WINTER MEETING. 291 



To change cubic feet to gallons multiply by 7.48 — approximately 

 by Ih To change gallons to cubic feet divide by the same number. 



An avoirdupois pound is 7000 grains and a troy pound 5760 grains. 

 An avoirdupois ounce is 437^ grains while a troy ounce is 480 grains. 

 A pound of sugar weighs 1240 grains more than a pound of gold, but 

 an ounce of sugar weighs 42^ grains less than does an ounce of gold. 



So much for laying out and estimating and calculating work. Now 

 a few words on construction. 



On account of limited time on this occasion, remarks will be con- 

 fined to road making. 



Roads are usually ditched in such a manner as to cause them to 

 soon wear away by erosion. In most parts of our State the topography 

 is such that one side of roads is higher than the other. In such cases 

 the roadway or track should be made as close to the upper side as 

 possible — leaving space on that side for only a small ditch. The main 

 ditch should be on the lower side and as far away from the road as 

 possible. At short intervals there should be cross drains from the 

 ditch on the upper side to the ditch on the lower side of the road. 

 This would reduce the drain area of each section of the upper ditch 

 to the minimum. 



If managed in this manner common dirt will make a good road for 

 use during most of the year. 



Wherever the topography will allow, the ditch on the lower side 

 should be turned into lateral drains on the side of the road — into such 

 brooks and ravines as nearly every hillside affords. 



Erosion ruins more roads than does any other agency. 



I have never seen repairs on macadam or " pike " roads properly 

 made anywhere in our State — Kansas City not excepted. 



The usual plan is to dump into a depression some crushed or 

 broken rock and call the defect repaired. 



Take a pick and dig a square shoulder around the depression. 

 Throw in large pieces of rock of suitable quality. Break these pieces 

 with a heavy hammer. Hammer down until all the new material is 

 thoroughly wedged against the shoulder around the sides cf the depres- 

 sion. Now top dress with suitable.material and the repair is properly 

 made. 



Many different methods of procedure could have been given in 

 discussing the foregoing topics, but, under the present circumstances, 

 only what experience has shown to be best adopted to the use of the 

 non-professional have been explained and recommended. 



Edwin Walters, 

 Geologist and Civil Engineer. 



