCHiuC VI
s,raper NAL be used very effectively
fer this work. The machine should
he used once or twice year, and the
work should be done when the sell is
Camp so that it will pack and bake
i1-o hard crust. Wide and shallow
Gle d!tches should be maintained with
So c.c-t fall and capacity to dispose
CT surface water. These bitches can
in most places be constructed and re-
r.ircd with read machine.
AL vegetable matter such as sods
and weeds should be kept out of the
'cad, as they make spongy surface
which retains moisture. Clods are
also objectionable, for they soon turn
to dust CT mud, and for that reason
c,ols should never be worked when
d-y CT hard Boulders or loose stones
az equally objectionable if smooth
surface is to be secured.
A split-log drag or some similar
6ovice is very useful in maintaining
the surface after suitable bitches and
crcss section have once been secured.
This drag can also be used to advan-
tnge on gravel road as we'll as on an
Garth road. The principle involved in
dragging is that clays and most heavy
coils will puddle when wet and set
Very hard when dry. The little atten.
tion that the earth road needs must be
given promptly and at the proper time
IL the best results are to be obtained.
III dragging roads only small
amount Of earth is moved, just enough
to fill the ruts and depressions with
thin layer of plastic clay or earth,
which packs very hard SO that the
next rain, instead of finding ruts, de-
prcsslons and clods in which to collect.
ruus off, leaving the surface but little
affected.
The drag should be light and should
be drawn over the road at an angle
OF about 45 degrees. The driver should
rice on tho drag, and should not drive
faster than walk. One round trip.
each trip straddling wheel track, is
usually sufficient to fill the ruts and
smooth the surface. II necessary the
road should be dragged after evory
bad spell of weather, when the soil
Is in proper condition to puddle well
ald sill not adhere to the drag. II
the roadbed is very bad 1t may be
dragged when very wet and again
when 1t begins to dry out. A few trips
over the road will give the operator an
idea as to the best time to drag. Drag
at all seasons. but do not drag dry
road.
The slope or crown of an earth road
should be about one inch to the foot.
II the crown becomes too high 1t may
be reduced by dragging toward the
ditch instead Of from 1t. If the drag
cuts too much shorten the hitch and
change your position on the drag. II