Country Roads and Roadside Improvements 123 



not diagonally across the whole road. If made as in the 

 first case both wheels will strike the bar at once and no side 

 jolt will be felt, while if constructed as in the second case 

 a very unpleasant side jolt is produced and carriages are 

 often seriously wrenched. When the auto is used these bars 

 must be made more solid and shallow than where carriages 

 are used. 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 

 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 feet 

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

 between large towns and cities the width need not be over 

 15 feet, 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 crown- 

 ing 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. 



Repairing Roads 



One of the greatest mistakes made in repairing roads is 

 in using poor material for dressing them over, when good 

 material may be obtained at only a little additional cost. 



The best gravel that is to be had within reasonable dis- 

 tance will generally be found the cheapest in the end. 



