34 
BULLETIN 463, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
at 12^ cents per hour. The depreciation of grading equipment and 
repairs are figured at 5 per cent per month while in use, and it is 
expected that the force will be organized economically and managed 
efficiently. 
Table 5. — Grading machine icorlc. 
Assumed conditions : Original cross section flat ; finished cross section similar to figure 
12 ; team to consist of six to eight well-trained horses ; no material moved longitudinally. 
Character of soil. 
Cost per mile. 
Light prairie free from stumps, roots, etc 
Average clay loam 
Heavy clay, moderate amount of sod and roots, plowing necessary throughout. 
Heavy clay, exceptionally difficult conditions 
Crowning and shaping road which has been graded with scrapers, etc 
860 to 580 
100 to 150 
200 to 250 
From 8250 up. 
850 to $75 
Table 6. — Excavation and embankment. 
Assumed conditions : All material to be loosened with plows or by blasting, and to be 
moderately dry when handled ; hauling to be done by means of drag scrapers, wheeled 
scrapers, or wagons. 
Kind of material. 
Light sandy loam, 
free from roots, 
etc. 
Average clay loam, 
free from roots, 
etc. 
Heavy clay . 
Hard pan or loose 
rock. 
Solid rock. 
Average 
haul 
length. 
Feet. 
50 
100 
300 
1,000 
50 
100 
300 
1,000 
50 
100 
300 
1,000 
300 
000 
300 
1.000 
Method of haul- 
ing. 
Drag scrapers 
do 
Wheeled scrapers. 
Wagons 
Drag scrapers 
do 
Wheeled scrapers. 
Wagons 
Drag scrapers 
do 
Wheeled scrapers. 
Wagons 
Wagons. 
....do.. 
Wagons 
do 
Average cost 
per cubic 
yard. 
Cents. 
10 to 15 
12 to 20 
16 to 25 
25 to 40 
15 to 20 
17 to 25 
23 to 35 
32 to 50 
18 to 25 
21 to 30 
28 to 38 
40 to 55 
40 to 65 
45 to 75 
80.65 to 81.50 
.75 to 1.75 
Remarks. 
Material assumed to be such that little 
or no plowing is necessary. 
Material such as to be loosened with 
plow drawn by two horses. 
4 horses required for plowing. 
Low prices apply where material may 
y be loosened with 4 horses and hard- 
pan plow. High prices where blast- 
ing is necessary. 
TLigh prices apply where stone is hard 
and excavation shallow. 
SAND-CLAY ROADS. 1 
A road surface constructed of sand and clay mixed in proper pro- 
portions possesses the resisting powers of the sand in wet seasons and 
of the clay in dry seasons, and frequently is superior to either in all 
seasons. 
Xatural sand-clay soils occur to some extent in nearly all sections 
of the United States, and in many localities are rather widely dis- 
tributed. Ordinary earth roads frequently contain short sections 
1 This discussion is based largely on information contained in Farmers' Bulletin 311, 
" Sand-Clay and Burnt-Clay Roads," which was prepared by William L. Spoon, senior 
highway engineer, and has been read and revised by E. W. James, general inspector, IT. S. 
Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering. 
