Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 276, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1913 — Writer Makes Suggestions For Careless Supervisors. [ARTICLE]

Writer Makes Suggestions For Careless Supervisors.

The writer of a good roads article in the Rochester Sun says: Mr. Supervisor, do you remember that little depression in the road last spring down by the John Doe farm? Do you remember that each rain filled it with water and that every wagon or automobile that came along made it deeper and wider? Do you remember that by September it reached nearly across the road, and that you told Smith to haul a load of gravel to fill it up? Smith followed your instructions, but not being an expert road man like yourself, he dumped it in as is usually done, but did not level it off as it should be; the fall rains came and in this little depression that could have been filled with a few shovels of gravel last spring, there is now a little mound in the center, with a Ynud hole on either side. Do you know that there are now many small depressions in the roads of your district that could be filled with little expense, but if not repaired will make large mud holes before spring? Did you ever take observations along your roads to see how much of the roadbed Is lower than the side ditches? Did you ever observe that there is usually a low place that holds water at the bottom,of every hill or grade, however slight? Did you ever study a remedy? Try making «an oval roadbed that will shed water to the side ditches instead of running down the wheel tracks. Did you ever cal! your men together In a meeting to talk over the road situation In your district, ''and adopt a method that will get the best results' for the amount o# work done? Men usually appreciate being consulted In matters in which they are Interested, and every man should be intrt-ested in better roads.