CHAPTER XXXII 



ROADS* 



The grade is the most important factor to be considered in the 

 location of roads. Steep grades should always be avoided, if 

 possible. They become covered at times with coating of ice or 

 slippery soil, making them very difficult to ascend with loaded 

 vehicles as well as dangerous to descend. They allow water to 

 rush down at such a rate as to wash great gaps alongside or to 

 carry the surfacing material away. As the grade increases in 

 steepness the load has to be diminished in proportion or more 

 horses or power attached. If a horse can pull on a level one 

 thousand pounds, on a rise of: 



1 foot in — POUNDS 



100 feet with the same effort he draws 900 



50 feet with the same effort he draws 810 



44 feet with the same effort he draws 750 



40 feet with the same effort he draws 720 



30 feet with the same effort he draws 640 



25 feet with the same effort he draws 540 



> 24 feet with the same effort he draws 500 



20 feet with the same effort he draws 400 



10 feet with the same effort he draws 250 



Drainage. — An essential feature of a good road is good drain- 

 age, and the principles of good drainage remain substantially 

 the same whether the road be constructed of earth, gravel, shells, 

 stones, or asphalt. The first demand of good drainage is to 

 attend to the shape of road surface. This must be ''crowned," 

 or rounded up toward the center, so that there may be a fall from 

 the center to the sides, thus compelling the water to flow rapidly 

 from the surface into the gutters which should be constructed 

 on one or both sides, and from there in turn be discharged into 

 larger and more open channels. Furthermore, it is necessary 

 that no water be allowed to flow across a roadway; culverts, 

 tile, stone, or box drains should be provided for that purpose. 



In addition to being well covered and drained, the surface 

 should be kept as smooth as possible; that is, free from ruts, 

 wheel tracks, holes, or hollows. When water is allowed to stand 

 on a road the holes and ruts rapidly increase in number and 

 size ; wagon after wagon sinks deeper and deeper, imtil the road 

 finally becomes utterly bad. 



* Courtesy of Doubleday, Page, and Company. 



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