290 
Roads * 
pendicular, if the nature of the soil is tolerably tenacious. A per- 
pendicular bank will stand much better, than any slope over which 
the rain water produces a current. 
2. A drain ought then to be cut above the road upon the hill- 
side, about 12 feet from the edge of the bank, and about a foot 
deep, and the earth thrown towards the road, in order to catch the 
wash of the hill, and to prevent its ever reaching the road. Great 
judgment is required in cutting these drains. Whenever an op- 
portunity offers, the drain should be turned down the hill from the 
road, so as to throw off the water among the trees and a new drain 
be commenced. (See plate.) 
In many cases, this is impracticable ; but wherever there are 
ravines in the slope of the hill, it may be done to advantage. All the 
wash of the slope will, however, at last require to be discharged 
across the road into the valley. Which should always be done by 
a small drain or tunnel, instead of an oblique draft, or sink across 
the road — than which nothing can be a greater nuisance, or a more 
contemptible means of economy, if indeed any thing is saved by 
the contrivance. The use of resting ascending teams is pleaded, 
j~—val$at quantum valere jiotest. 
This upper drain on the slope of the hill is of the utmost im- 
portance, and cannot, without injury, be omitted. It is an object 
of very small expense, ancbbeing confined to no particular spot or 
form, may easily be repaired or shifted, should the remainder 
break over it 
No very accurate rule can be laid down of the manner of con- 
ducting it, as the numerous varieties of situation which occur, 
must suggest as many, both in the length and direction of these 
drains. 
3. The pavement of the road of 20 feet in width, should then 
be laid entirely on the hill side of its width, measuring from the 
perpendicular bank, so that there will remain ten feet of unpaved 
road on the other side. This will afford an excellent summer 
road ; whereas, if the road be paved in the middle, and only five 
feet remain unpaved, no carriage whatever can travel upon it. 
(E). 
If the pavement be thus laid close up to the bank, no gully can 
be made between the road and the hill — for the water that falls be- 
tween the guard ditch upon the slope, and the road, is of very little 
importance, and being discharged over the hard pavement, can do 
the road no injury. 
