ROADS AND BRIDGES 



343 



Arhich is needed to keep earth and gravel roads smooth, 

 compacted and round, so that the water will run off into 

 the side ditches and the surface be kept hard. Much of 

 this work can be done by the reversible machine, in some 

 cases followed by the road roller. 



By going over the dirt or gravel road two or more 

 times annually an experienced man can keep the center 

 of the roadway free from ruts and so rounded as to be 



Figure 228. Steam road roller. 



dry and smooth except in times of excessive rainfall. 

 There is no portion of our road work more neglected 

 than that of repairing. By looking after the roads when 

 they are drying out just after the spring rains, the sur- 

 face can be formed up so as to last during the drier part 

 of the summer. In the drier portions of the west, 

 smoothing up in the early part of the summer season 

 will often be sufficient for the entire year, while in sec- 

 tions of greater rainfall, together with more travel, the 

 road machine should dress the roadway up two or three 



