SLEDS AND SLED-HAULING 173 
bottom of the tank in front of the rear sled runners. This is 
considered a better method since the runner tends to shape the 
rut and prevents water from collecting in low spots and filling 
up the ruts with solid ice. A scheme tried some twenty years 
ago as a substitute for the sprinkler, was a steam boiler mounted 
on a sled, with pipes which discharged steam in the runners, 
thus melting the snow and ice which on freezing would coat the 
rut with ice. So far as known this system was not adopted, 
although it was tried out both in the Lake States and in the 
Northeast. A water heater, a round wrought steel tube 18 inches 
in diameter equipped with a smoke and a fire door, is sometimes 
placed in the tank. A fire built in it prevents the water from freez- 
ing. Sprinklers may be filled by gravity from a spring or brook, 
by water drawn up in a barrel by means of a cable and horse 
draft, or by a steam pump. 
The rutting and sprinkling are done by a special crew who 
usually operate at night and whose sole duty is to keep the road 
in shape for hauling. Under ordinary circumstances, in addition 
to such men as are required continually at points where grades 
must be sanded, or snubbing devices operated, one man can 
keep 2 miles of main road in repair. One four-horse team and 
two men can operate the sprinkler on from 4 to 6 miles of road. 
Shoveling out deep drifts after storms; banking and skidding up 
roads on side hills, where the sleds slue to one side; keeping a snow 
covering on bridges; shaping ruts on iced roads by cutting them 
out with an ax; filling in low spots on the road with snow, brush 
or other material; and shoveling manure off of the iced roads 
may be necessary to maintain a two-sled road. 
After one season's work a road requires a general overhauling to 
prepare it for the next winter's use. This work is done early 
in the fall at the time road building begins. Bridges are strength- 
ened when necessary, the roadbed built up on slopes where 
weaknesses have become apparent, sags occasioned by the last 
winter's haul are filled, and any general improvements made that 
the previous season's work have shown to be advisable, such as 
the elimination of undesirable curves and grades. 
Operation. — The practice followed in preparing a main two- 
sled road for hauling varies on different operations. Preparation 
of a snow road often begins two or three weeks previous to haul- 
ing, when a crew goes over the road filling in soft places and cut- 
