350 FARM DEVELOPMENT 



and in farm roadways. There is no place where a little 

 intelligent work will count for more than in the proper 

 improvement of the roadway by improving the banks 

 of a ford across a stream. At the point where the edge 

 of the water keeps the earth moist there is nearly always 

 a mud hole, or at best deep ruts, through which the 

 wheels of a wagon or buggy must pass. The necessary 

 lift to bring the wheels out of these ruts often greatly 

 limits the load which can be hauled, for " one link deter- 

 mines the strength of the chain." A hard stone surface 

 at this point, if properly placed, transfers the ford from 

 a dreaded place to one which may be passed in comfort 

 and safety. Since it is not wise to build a grade across 

 a stream, as it is likely to be washed out, it is necessary 

 to excavate the bed of the road a foot or less, at the bot- 

 tom of the stream. This can be filled in with hard ma- 

 terials which will hold up the wheels of the passing 

 vehicles. In many cases coarse gravel will answer very 

 well in the middle of the stream, though broken stones 

 or even flat stones are better. The excavation can be 

 made in warm weather by men and teams working in 

 the water. Where the road leaves the water's edge the 

 banks should be cut down so that there is not too steep 

 a grade, and the cut should be made about a foot lower 

 than the proposed finished grade. This also should 

 then be filled with crushed rock, small stones, coarse 

 gravel, or other material that will not be easily washed 

 about and will form a perfectly hard roadbed. Since 

 fords are nearly always considered temporary expedi- 

 ents, and often are not on the line of legally established 

 roadways, road officers do not feel free to improve them 

 and they are usually left in a very poor condition. A 

 " ford bee," where interested neighbors might spend a 

 summer day " stoning the ford," might do much good to 

 such neglected places. It is an almost unwritten law 

 that public officers can use some public funds, in aiding 



