HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION 



destroyed by it than are the materials used in the construction of the 

 better class of roads. When water is allowed to stand upon the 

 road, the earth is softened, the wagon wheels penetrate it and the 

 horses' feet mix and kneed it until it becomes impassable mud. The. 

 action of frost is also apt to be more disastrous upon the more per- 

 meable surface of the earth road, having the effect of swelling and 

 heaving the roadway and throwing its surface out of shape. It inav 



Fig. 25. Bush Hooks. 



in fact be said that the whole problem of the improvement and 

 maintenance of ordinary country roads is one of drainage. 



In the preparation of the wheelway all stumps, brush, vegetable 

 matter, rocks and boulders should be removed from the surface and 

 the resulting holes filled in with clean earth. The roadbed having 



Fig. 26. Axe Mattock. 



Fig. 27. Bush Mattock. 



been brought to the required grade and crown should be thoroughly 

 rolled, all inequalities appearing during the rolling should be filled 

 up and re-rolled. 



Care of Earth Roads. If the surface of the roadway is prop- 

 erly formed and kept smooth, the water will be shed into the side 

 ditches and do comparatively little harm; but if it remains upon the 

 surface, it will be absorbed and convert the road into mud. All 

 ruts and depressions should be filled up as soon as they appear. 

 Repairs should be attended to particularly in the spring. At this 

 season a judicious use of a road machine and rollers will make a 



