422 AGRICULTURE 



trict. Rural mail delivery and the extension of the parcel- 

 post system further demand the improvement of country 

 roads. And, not least important, the making of country 

 life interesting and attractive rests in no small degree on 

 good roads, for they allow rural people easily to travel about 

 the community for social or business purposes. 



Growing movement for good roads. In nearly every 

 part of the United States there is at present a growing 

 interest in good roads. New laws are being passed and 

 millions of money appropriated to improve our roads. Com- 

 mercial clubs, business concerns and other organizations are 

 working together to encourage road building. And farm- 

 ers are coming to demand improved roads for teaming and 

 automobiles. 



2. Types of Roads 



Roads are generally considered under the following 

 types: (1) earth roads, (2) sand clay roads, (3) gravel 

 roads, (4) macadam roads, (5) bituminous macadam roads, 

 (6) brick roads, and (7) concrete roads. The discussion 

 in this chapter will be confined to the earth roads, since 

 these are the most necessary and practical study for the 

 public schools. 



Earth roads. A chain is no stronger than its weak- 

 est link; so, also, a road is no better than its poorest part. 

 This means that the heaviest load that can be drawn over 

 a public highway is the load that can be drawn up the 

 steepest hill, through the worst ruts or mud-holes, or over 

 the deepest stretch of sand. Hence the importance of low- 

 ering or going around the hill, and eliminating the mud- 

 holes, ruts and stretches of sand. 



3. The Location of a Road 



Public roads should, as far as possible, be located in 

 straight lines. In hilly or mountainous regions, however, 



