HfO II WAY CONSTKUCTION 



hung with trees, the leaves and twigs of which catching the 

 wheelway will serve still further 1<> (litninish the effect of the wheels 

 in moving the sands about. If clay can he obtained, a coating (i 

 inches thick will be found a most effective and economical improve- 

 ment. A coating of 4 inches of loose straw will, after a few days' 

 travel, grind into the sand and become as hard and as firm as a 

 dry clay road. 



The maintaining of smooth surfaces on all classes of earth roads 

 will be greatly assisted and cheapened by the frequent use of a roller 

 (either steam or horse) and any one of the various forms of road 

 grading and scraping machines. In repairing an earth road the 

 plough should not be used. It breaks up the surface which has 

 been compacted by time and travel. 



TOOLS FOR GRADING. 



Picks are made of various styles, according to the class of 

 material in which they are to be used. Fig. 28 shows the form 



Fig. 29. Clay Pick. 



usually employed in street work. Fig. 29 shows the form generally 

 used for clay or gravel excavation. 



The eye of the pick is generally formed of wrought iron, pointed 

 with steel. The weight of picks ranges from 4 to 9 Ib. 



Fig. 30. Shovels. 



Shovels are made in two forms, square and round pointed, 

 usually of pressed steel. 



Ploughs are extensively employed in grading, special forms 

 being manufactured for the purpose. They are known as " grading 

 ploughs," "road ploughs/' " township ploughs," etc. They van- 



