COUNTRY ROADS AND ROADSIDE IMPROVEMENTS. 115 



side jolt is produced and carriages are often seriously 

 wrenched. On the upper side of a side-hill road good and 

 frequently cleared gutters are needed to prevent washing, 

 and also frequent culverts to carry the water across to the 

 lower side; for if the water runs over the roadside and a 



FIG. 64. AN IMPROPERLY CONSTRUCTED BAR. 



long distance in the middle of the road, it often gains such 

 momentum as to do a great amount of damage during 

 heavy rains. 



Width of Road-bed. 



The width of the road-bed as constructed by our road- 

 makers is very variable, some making them from 15 to 20 

 feet, while others would make them only from 8 to 10 fee,t 

 wide for the same amount of traffic. On most main roads 

 between large towns and cities the width need not be over 

 18 feet wide, or only wide enough for two teams to pass 

 readily, with rounded, sloping, well-turfed sides which 

 will not be injured by an occasional turning out upon them, 

 and crowning sufficiently to allow the surface-water to pass 

 off quickly. 



In less thickly settled districts a single width of road-bed, 

 i.e., from 8 to 10 feet wide, will be as much as is needed, 

 and will be much less expensive in construction and repairs 

 than if made wider. 



