Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-01-08

prepared by the United States DepsI
ment of Agriculture.)
Good-road building, like charity
should begin at home. This is another
way of stating that private roads OF
the farm are as important to the in
terests they serve as the public roads
over which the farmers product II
hauled to market.
In proportion to its use a poor pri-
vate road to farm is as great hand
leap to efficient marketing as well as
other farm operations, as a poor pub
lie highway. The fundamental princi-
pie involved in the construction of the
two kinds of roads is the same, ac-
cording to the bureau of public roads
of the United States department of ag-
riculture. But, as the farm road is
called on to bear far less traffic, the
ordinary methods of construction and
maintenance are so modified and the
use of materials so adapted as to meet
the special requirements and reduce
the cost. To build the farm roads in
the same manner and design as pub
lie thoroughfares which carry much
greater traffic, in general, would be
useless waste of money.
The first consideration is the loca-
ton of the roads and paths about the
farm. The roads and paths are a part
of the permanent farm plant. Conse-
quently they should be so located as
to serve best the purpose for which
they are intended, should fit in with the
general scheme of the farm and at
the same time should avoid, as much
as possible, places which would re-
quire difficult and expensive cOnstruc-
ton or maintenance. The main con-
sideratiOn, however, must be to Sc |
cure the highest degree of efficiency |
from the farm plant as a whole.
Ideal Arrangement of Lanes.
The accompanying diagram, showing
an ideal arrangement of farm build
ings as well as of connecting lanes
and drives, offers helpful suggestions
to the farmer who is planning new We
hicle ways in the immediate vicinity
Of his farmhouse. This particular ar
rangement is for a farmstead occupy
ing corner lot, which permits Sec
md, or rear, entrance from the public
highway, this lane, running to the
North, shown at the right side of the
iiagram, is a convenience in case
itock is to be driven to the market,
n that the animals need not be driven ,
'ast the house, thereby subjecting ,
hrubs, trees and the lawn to possible
amage. One feature that should be
AIKEN into consideration in planning
he roads near the farmhouse is the d.
ectfon of the prevailing winds. In
his instance the main entrance lane
nd drive have been located to the
orth of the house, so that dust from
lem will ordinarily be carried away
'om the dwelling. q
The earth road is the most common
pc of farm road and will probably |. =
remain. When properly crowned, -
aimed and maintained with the split y y
G drag or other similar device, the +
nth road, on all but few exception !,
soils or in a few places immedi- II
ely around the farm lots and build
gs, can be made to answer the re- g
irements fairly well. A little grad
will in general give the earth road X
crown sloping from the center to-
lrd the side bitches at the rate of
out one inch to the foot, and side
ches of sufficient size to carry away
! storm water can usually be con- on
ucted without difficulty. If the IN
Dund is Springy, the side bitches may ~
made deeper, or the ground water or
y be carried away by tile drains. NJ,
Good Drainage Essential. ao
The fundamental requirement Of an 80
tn road is always good drainage. -"
IS involves, first, the removal of the 20
Ter which reaches the surface of the Ses
d from precipitation or otherwise; en
second, in certain places the re- u,
val of any ground water which 'ei
ches the road from underground uu'
page. Surface drainage is accom- s sne
he'd by securing a reasonable firm ien
vne1 roadway and providing pei
hes OF sufficient size and with am in'
grade and frequent outlets. Sub
mage to remove the water from eli
cath the road surface or to pre-
Its passage into the roadbed is liz,
lily accomplished most effectively o
o-called blind drains or by means
roperly located tile drains.
Dads and drives Immediately d
Ind the farmyards and barns II =
N are used very frequently are GRO,
lily Of sufficient Importance to s,lo
rant some surface Improvement. NAV
Inexpensive SurfacIng Materials. GOO,
any of the materials ordinarily en- vest