FAEMERS' INSTITUTES. 193 



or ellipse, as being more easily formed and as giving better drainage to the con- 

 tor of the road. 



The ditches should be one foot deep and a foot \vidc on the bottom, with side 

 slopes of 2 feet, horizontal, to 1 foot vertical, and ought never to have a fall of 

 less than I foot in 100 feet lengthwise of the road, though less will answer if 

 the ditciics are very evenly graded on the bottom. If the road does not have 

 sulliciont fall the ditches must be made deeper at their lower end. Of course 

 where embankments occur the width and depth of the ditches must be varied to 

 suit tiie ground. Tlirough swamps and marshes the ditches ought to be at least 

 o feet deep, with good outlets. Wherever springs occur, tile drains, laid at least 

 -i feet below the surface should be used and the surface tlioroughly drained be- 

 fore any attempt is made to build the road. 



All road building ought to be done during the months of July, August or 

 September, as the ground is then dry and in condition to form a smooth and 

 hard surface at once. 



If the grades have been carefully arranged, nearly all of the grading can be 

 done with the plow and scraper, but great care must be taken to spread the dirt 

 as evenly as possible and to give the road as nearly the required slope as may 

 be. After this is done the di'-t must be thoroughly pulverized and smoothed 

 down witli the harrow, and any small unevenness removed by the hoe and 

 shovel. 



After harrowing, a roller weighing about two tons should be drawn several 

 times over all parts of tne road, and this followed by a steam road roller of the 

 Aveling & Porter type, weighing from twelve to fifteen tons, which will com- 

 press the dirt to a depth of ten or twelve inches so as to render it almost im- 

 pervious to water if properly drained. Tiie side ditches should be cleaned while 

 the rolling is being done and the dirt used to level up low spots. The rolling 

 iind leveling ought to be done several times within the first two or three 

 months : and especially after the first rains, all ruts being carefully filled before 

 oacli rolling. 



I want right here to impress upon you the two important points in roadmak- 

 ing, viz. : thorough drainage and persistent rolling. For small culverts there 

 is nothing superior to fire glazed sewer pipe. For larger streams plans had best 

 bo prepared by the engineer. 



You will observe that I have confined myself entirely to roads constructed 

 of materials which are everywhere at liand. Of course, if a covering of good 

 gravel one foot in depth can be had, the road will be much improved, but with- 

 out it there is no excuse for having our main thoroughfares nearly impassable 

 for months, as they were last winter and spring. 



The exact cost of constructing a road, as suggested above, cannot, of course, 

 be determined, some miles costing more than others ; but we give below an esti- 

 mate prepared by T. J. Xicholl, C. E., of Chicago, for a similar road, which 

 will not be far out of the way : 



"Engineering, laying out and superintendency.. $25 00 



12,000 yards' excavation of ditches, @ 10c 120 00 



Say 300 yards extra embankment, @ 10c 30 00 



3,000 feet B. M. Oak bridging, framed, @ $30, 90 00 



Kolling 10 CO 



■Cleaning up and leveling ofi;.. 10 00 



Total per mile $285 00 



