404 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



cost of production is being greatly reduced. Why should it not be so in 

 this line? 



I am convinced that it can be. In the construction of a road I men- 

 tion three important factors: 1st, Grade; 2d. Drainage; 3d, Material. 



But sliould I mention them in order of their importance, it would be: 

 1st, Drainage; 2d, Drainage; 3d, Drainage. The greatest mistake in road 

 construction under any system is want of drainage. 



The grade or grades form an important part in road-building. "A 

 chain is no stronger than its weakest link," and a road is no better than 

 its steepest grade or worst place. By this I mean the amount of tonnage 

 or load that can be hauled is determined by the steepest grade; and the 

 most important object to be attained in building a road is to reduce the 

 cost of the haul to the lowest possible cost. The maximum grade used in 

 the construction of the more recent gravel roads in our county (Hamil- 

 ton) has not exceeded 3 per cent., but in many counties of the State this 

 would be almost or quite impossible; but I would insist that it is false 

 economy to build roads on steep grade, as it is impossible to maintain 

 them, unless at an immense cost. Tlie cross section of the grade of the 

 road is not so important, other than it should be so as to shed the water 

 off into the side ditch and should be a slope of not more than 6 inches 

 from center line of road to edge of roadbed. If gravel is used for cover- 

 ing, the slope may be less than 6 inches, or even fiat, the shed for the 

 water being made by the placing of the gravel. 



The most important and of the first consideration in the construction 

 of a good road is thorough drainage. This should be done by grading the 

 road so as to give "fall" to the side ditches. Open drains or ditches 

 should be constructed on each side of the road in width and depth to 

 answer the reciuirements of complete surface drainage, and a tile drain 

 on each side and just inside of the outer edge of the roadbed should 

 be constructed to a depth of about 4 feet below the finished surface of 

 the grade. This drainage should be of good selected drain tile of not less 

 than 4 inches, and need not be more than (*> inches in diameter. This 

 drainage would drain out and keep dry a bed of earth to depth of 4 feet 

 between the di'ains, and make it next to impossible for a dirt road to get 

 bad, much less an improved one. This would also protect against water 

 from the fields AA'orking into the roadbed, causing it to become soft and 

 sponging and breaking through in the spring. 



The drainage of the j'^ad with tile and side drains should be done, 

 whether it is improved with gravel or other material. This could be done 

 under the present laAv, and a wonderful change would result in the bet- 

 terment of our country roads. These drains in themselves would be a 

 first-class improvement for any road and would reduce the quantity of 

 the ro.Td nintcrial to be used in the improvement of the road later fully 

 oii<-half. If the drainage is put in, in this way the roadbed becomes 

 5olid. and the depth of road metal may be decreased to say 8 inches in 



