FAEMEBS' mSTITUTES. 287 



turnpike is formed, is often attended with considerable expense. Tlie plow and 

 scraper and perseverance work wonders on such places in a short time, which 

 the road master looks upon with satisfaction. Tile may be used in such places, 

 but the open ditch is preferable, unless quicksand is to be overcome. In ])re- 

 paring the road bed I would use the material nearest at hand. After proper 

 drainage is affected alluvial soil and swamp muck may be used in the road bed 

 with safety. Thorough drainage in such places is all important. A turnpike 

 formed with the material at hand, with a covering of good gravel, makes a much 

 better road, at less expense, than the common ])ractice of carting clay from the 

 banks and dumping it in the mud. The culvert is the indispensable part of a 

 good road, that must not be lost sight of. Economy demands that permanency 

 should be kept constantly in view, for every dollar that is laid out on the road. 

 Our resources are sufficient to commence and construct in a substantial manner. 



For common ravine sluices I would use tile that is large enough to let the 

 water pass through Avithout standing against the road banks, the ends being 

 well guarded with stone for water-breaks. These tile should be laid with a 

 good descent, across the road, and sunk to the bottom of the ditch on the upper 

 side. For streams of water I would use stone, being careful to lay the founda- 

 tion deep in the ground, on a solid foundation. Cut-stone is much preferable, 

 but large square stone, laid in water lime, make a solid and durable abutment. 

 The present cost of such water-passes is much greater than wood, but I think 

 economy in the end, A word on the application of money and road tax to 

 bring about this result : I would barely make the road passable in the district. 

 Then I would make an estimate of how many rods of road bed I could prepare 

 in the way I have indicated with the amount of labor and money I could com- 

 mand for the year. I would commence at one end of the district and Jinisli as 

 far as I went. This work should be done the fore part of summer, so that the 

 newly thrown-up dirt would become packed in dry weather. The great bulk of 

 the work should be laid out the fore part of the season, reserving but a few days 

 to keep the road passable. The next season I would commence Avhere I left off 

 with my finished part, and complete another section in the same manner. In 

 repeating this operation from year to year the whole road-bed is put up in good 

 shape for the final covering. This, I would say, is the plan adopted in the dis- 

 trict where I live, and it took but a few years to make an excellent road over 

 ground not particularly adapted to that purpose. 



I assume now that we have our road-bed raised to its proper height, the ditches 

 formed on the sides, and the sluices and bridges in working order. Now, to 

 make as good a road as the county affords, I would go for the gravel-pit. For- 

 tunate is the road district that has a good bed of gravel on its line. Too much 

 value can hardly be placed on gravel for the surface of our common roads. A 

 covering of from six to ten iuches makes a solid surface that will last for years 

 with but little expense for repairing. There are but few districts in the county, 

 I will venture to say, that cannot obtain gravel within three miles. After the 

 road-bed is up in good shape I would apply the great bulk of the district work 

 in hauling gravel from one to three miles for the final finish. I would make 

 estimates of how mucli road I could cover with gravel each year, then I would 

 finish as far as I went, commencing each succeeding year where I had left off 

 the year previous. It will be found that in a few years the district tliat pursues 

 this course will have a road u]} in a condition that will be gratifying to the dis- 

 trict as well as the passer-by. 



In conclusion I would urge the necessity of working for a special object each 



