Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1890 — ABOUT GRAVEL ROADS. [ARTICLE]

ABOUT GRAVEL ROADS.

Editor Republican: In regard of our highways I feel tp drop a few suggestions to our energetic farmers as well as the citizen of our county beat. There is no need of portraying the condition of our road-beds, as the study with me has been to avoid them, and to get to town by some other track; but finding both impractible, 1 would j suggest to make one good gravel road, and then decide which is j beet. And if the gravel road is a j failure, Jet us continue on in the j mud-holes, as is now. There is ten- 1 sou in it. (Jar soil or any j clay soil is not fit for as much j heavy hauling as now done, and | this difficulty will continue on the increase as the country improves, ’as well as the city of Rensselaer. So let us go to work and build a good road, a grade 2 ft. high above the water level, 16 ft. on surface wide, 10 or 12 inches higher in the centre, with a gradual slope both ways. Do this in the forepart of the season; and when packed, give I a coat of clean gravel (free of soil) j 15 inches deep°in centre, 9or 10 j inches at the edge. This will be a ; good foundation for a permanent i road. Its no use of hauling dirt

from one point to the other on a road, as can plainly be seen when wet wefclieT comes. Its mud. The only difference is you have a mudhole of different soil, perhaps more tough and worse to get through, than the original. We have good gravel 4 miles north of town, a coat of which (as stated ) will hold up; but the soil must first be taken oft If the soil is left with the gravel, we have just that much mud, and it will spoil the whole work. There is also a proper way of working a gravel pit, which should be carefully attended to to get full depth of the vein and then dump the surface or soil below: this gravel refered to is of superior quality for roads: but first strip off the soil. -‘T’-'* T*!*-' 1 "' Sours Truly, -- ■ A Faumeb.