GOOD ROADS AS RURAL CONVENIENCES 85 



hill will be preferable to the shorter distance but steeper 

 grade across the hill. 



After the grade has been established, the next thing is 

 to lay the foundation. Turnpikes and " macadam " roads 

 have been explained above. Only a small per cent of 

 American roads, however, are " macadamized." More than 

 2,000,000 miles of our roads are "dirt roads." That is, 

 they have no foundation except the natural earth. No 



MODELS ILLUSTRATING ROAD-BUILDING. 

 Cross-section of macadam road and splitlog drag. 



layers of stone are laid down and rolled, to support the 

 smooth surface. The dirt road will probably be for many 

 years the kind used by most farmers. Accordingly it is 

 highly desirable to make it as good as possible. 



The dirt road is made by crowning a strip of land from 

 such earth as is found close beside it. If there are gravel 

 pits near by, a little gravel, spread near the middle of 

 the road, improves the surface and helps to preserve the 

 crown. Crushed stone is even better for the surface, but 

 more expensive. Gf-utters, or ditches, to keep the rain 



