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NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA
ASSOCIATE COI'4JlITTEE ON SOIL AND SNOW MECHANICS
i
I
1
i
OTTAWA S e p t e m b e r1955
-. -.-----
-
---. ..- . - - .- . --. PROCEEDINGS OF THEWESTERN MUSKE,G RESEARCH MEE,T ING MARCH 2 ,
1955
T h i s i s a r e c o r d of t h e F o u r t h Meeting of t h e Muskeg Subcommitt.ee, which was h e l d is, Edmonton, A l b e r t a ,
on March 2 ,
1955.
A l i s t of t h o s a i n a t t e n d a n c e l ai n c l u d e d as Appendix A . The meeting was t h e f i r s t t o be h e l d i n Western Canada, and was sponsored by t h e A s s o c i a t e
Committee on S o i l and Snow Mechanics of t h e N a t i o n a l Research Council.
Under t h e d i r e c t i o n of D r . N . W . R a d f o r t h , t h e morning s e s s i o n was devoted t o b u s i n e s s and t o t h e r e a d i n g
of p r o g r e s s r e p o r t s of muskeg r e s e a r c h which i s now under- way i n Canada. The a f t e r n o o n took t h e form of a t e c h n i c a l
s e s s i o n w i t h Dean R . M. Hardy and M r . I, C . MacFarlane a c t i n g a s Chairmen. Four p a p e r s were p r e s e n t e d and d i s c u s s e d .
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-
Morninn Session of March 2Sect ion 1 Introductory 'remarks
by Dr. M. W. Radforth
Page
1
Section 2 Reports 2
Some engineering properties of muskeg
by C. B. Crawford 2
Progress rJeport
by
I.
C. MacFarlaneProgress report
by Dr.
N.
W. RadforthReport on International Peat Symposium
by I. C . MacFarlane
4
Section
3
Muskeg bibliography5
Afternoon Session of March 2
Section
4
primary and secondary access overmuskeg in forestry practice
by
W.
C. HarrisonSection
5
Engineering characteristics ofwestern muskeg
by Dean R. M, Hardy
Section
6
Muskeg problems in Quebec highwayconstruction
by J. 0. Martineau
Section
7
Limitations in assessing subsurfaceorganic terrain characteristics in pre-construction survey
by
Dr.
N. W. RadforthAppendix
A
-
List of those present at the WeaternMorning S e s s i o n , March 2
S e c t i o n 1
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
D r . N . W. Radforth
D r . Radforth p o i n t e d out t h a t t h i s was t h e f i r s t formal meeting of t h e Muskeg Subcommittee t o be h e l d i n t h e
West, and t h a t it was long overdue, Meetings of t h e Subcommlttee have been i n f r e q u e n t , t h e l a s t having t a k e n p l a c e i n Ottawa l a t e i n 1951. He r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e working arrangements of t h e
Subcommittee have changed somewhat as b u s i n e s s h a s been c a r r i e d on mainly through correspondence and t h e exchange of experience. Although t h i s may appear t o be a s t r a n g e way t o approach t h e
s u b j e c t i t was brought about by t h e d i v e r s i t y i n t h e knowledge of t h e problems concerning muskeg. It h a s been only i n t h e l a s t t h r e e o r f o u r y e a r s t h a t t h e muskeg problem has r e c e i v e d s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n . The opening up of t h e North h a s brought s p e c i a l
problems t o l i g h t . Because of t h e new terms
of
r e f e r e n c e w i t h r e g a r d t o muskeg, t h e approach t o t h e problem has had t o be changed, r e s u l t i n g i n t h i s meeting.The Chairman welcomed a l l those p r e s e n t , on behalf of M r . R.F. Legget, Chairman of t h e Associate Committee on S o i l and Snow Mechanics. He expressed M r , L e g g e t ' s r e g r e t s t h a t he could n o t be p r e s e n t . Although burdened w i t h a very heavy schedule, M r . Legget s t i l l t a k e s g r e a t p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t i n muskeg r e s e a r c h , and was most pleased t h a t t h i s meeting was t a k i n g p l a c e . D r . Radfosth r e c a l l e d t h a t i t was seven o r e i g h t y e a r s ago t h a t M r . Legget had c o n s u l t e d w i t h him on t h e muskeg problem, and had i n i t i a t e d r e a e a r c h i n t o t h a t s u b j e c t
,
m a i n t a i n i n g a p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t throughout t h e y e a r s .The Chalrm2.n ;raentfs::ied ?baa5 M r . M a ~ t i r i e a ~ of t h e Queb2c D e p a r t ~ ~ e ~ : : ct' EiS,gl.,vay s had beet gat.herlnq i ~ f o m a t iora on muskeg .in,
C,ri-?t
;r-rc):,c',*1.r..:2 -3r;;; .., EL ~ : ? j ~ ) $ - ~ ~ t ; pi3e.pa?zd by h i mw0uJ-d be p,re se_ri.t;.? :j at: th.-:: :$'+ ? ~ r : o a n s e ~ s j - r ; n ,
Report on "Some Engin$*:~:;n3-, P,-cj~.r';satiew of' Mua?~eq" ,- by C.B. C ~ s w ? n r d
---.---- --.
-
---.----
I n t,hz ak y,i.,r-? e G~ VAT , C
.a,
C:~-,zwf G S ~IVI;?I
.
C MacFar l a n egave a i3rji2f re:s1.'3~ OC tti:iz ~ ~ p c t r t , He ?xplalric?d tk2.t t h . ~ r e p o r t . reps.esente!j. t . ? : ~ :::2s:ll-a cf sGmr p~?l-irn:::!d,.~y f e s t o Jn muskeg carrzed
o u t a t tfie D i v f s l o3 o? ?3i~?-: CL'_.%g b 8 e 4 . ~ 3 h . C o n s o l i d a t i , o n 2 e s t s
wer? perfirmed ~n muskeg sampL2aJ ~ , n d s , s v e ~ a l d e t e r r n i ~ . a t l o n s were
made of Cer,si5y, w a t e c c::.?t?:-:C ar..3 am..con:fil?.ed eGm.pse s s i v e at~ength
of ; m d i s f cl: b 2 2 y m n l 6 c * M Y Cl-,.3~'.r'ard 5ae S: QE:: l u d ~ d -11223t. :.be
r - - - '
cornpressl,o.r. cl-iaFas i(:r.li s t 2 2 s ,;f nn.!sk.?g di?,p?nd rnt2z*e on t h e dry d e n s l t y of t h e a 2 t e r i a ' l _ t k . s . n on wh;.tk,.,j~:-r- +,he sa:?pl.:z Is d i s 5 u r 3 S ~ ; d .
M r . MacFarla.ne rL?:Li 2:,n+?d + k t thes;? % E L T ~ & ? f i e s t ree3vl t s w e r e t h e
b e g i n n i n g or" a E.ore exteg.al.ve pary.rmn tr, be l.mder+;ak~sn by t.he
D i v i s i o n ,
P r o g r e s s R z p c r t -- 3:" 7 , C . MasF3rlsne ---
%I?. ?.reviswl?g h i ? , work i c , d a k s .?ra muskeg r e s e a r c h ,
M r . MacFa.rla.rie sa3.d t k m t ; ~ o P ? ; c.C k . i s ?!.me had beel?. & v o t e d t o a l l t e ~ a t u r e r ? v i % ~ ~ 3 . ~ 3 t ~ 7 t k e p1~?~-3:,':..3t;frsn of a muskeg b i b l i o - grapk~y. Me enpln:?.s.',ze? % h a t t . h l e an::.ot.at eci b i b 1 3 ography was a 2relimj-nary repmil.. H2 s e ~ i : ~ , t e c ! ala-;. t k a k v s l ~ z a b l e personal. c o n t a c 3 s have b?en e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h /ath.er osgaxlfzat.lons
i n t e r e s t e d i:rL wii;lr.eg =.qnu~-:r,;c:h: ~ ~ ~ " O . ~ L ' L C . Q .. -.c
.,
Re a.sasc% Board, Muskeg Re sears12 L a b o ~ ; a + o ~ y a t !.:1,3M3s+ 2 ' F: TJnll~.!e~~f ty,
B c ~ d Ma M w a ( ?eat~ o a r d ) in I , r ~ s l s r . d . , anlJ. U T L ? J ~ ~ ~ > T S ~ ty C o l l e g ? , L d ~ ' b l d ~ ~ ?,, A s t a r t had
been rnacie cri t h s abridgernc;"::"r.s3" 2r R a d f w f h. s arigi.rzal. p a p e r on.
c l a s s if'ic3.t 2 . m . of nauslr-egs t.be el?,gi)r?.ee.s.
A s f s r t h e f ~ t . ? i i ~ ) M r . MacFarlarie s a i d he pl.zLr.ed t o
c o n t i n u e h5-s lit.erat12?._r.e r..$v.tew and t o er~!~arqe h i s b i b l i o g s a p h y ,
A c o l l e c t i o n of re?.evant, ffle1.d d a t a will be s t a r t e d , and %he
in5'ormation s o ohtaimed w i l l . bz made zva3.lab.he t o t h o s e
i n t e r e s t e d . E v e n t u a l l v , a pr9gra.m cf 1 a . b c r a t o r y t e s t s w i l l be
u n d e r t a k e n t o determin! t h e p h y ~ i c a i . and rnechanicsl p r o p e r t i e s af f r o z e n and u n f r o z e n m ~ l s k e g . xf 1 5 hoped thereby t . c : check
t h e conclusic?r,s draw:?. P ~ o n . the s t r m g t h t e s t s w1.?is3-2 wex3e z a r r i e d o u t an Xrlsh peat 3 , It
:
e j,lsl:> hop?d t * s c r x r e i a t eDT.
R%CIEc;rthf Bc l a s s i f i c a t i o n system with t h e e n g i n e e r i n g p r o p e r t i e s of t h e v a r i o u s k i n d s of muskeg,
P r o g r e s s Report
-
by D r , N , W , R a d f o ~ t hDr. R a d f o r t h r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e muskeg l a b o r a t o r y a t McMaster was i n t e r e s t e d i n e x t e n d i n g t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n system f o r muskeg and b r i n g i n g i t more i n t ~ l f n e w i t h t h e psobl?ms now a r i s i n g , and w i t h t h e needs of t h e people i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e
m a t e r i a l . There i s a particular d e s i ~ e $ 0 a s s i s t t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d
i n t h e s u r v e y of o r g a n i o t e r r a i n p r e c e d i n g e n g i n e e r i n g develop- ment. He f e l t a l a c k of c o n f i d e n c e , from almost e v e r y q u a r t e r , I n t h e problem of r e p o r t i n g and t h e use of' adequate r e f e r e n c e t e r m s f o r muskeg, H e hoped 50 b z i n g t h e s e o u t of t h e realm of i n t a n g i - b i l i t y s o t h a t problems 0% t ~ a f f i c a b i l f t y ~ e t c , , could be d e a l t
w i t h , D r . R a d f o r t h said t h a t . t h e McMasfer L a b o r a t o r y had a l r e a d y made some c c n t ~ i b u t i o n t o t h e s e problema, but now t h e b a s i c
i n f o r m a t i o n must be a p p l i e d a t h i s awn l a b o r a t o r y as w l s l l a s by o t h e r s ,,
Dr. Radfort-h p o i n t e d o u t t h a t muskeg i n v o l v e d n o t only m a t e r i a l , b u t a l s o p h y s i o g s a p h i c f e a t u r e s which must be b ~ o u g h t
i n t o t h e p i s t u r e and i n t o t h e d e f i n i t i o n of muskeg, T h i s f s
developed more f u l l y i n t h e p a p e r on s u b s u r f a c e swnmer i c e
c o n d i t i o n s , r e c e n t l y p u b l i s h e d by t h e Royal S o c i e t y * . The s i z e and g e n e r a l c o n s t i t u t i o n of p e a t y m a t e r i a l s and t h e c o n d i t i o n s urader which t h e y were f cwad a r e a i l Important t o muskeg s t u d y , He c o n s i d e r e d t h e y e f o r e t h a t h i s approach t o t h e muskeg problem was j u s t i f f e d .
Reference was made t o Handbook No, 1 (Organic T e r r a i n
Organization from t h e A i r 9 A l t i t u d e s l e a s t h a n 1 , 0 0 0 f e e t ) as a means of f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e approach t o o r g s n i c t e r s a l n supvey,
T h i s handbcok i s being brought out m d e s t h e a u s p i c e s of' t h e Defence Research Board, and ~ 1 1 3 . h e a v a i l a b l e t o a l l i c t e r e s t e d p e r s o n s ,
A s t o t h e f u t u r e , Ds, R a d f o r t h i s concerned w i t h a n e x t e n s i o n of t h e c i a s s i f i c a t i o n system f o r muskeg and i n d i c a t e d t h a t f i e l d work on s p e c i f i c a r e a s , t a k e n a s t y p e e a s e s , should be m d s r t a k e n , He a l s o r e f e r r e d t o h i s work on subsequent hand- books (No. 2 , d e a l i r g w i t h a l t i t u d e s ffsom 1,000 t o 5,000 f e e t ,
and N 9 .
3,
f o r a l t i t u d e s up t o 20,000 f e e t ) , Three handbooksa r e n e c e s s a r y because a s one proceeds t o a h i g h e r a l t i t u d e , ground p a t t e r n s change and s h a p e s t a k e on a d i f f e r e n t meaning,
*
R a d f o r t h , M O W . P a l s e s b s t a n i c a l method I n t h e p r e d i c t i o f i of s u b - s u r f a c e summer i c e c o n d i t i o l ~ c : in n o r t h e r n o r g a n i c t e r r s i n , N a t i o n a l Research 2 0 u n 2 ~ 1 , A s s o c i a t e Committee on S o i l and Snow Mechanics, T e c h n i c a l Memorandun? No, 34, Marsh 1955% 54p.Research w i l l a l s o c z n t , $ . ~ . : ~ e fr!.to s u b s u r f a c e sorid:. t ions,
D r . R a d f o r t h r e c a l l e d e.n o b s e ~ v ' a t l . o n made by Bean IJasdy s s l r e r a l y e a r s ago, t o t h e e f ' f s c t % h a t 2 . t is impsr1;ant net. o n l y t o i n t e r p r e t muskeg from h.%ghex a.!.titudee but t 3 a t t h e f n t . e . % r ? ~ s e t . a t i o n must be
extended below t h e sl.lrFace of f h e qsour,d, I n t h i s r e g a r d infopma-
t i o n a l r e a d y avai2abLe has been u t i h l , z ~ d .
I n c:onclu.s2,~n Di., Radforth s a i d t h a t he thought t h a t now was t h e timz ts b;.-l:?.g I n an irnpoi?%ant ocmponer~t, of muskeg
--
t h e h i g h l y m i n , ? ~ a l l z ; r l m a t t e ~ i a . i r e i : t l y bznsath +.he p e a t y Layer, Report on t h e I n t e r n a t ? . ~ n a l - Pest Symposium-
-
by I , 6. MacZ'arlana-
CPMr. 1.. Mac&':;islane bn-!.ei'ly rep:;;rt ed ;In t h e
1 n t a ~ n a t . i o : n s l Peat Syxp.:;nS urn wLn-Y_c.h ~ 7 9 3 h e l d in D ~ . k i l $ a .? I r ? l a n d ,
d u r i n g J u l y , 19511.. 'T.b,e S y m , p ~ s i . ~ w a E sponsored by the 3 o r d Na Mona
and hroti.ght f;oget,hcr a o r e th:m 200 d e l . r g s t e s f r ~ m
13
sa3;.;-itries t,c> h e a r and d i s c u s s t h e65
p a p e r s whish were p ~ z s e n t e d . The Bord Na Mona have e i c c e p u b l i s h e d a volume aade u,p o" t k . e papers which were r e a d at 5h.e S ~ . P O S ~ . ~ L C I , The 60r~.;.f~~ei"t~::~3 C C . ? V ~ ? F ~ ~ a wide f i e l d ofsub j e e t s , in.~;lu,d4.;lag c;l.assl.t"$catix-i of bogs and p e a t s , survey
method.^, m i l l e d pea.t an6 sod pe:.2'; p s o d u c t i o n mefhoda, c o % ' ~ u n t f o n
F n l a r g e and srnslll b o i l e r f;rz.lr:scea, g a ~ t u r b i n e s , g a a i f i c a t i o w p l a n t s and domestic s . p p l i a n c e s , wax ext~.acfu:.ors and rec.lam.ation.
of bogs w i t h and wi.,tkcut fuel_ wi,-an.%ng. Except f o r G R ~ paper
l i t t l e was s a i d of t h e e n g i n e e r i n g p r o p e r t i e s o f p e a t y s o j - i s .
During t h e aessi.on CR class! f l c a t i o n , t h e a x b 9 g u i t y of te2-ml.nology i n tecl-.nhcal 1 i t s r a t u . r e on p e a t was d e p l o r e d . Recornrnendati~ns were made f o r t h e establiwh!.ng a t an I n t e r r a t i o n a l Peat I n s t i t u t e t o c w r e i a t e a l l phases o.f p e a t s ? s e , z s c h , One Canadian p a p e r was psesen.ted by A . A . Sw:r;r.esf on c i f t h e Dept. of Mines, which gave
th.e h i s t o r y or" t h e p e a t f~?.dusts"y ;.l?, C ~ a ~ a d 8 , A r e p ~ r t FOE I i n e l a n d
i n d i c a t e d t h a t work is h 2 i r . g do!?e in. a t t e m p t i n g t o c o r r e l a t e s u r f a c e v e g e t a t i o n . arad subs~.i,r%acc? e o - l d i t l c n ~ of a p e a t bcg, M r . MacFaslane p o i n t 3 d 6 ; ~ t Shat the p r e s e n t i n t e n s e i n t e r e s t i n
p e a t problems i s due l a r g e l y tc th.c f a c t t h a t -peat areas y e p r e s e n t l a n d which i s n c t high?.! y : ~ t . l l l . z e d . , Tb.bs p r e s e n t s a c h a l l e n g e f 0
t h e b o t a n i s t , a g r i c u i t u s a l . i s t , f o s e a t , e r , i , r t d v L s k r i a l i : 7 t , and
S e c t i o n --
3
Muskeg B i b l i o g r a p h y
---
M r . MacFarlanz spoke b r i e f l y about t h e a n n o t a t e d muskeg b i b l i o g r a p h y which he had p r e p a r e d . He re-emphasized t h e p r e l i m i n a r y n a t u r e of t h i s work, s t a t i n g t h a t he hoped i t would be extended a s soon as time p e r m i t t e d t o t h e r e a d i n g and a b s t r a c t i n g of f u r t h e r l i t e r a t u r e , The 90 r e f e r e n c e s i n c l u d e d i n t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y a r e s e l e c t e d a s being somewhat r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e l i t e r a t u r e which i s a v a i l a b l e Qn o r g a n i c s o i l s . They
a r e grouped i n t o t e n s e c t i o n s , depending upon t h e i r approach t o t h e problem, and cover most a s p e c t s of i n t e k e s t i n a s t u d y of o r g a n i c s o i l s . They a r e a s f o l l o w s : S e c t i o n A : E x t e n t of Organic TerraLn
(4
r e f e r e n c e s ) S e c t i o n B: O r i g i n of O ~ g a n i c D e p o s i t s(5
r e f e r e n c e s ) S e c t i o n C : C l a s s i f i c a t i o n( 5
r e f e r e n c e s ) S e c t i o n D : S u r f a c e and S u b s u r f a c e C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s (11 r e f e r e n c e s ) S e c t i o n E : P r o p e r t i e s of Organic S o i l s (10 r e f e r e n c e s )S e c t i o n F: Road Construl,atJon oves Organic T e r r a i n (27' r e f e r e n c e s ) S e c t i o n G : Bog B l a s t i n g ( 1 0 r e f e r e n c e s )
S e c t i o n H : T r a f f i c a b i l i t y Problems (1 r e f e r e n c e )
S e c t i o n J : Miscellaneous E n g i r ~ e e r i n g Problems ( 11 ~ e f e r e n c e s ) S e c t i o n K : U t i l i z a t i o n of Organic S o i l s
( 6
r e f e r e n c e s )T h i s bibliography has Seen p u b l i s h e d by t h e D i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g Research as B i b l i o g r a p h y No. 11, and may be
P r i n 3 r y 2r,d Seccl-dary A; 3 3 5 3 over
Muskeg In efiw-Pffa.--- --
-I have keep. a?;ked t o s a y something a b o u t " P ~ i r n a ~ g and S e z o ~ d a r . y Ar,~-,'s s a -vi?--_: M i ~ p l < ? g ?,,vA F ~ 3 r ; z s t r y Ppact I c e I' ,, In.
simples ' ; . I ~ F I s , + h i s cc-.:~Ie '3.2 ;??-aterl as "Road B u t l d i r i g it:, t h e B ! - ? S ~ ' ~ ,
I have f :.urlC CL+ by k:a.t,t,-.xj expexf ?;?ce t h ~ , ? +;he, pao%lsma a r e
nurX?2rriuey 7.k.. i ~ o : p ; r i ? 3 X Y ? e>.tr1.l:2ss, a7l.d the c o a t s as2 C ? ~ i i b f ound ing ,
I have no b:2~271r!2i4.~2 c:~,?:.~.?rr~i.~,.g the terns oC: r.efe-e:3ce of yous C o r n i t t e e ; m i + , h e s dr, 1 k:al:>~~l .its r i b , j e c t i ~ r e s .
If'
t.hs S u b c o . m i t t e e o r Nuskzg ,ar;<v? ;?s at a ne'c.k:.~.od 3f d ? 3 i ?;zg w i t h Q F ~ ~ , c I . s t 3 ~ r r ; , 2 i n . 1 7 . 9 as 1 underz,'r.:a7-~rl n7.:.skegs . 3 . ~ e K,OW c%I,.Lf:d., t h e l . n d l . ~ ? t r y % rep:?eaent wouldbe v e r y I r ; . t e r e s t ~ e d ,
My exp,erl.en..,:s Ls liani+.eci t o t h . 5 muskegs cf t h o x?o~tl?.ez.: O ~ t a r i o c l a y belt ~ z g i 2 n s . ~ . d r"::oa,%ing bogs 9f nosthe%ster..r! M a n b t ~ S a ,
Of the? t w s , 1 be1.fe.v.; th,? 3 r t J t s p L s fjl-1.3 -!wc\,yae,
Wiaea i f X m t went t o t h e bush 0% n c . ~ t : h i ? r 6\1?t.ario and
s p e n t Ic;rbg pert.fc~d? i n I.os.ytt:'ing ~ o a d s ~ w i t h , t.he 1 . e a s t amount of
g r a d e , tc ext~ast p u l . p w ~ ~ c t , I h??,ieved t h a t muskegs were
depression^^ Irl t k - gsne@al t o p c g ~ a p h g o& t.11,~ area, T h . 2 ~ ~ of co>Lrse, was b e f o:nz t2i.e bl~5.t-1 was c u t o f ? , Lat.s?, I dlssove-ed t h a t t h e y
were sa!lccz.?- c r dl3k-,shapeCi a.s?aa, ,?sr.h w;.T,F:. a , s l i g h t i n c l i n e b e t o r e
t h e .scf i~a.ll. 3dga r ~ f t h e ~ , L I . s L * ~ = wa,s : ~ e s h = , $ - ~ 'I?h!,s, tk..en, was t h e
g ~ e a t . e s t ox.cuQe t~ a v z i d c-?-;t>s~"_ng :% :.~.'wl%ks3; 'but i t was n o t always
p c s a i b ? . e . 1. am t.?,,lil;.!.:r:g r.cw r'? a a:.l-,-.:b?tt:(r;?. w k % r ; w i n t e ~ rrsads w2re
c o n s t : r l " ~ c t s d 5lrnpl.y S y :ut-.ti;-ig (?fF th? t i : ? ? r s f',u.sh with the! g r o u n d , keeping t k ; ~ S K , O F \ ~ S ~ . 9 . i ~ j , + 1 3 2 o b ~ r ; . t.2 a l l ~ w f r ~ s t p e n e t r a t i_ cn, and
maint,aining 5 ke:rd .?:lzf's;? i.): 17.,33~>r~, T h i s w a s dusl.~lg t h s tfme
t k , 2 t l . o g g i r ~ q lzper&f i o a s b'it;ax>i'f;ei J) .(:. i ; J ~ ) ~ ~ . ~ r n b e ~ 1 - 2 ~ sf t c?z f k r ? ~ ze -up and
f'j-!~.is?.ed ~ T C ; ~ L Y . ~ 5115 ~ , i , d , 3 1 , ? c.f !!!.3:r.'t:,k-l
A change of co~.dnt.:,o:m has bs?n brought a b o u t by many
f a c t o r & , p a r t . i c l . ~ l a s l y s2.nc.e the. e n d cf Wos1.d War 11, F Q ~ e x m p L e , l o g g i n g aps:-izt.l ons .'?.ave be.-$3 pusb.ed B i i c k f r c m water: de 1.1 ve-y
s y s t e m s . L a b o w h . s s a d!.Ef ?.r%;?!t at',t"it~,id? taws.:-dv w:2ods w.-rSi,
There 1s the a d v e c t cf sp%ci.s.I.'lzed ,?q,l~i;p.~ect ; t h e U R L ~ ~f h e l i -
copt,?r.?, a::d tb.e ch.ltrge.-w:?r %r!;n: s l 2 ; k g h h . a ~ J s t . 0 t,rv.ck k , s s i l s ~
h a g i s , There 2 s also the 3eed for bet$,*? fire 2etect:.oK and
s u p p r e s s i o n s y s t e m s ; ev?m t h e n e e d s of 6hn t.cilrist rir;dl.;st~y must be c o n s i d e r e d . 81 1 of t h e s e factcrs9 arl.d probabljr n:2.1:37' t h a t I
nave overlookeO, a r e demanding S e t t e r k0ads t h r o u g h o u t t h e f o r e s t .
I would l i k e t . o sper.d a few m i n u t e s now t o t a l k a b o u t primary a c c e s s r o a d s . The t y p e of r o a d t h a t i s b u i l t i n t h e p a p e r
i n d u s t r y depends on t h e u s e t o which I t is t o be p u t . F o r example, i f i t i s t o be used a s a n a c c e 3 s road o n l y w i t h no h a u l i n g of heavy l o a d s of pulpwood o v e r i t , t h e s t a n d a r d of c o n s t r u c t i o n i s much lower t h a n i f t h e r o s d is t o be a oxb bin at ion a c c e s s and h a u l r o a d . When I speak of c o n s t r u c t i o n s t a n d a r d s , I ~ e f e r t o t h o s e which a r e
s e t by e a c h company i n o u r i n d u s t r y bzcause e a c h p u l p and p a p e r company f o r t h e most pa.,rf pays f o r t h e c o n a t r u e t i o n of i t s own r o a d s w i t h i r . i t s t b n b e r l?oldirzgs o r pulpwood l i m i t s . These a r e b a s i c a l l y p r i v a t e r o a d s o v e r whish t h e company c 0 3 c e ~ n e d h a s complets c o n t r o l . I n c o r ~ s t r u c 5 i n g a n a c c e s s r o a d , we c . ~ @ G s ~ t h e
b e s t l o c a t . l o n possib.ka, a y e r,ot t . 0 ~ p a r t i c u l a r a h m t t h e . m o - m t o r
e x t e n t of t h e g r a d e s , and try t o a v o i d c r o ~ s i r i g muskegs. T h i s t y p e of r o a d u s u a l l y f o l l o w s a r i v 2 r w2,ex3e therz i s always s c m 2 t y p e of b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l immetl,iately adja.cerlt t . ~ t h e d r a i n a g e . T h i s
m a t e r i a l i s u.sed t o b u i l d up t h e g r s d e and p r o v i d e an 1-8- t o
20-&b crown, w i t h a 3 : 1 s l n p e whieh i s t h e a n g l e of r e p o s e f o r c l a y . C o ~ s t r u c t i o n can be d m e a l m o s t e n t i r e l y by machinery, by
using b u l l c i o z e r s t o c l e a r sn.d g r u b , d r a g l i n e s t . o throw up t h e
g r a d e scrayelzs t o to.u.ch up t h e sough SQO'GS, g r a d e r s to l e v e l
and shape t h e crown, and front-er:d l o a d e r s and t r u c k s t o c a r r y o u t t h e g r a v e l l i 2 . g . The ~ ! s e 02' manual l a b o ~ ~ ~ r i s conf i n s d a l r n ~ s t e n t i r e l y t o t h e p r e p a r a t i o n f osl and i n s t . a l l a t i c n cf" c u l v s r t s . We have foimd t h a t such a r c a d rn:.ght h e I.onger and more crooked t h a n t h e s h c r t e s t d i s t a ~ l c e b,3twa.?n two p o i n t s , b u t i t i s u s u a l l y &
s t a b l e , r e l a t i - ~ e l y l w - c o s t r o a d ,
If a r o a d i s t o be used f o r b ~ t h a c c e s s and h a u l i n g , much more t h o u g h t and c a s e must be gi7den t o i t s l o c a t i o n , t h e
s t a n l s r d of c o r ~ s t r u c t i o r ~ i s much h i g h e r , and p e r h a p s most i m p o r t a n t
of a l l , g r a c e s must be h e l d t o a maximum of 2 p e r c e n t . I n t h i s c a s e , i t i s d e s i r a b l e t r hsve as many l o n g t a n g e n t s a s p o s s i b l e and a s few c u r v e s a s possible. Faced w i t h t h e s e requ!,rements, i n many c a s e s it i s n o t p o s s i b l e to a v o i d c r o s s i n g a muskeg. I
have found t h a t I t i s u s e l e s s and more c o s t l y t o t r y t o b u i l d
d i r e c t l y on t o p of t h e muskeg, s a y by p l a c i n g c o r d u r o y and h a u l i n g i n f i l l m a t e r i a l t a b u i l d up t h e g r a d e . When i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o c r o s s a muskeg, i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o s t a d g t h e p h y s i c a l c h a k a c t e r i s - t i c s . Althaugh muskegs l o o k a l i k e , t h e s e a r e tremendous v a r i a t i c n s i n t h z i r c o m p o s i t i o n and d e p t h even above t h e p e r m a f r o s t . Thzse may be s h a l l o w s p o t s whtch c a n be l o c a t e d by o b s e r v i n g t h e t r e e c o v e r a s w e l l as by a c t u a l t e s t i n g . It i s i m p o r t a n t t o make t h i s s t u d y of t h e p h y s i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s because i n l o c a t i n g a r o a d , one would n o t d e l i b e r a t e l y r u n t h r o u g h a l a k e 50 f e e t deep, a:ld many m ~ s k e g s a r e worse. We have f o u ~ d t h a t e x t r a time s p e n t i n
r o a d l o c a t i o n and muskeg t e s t i n g can save many t h o u s a n d s of y a r d s of' f i l l a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , many d o l l a r s .
Thus, w i t h t h e l o c a t i o n of t h e r o a d c a r e f u l l y s e l e c t e d t h r o u g h a s t u d y of a e r i a l p h ~ t o g r a p k : ~ ai3d a p a i n s t s k i n g f fe l d
i n v e s t i g a t i o n , we proceed. w!+th t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n . H a v i ~ g chosen t h e b e s t 1,ocation a c r o s s t h e muskegs t h a t cannot bs avoided, we now must d e a l w i t h t h e muskeg, U p am.E?.til m.ow, c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s proceeded r e a s o n a b l y w e l l , but
aew
p ~ o e e d u s e s must be developed. For i n s t a n c e , t h e muskeg w i l l have t o be c l e a r e d . by hand as i ti s t o o r i s k y t o send a 28-ton t r a z t o r ove? an. open muskeg in summer o r even i n w i n t e ~ i f t h e s e 2s an i n s u l a t i n g b l a n k e t of snow covering t h e ground, The d . : ~ a g l i r ~ e must be equipped w i t h pads, whish a r e made f r o m f i v e logs,
8
t o 10 i n c h . 2 ~ i n d i a m e t e r and 16 f e e t long, c a b l e d and bol.tsd. t,ose,kh..er, These pads a r e p l a c e d u ~ d s r - t h e tracks. ~ c " fh,e rj,.raglfne and provide some f o o t i n g and a d f s t r i b u t s o n of t h e weigk:t., The di?&gPlrae must m a t o f f a l l t h e nuakeg c o v e r i ~ g f ~ o m $c4,kl, t h o c e n t s 2 of the road and $hed i t c h e a 9 d i g g i n g down , ~ r . t i l t h o su,bs011. is reached. It is only t h e n t h a t the o p e ' , ~ a , f o ~ :;a'r~ s$a~r;t. t.bJ.nking about b u l , l d i n g a p t h e
g r a d e . The k e f g h t of the g ~ a . d e F s ?.etermli-~.sd by t h . a g;'adient on t h e r ~ ~ a d ~ the ;?.iscessity t o obtsLn d r a i n a g e , and t h e d e s i r e to o b t a i n qlxick di?glx:?gn
O f f t a k e ds.tche,a a r e s s g u i ~ e d and w e d o not h e s i t a t s t o b u i l d t h e s e as wc have f o t ~ n d tha3 t h e y a r e worthwhile., The
f r e q u e n c y , s i n e , and l e n g t h -,of o f f t a k ~ 1 . 8 d a p e ~ d on th? g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n s , and I cannot g i v ? any seS s u b e f o r putt1n.g them i n except t o s a y t h a t t h e y aJas an i ~ g o ~ t a n t ; a d j u n c t t o t h e road and should never be n e g l e c t e d ,
What I J u s t d e s a ~ i S e d h o l d s t r u e rnaiw:y f o r s c a d b u i l d i n g over t h e muskegs of ns~Shez-n Q w t a r i o , ELaewhzse i n t h e l o c a t i o n l i n e , t h e problems a r e She u s u a l 0 x 8 , i c e , , removal ~f t r e e s ,
c l e a r i n g t o t h e s u b s o i l , b u i l d i n g up t h e grade above t h e w a t e r l i n e , d i t c h i n g , I n s t a l l i n g c u l v e r t s , removal of b o u l d e r s , c u t t i n g down t o t h e r e q u i r s d g r a d i e n t , and s u r f a c i n g .
If
we can f i n d an e s k e r on t h e l o c z t i o n l i n e , we f o l l o w i t a s t h i s $ype of ~ F O L L ~ ~ a f f o r d st h e cheapest construction c o s t ,
We have found that. t h e c o s t per mibe a v e r m ~ ~ a k e g i s about t r i p l e t h a t f 3 k v ~ n ~ t r u c t i n , g a -gad eve@ ~ r d i a a a - y swamp
c o u n t r y , h i g h l a n d , and sandy area.s.
Gravel p i t s a-e u s q ~ s l l y hard t o f i n d and nevep seem t o be c l o s e t o t h e m a d job, and t h e search i e f o r 2heaper s u r f a c i n g m a t e r i a l . Althcugh g r a v e l f a e x c e l l e n t s u r f a c i n g m a t e r i a l f o r o u r t y p e of bush r o a d s and t h e c o s t h i g h , I t i s s t i l l cheaper t h a n o t h e r t y p e s . However, w? have considered o t h 6 ~ t r e a t m e n t of t h e s u r f a c e , such a s s o i l cement, c a l c L m c h l o r i d e , waste s u l p h i t e l i q u o r from c u r own m i l l s , aad ~ t h e ~ s , 3 u t w e always come back t o g r a v e l . The o t h e r typas cP s u s f s e i n g a r e much more c o s t l y a t f i r s t , b e s i d e s being h i g h f33- maintenance a s t h e y r e q u i r e
s p e c i a l i z e d equipment, Gravel can be h a u l e d f r c m out-of-the-way p l a c e s i n w i n t e s and s t o c k - p l l e d f o r s u w e r use or even p u t i n p l a c e d u r i ~ g t h e w i n t e r ,
I would l i k e now t o t a l k a b o u t t h e equipment t h a t i s
used o v e r t h e s e r o a d s and t h e l o a d s t h a t t h e y must b e a r , If t h e r o a d i s used f o r a c c e s s p u r p o s e s o n l y , i.e., f r e i g h t i n g i n camp b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s , moving equipment, h a n d l i n g camp s u p p l i e s , t r a n s p o r t i n g men, moving g a s and o i l s , e t c - , t h e l o a d s a r e * ' r e l a t i v e l y l i g h t and n o t f r e q u e n t . F o r example, 3- o r '+-ton t r u c k s a r e used h a u l i n g l o a d s of
6
t o 7 t o n s , t r a c t o s s weighing 20 t o n s a r e moved on low b e d s , l i g h t t r u c k s and c a r s t r a v e l t h e r o a d . Mainly, t h e u s e i s n o t c o n s t a n t and t r i p s w i t h one t y p e of u n i t may o n l y be t w i c e a w e e k . I n wet w e a t h e r , t r i p s may bec o n v e n i e n t l y postponed and t h e muskeg r o a d a l l o w e d t o d r y o u t . I n t h i s way, we a r e a b l e t o keep maintenance c o s t s down t o a minimum. O f c o u r s e , i n w i n t e r t h e r e i s n o problem f o r , once
t h e f r o s t s e t s i n , i t becomes a m a t t e r of k e e p i n g t h e snow o f f t o p e r m i t e a s i e r t r a v e l l i n g . The p u r e l y a c c e s s r o a d w i l l a l l o w
s p e e d s of 20 t o 2 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r i n s m e s and s l i g h t l y h i g h e r i n w i n t e r , depending on c o n d i t i o n s .
There i s a t r e n d i n o u r i n d u s t r y t o c a r r y o u t summer h a u l i n g of pulpwood o v e r t h e a l l - w e a t h e r r o a d s t h a t have been b u i l t as combination a c c e s s and h a u l r o a d s which, as I have p o i n t e d o u t , d o c r o s s muskegs. S p e c i a l l y d e s i g n e d t r u c k s and s e m i - t r a i l e r s a r e b e i n g brought i n t o u s e , which i n t h e m s e l v e s weigh 20 t o n s o r more. On t h e s e m i - t r a i l e r s , we l o a d s e v e n t o e i g h t c o r d s of g r e e n p u l p - wood, e a c h w e i g h i n g a b o u t 2 3 t o n s , o r a t o t a l l o a d of 17s t o 2Q
t o n s . The t o t a l impact on t h e eoad t h e n i s around 40 t o n s and might be g r e a t e r . There would be s e v e r a l s u c h units, e a c h making f o u r o r f i v e t r i p s p e r day o v e r t h e r o a d , The speed of t h e s e
h a u l i n g u n i t s i s u s u a l l y l i m i t e d t o a maximum of
15
m i l e s p e r h o u r w h i l e u n d e r l o a d and 20 m i l e s p e r h o u r d u p i n g t h e r e t u r n t r i p , T h e r e f o r e , you w i l l s e e t h a t o u r muskeg h a u l r o a d s t a k e a l o t of a b u s e and must be p r o p e r l y d e s i g n e d and b u i l t t o w i t h s t a n d t h e heavy l o a d s .What I have s a i d m a i n l y a p p l i e s t o n o r t h e r n O n t a r i o . The muskegs i n n o r t h e a s t e r n Manitoba a r e much worse inasmuch as t h e e n t i s e f o r e s t e d a r e a i s broken up w i t h v e r y l a r g e f l o a t i n g bogs which have l i t t l e o r no t r e e growth on them. So fa?, t h e r e a r e n o t v e r y many a l l - w e a t h e r r o a d s b u i l t i n t h i s s e c t i o n of t h e P r o v i n c e , but muskegs and bogs have been a v o i d e d i n t h e i s r o u t e , I n my D i v i s i o n , we have o n l y one a l l - w e a t h e r a c c e s s r o a d , b u i l t by t h e Company, which f o l l o w s a r i v e r d r a i n a g e , There a r e s o f t
a r e a s even i n t h i s l o c a t i o n from which w e have had t o d i s c a r d t h e t o p o r g a n i c m a t e r i a l and g e t down t o t h e s o l i d c l a y s o i l . You a r e p e r h a p s aware t h a t t h e b e s t f a r m i n g s o i l i n Manitoba i s
a heavy b l a c k muck, which i s v e r y f e r t i l e . T h i s t y p e of s u b s o i l e x t e n d s i n t o t h e f o r e s t e d a r e a s and i s n o t a t a l l l i k e t h e gumbo o r pods01 s o i l of t h e c l a y b e l t . I was s u r p r i s e d t o n o t e t h a t f o r e s t e d a r e a s , c l e a r e d o f f i n t h e f a l l o r w i n t e r , were growing a n a g r i c u l t u r a l c r o p t h e f o l l o w i n g swnmes, T h i s w i l l g i v e you some i d e a of t h e growing q u a l i t i e s of t h i s s o i l . Due t o t h e u s u a l l y low a n n u a l r a i n f a l l , which i s
16
t o17
i n c h e s , and l a c k-
10-
p.10 l i n e 1 read
",,.
There are a lotof r o a d s i n Manitoba t h a t ape o n l y of , g a v e l , -t z r z 2 - ?r;t
-
g r a d e d c l a y , "O u r I s ? e s s road i s g r a v e l s u r f a c e d o n l y i n t h e wo-st s p o t s p ar.d
K e h;vz found t h a t by having t h e sight-qf-way c l e a r e d t o
i50
f e e t ,daying i s very s a p i d , and w e e x p e r i e n c e v e r y few d e l a y s dll-ing t t ~ e open season due t o t h e c o n d i t i o n of t h e r e a d , Thas 1 3
important because with a low a n n u a l r a i q r " a l 1 , t h e f o r e ~ t firs
~ i s k i s g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d and we have t o be a b l e t o g e t i n w i t h
men and equipment w i t h t h e l e a s t p o s s i b l e d e l a y .
Tha g e n e r a l topography i? our p a r t of I n a - ~ i t o b % i a f l a t ,
with r o c k r i d g e s which car1 be s i r c ~ m v e r ~ L e e - '.!-en a w i n t e r ktdu? x a d
I s b e 2 ~ z g l o c a t e d . The tirnbez Is g o t 510 heavy and xinl-*?s ha111
r o a d s can b'3 b i ~ l l d o z e d f o r a s l i t t l e as $150 p e r % i l - ? , XI^; o u r
p r a c t i c e 30 do t . h l s work i n w i n t e r a ? 1% i s irr,po:;sible t o d i , SILqmer SulLdozing eve? t h e muskegs and pas$%cul arl;; f i o a t i n g Sogs
.
V e g e t a t i o n L s ccxnpletely c l e a r e d otf s y ~ d s ? . s ~ m a griibbed ? l ~ . $ , T h u s we have a s u r f a c e which cay be e s s i l y l e v e l l e 2 onea t h e f r c s t ha3
s e t in. We keep t h e snow c l z a ~ e d o f f , and a s a r e s u l t , ~ 3 . " : a ~ d
tdsucks can
run
anywhere o v s r f b e s e bulldozed ~ o a d s i n t h e winte:-, Plllpwood i s n s u l e d by t r u c k , t r u c k and s e m i - t r a i l e r s fTuckt: d!lds l z i g h t s a i n s , and by t r s e t . o r s . We h a v e f o - a d t h a t t h i s t y p e of road c o ~ s t r u c t i o n i s t h e c h e a p e s t and 8 0 f a r we have been able t o
a v o l d c a s t l y c o n s t r u c t i o n of graded r o a d s ove- t h e muskegs,
how eve^, t h e r e i s on,? p s o b l e a t h a t f a c e s u s eech y e a r ,
arid t h a t i s t h e b r e a k i n g out of t h e s e w i n t e r h a u l r o a d s sftzs t h e snow h a s come and b e f o ~ e th.: C m s t kiss a chance t o pen.et?a$e, T h e
nmskegs and bogs do n o t f r e e z e to any appreciable d e g r e e if" ther;e
Is a n insulating b l a n k e t of snaw, L a s t f a l l an abnormal % ~ 2 of ~ t
rainfall was e x p e r i e n c e d which l e f t t h e swamp3 s u p e s e a t u s a t e d ; t h . e
snow a r r i v e d b e f o r e t h e f r o s t . Faced w i t h p r e p a r i n g a .?a2, we were d o u b t f u l a s t h e a d v i s a b i i i t y sf sending a anownoblie over th.2
b o g , and s o w e s e n t men w i t h snowshoes i n t . 2 tramp down t h e sno?.r,
Then, af'tes ararn.3 Z r o s t came, a anowmcSlle was p a s s e d ovq?r 2 . t . Whl.le
w a i t i n g %OF t h e road t o f s z e z e , proq'nzessively h e a v i e r t n a c . t o r s rrfiere
s t ? a t O G S F 5 % h u t . this was d.1$cont:-,v.ued a f t ? r a t r a c t o r sa?k: Ir!
the bog, and l a t e r a t r a c k l o a d of p~alpwoad was 'arced o f f , The
e x t r a c t i o n of t h e s e ~ m i t s meant a l o s s of time, money and p ~ r ~ d u c t 2 o ~ , 3 mention t h e s e %hifigs s o t,hat. yoln can apprecirke why o u ~ s i s
b a s i c a l l y a winteza o p e r a t i o n i n _Fnag.!t cba.
S u f f i c e it t o s a y t h a t a l l - w e a t h e r rcads b ? ~ l % t tc d 2 t ? a r e a c c e s s m a d s , Haul r o a d s a s p b u l l d r ~ z e d a.cd ~ n ! y u5)3d i r i t h e
wirites t i m e , and we a r e v e r y c a r e f u l i n khe use of equipment ts
b r e a k o u t r o a d s urnti1 we are s u r e t h a t a good s c l i d b o t t ~ r n has
b ~ e n p r e p a ~ e d .
Vow 3 would l i k e t o say something s b o u t sezondssy a - c ~ s s ,
which i n my mlnd, i s simply a q u e s t i m cf making what we c ? ? l 3
t o t e m a d . In o u r b u s i n e s s , a t o t e r o s d i s j u s t a t = . a f l ?hats h a s
t o be used I n t h e open season f o r I n f r e q u e n t t ~ i p s + ? s u p p l ~ a
f i g h t i n g equipment. It always f o l l o w s t h e l i n e of l e a s t r e s i s - t a n c e and s t a y s p r e t t y much t o t h e h i g h ground. It may be
crooked o r s t r a i g h t , depending on t h e l a y of t h e l a n d , but
i n v a r i a b l y i s n e v e r over 30 f e e t wide. A team and wagon may be used on i t o r a s m a l l t r a c t o r w i t h a jumper o r s l o o p . The l o a d s n e v e r exceed a t o n and a r e u s u a l l y much l e s s . There a r e s e v e r a l u n i t s being developed by v a r l o u s equipment m a n u f a c t u r e r s f o r use on such r o a d s . It was my privilege t o s e e one of t h e s e ;uzits, which I t h i n k would be u s e f u l t o u s , being t r i e d out l a s t summer, n e a r Chip Lake j u s t west of Edmonton. The m a n u f a c t u r e r s of
Bombardiers have t u r n e d o u t a s m a l l l i g h t t r s c t c . r - t y p e s ~ o w m o b i l e , which t h e y a r e c a l l i n g t h e J
5.
T h i s i s a one-man u n i t , which can h a u l a wagon, s l e i g h , o r s l o o p , and I b e l i e v e i s s t r o n g enough t o h a u l pulpwood i n t h e w i n t e r . I am g r e a t l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h i s u n i t . Weighing s l l g h t l y over a t o n , i t can be used n o t o n l y f o r t o t i n g ,but a l s o t o b r e a k out t h e w t n t e r h a u l r o a d s o v e r t h e bogs w i t h o u t t o o much dander of becoming rnaropned because i t i s supposed t o f l o a t . There a r e hand t r a c t 0 r s . c n t h e market which can h a n d l e
f i r e f i g h t i n g equipment and which can be assembled and disassembled i n a m a t t e r of minutes by one man.
These developments, I b e l i e v e , a r e l i m i t e d i n use t o t h e t o t e road phase of our o p e r a t i o n s as t h e t r e n d i s toward more and b e t t e r al.1-weather r o a d s t o speed up o p e r a t i o n s , improve
e f f i c i e n c y , and i n c r e a s e p r o d u c t i o n ,
Methods of b u i l d i n g a t o t e road have n o t changed v e r y much i n t h e l a s t few y e a r s . They a r e u s u a l l y c u t by hand, w i t h
t h e t r e e s c u t f l u s h t o t h e ground. The r e a s o n s f o r t h i s a r e t h a t , i n t h e f i r s z p l a c e , t h e s u r f a c e 1s n o t d i s t u r b e d and s e c o n d l y , t h e r o o t system of s p r u c e being s h a l l o w , a b e a r i n g s u r f a c e i s p r o v i d e d . When i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o c r o s s a swamp o r muskeg w i t h a t o t e r o a d , a l l t h e brush from t h e t r e e t o p s and even t h e main stems of' t h e s m a l l e r t r e e s a r e thrcwn r i g h t a c r o s s t h e r o a d . T h i s
p r o v i d e s a b e a r i n g s u r f a c e f c r t h e f r e i g h t i n g -&.nit and h e l p s h o l d
i t up. Sometimes i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o l a y corduroy i n t h e road i n t h e r e a l l y bad p l a c e s , hut t h i s I s u s u a l l y avoided as i t i s c o s t l y acid n u s t be k e p t i n good r e p a i r .
Pole t r a c k s and p l a n k r o a d s were c o n s i d e r e d a s a t i s -
f a c t o r y means of c r o s s i n g muskegs w i t h t o t e r o a d s , and f o r some p l a c e s , t h e y were t h e b e s t methods. I imagine you can s t i l l s e e t h e of some of t h e o l d p o l e t r a c k s and p l a n k r o a d s t h a t
were i n use by t h e E a s t e r n Canadian pulpwood i n d u s t r y . These t y p e s were c o s t l y t o b u i l d and expensive t o m a i n t a i n a n d , as a r e s u l t , were o n l y used when no o t h e r method could be f o u n d . I am n o t aware of any p o l e t r a c k s o r p l a n k r o a d s p r e s e n t l y i n use i n E a s t e r n Canada, a l t h o u g h t h e r e may be some i n a few v e r y
i s o l a t e d s p o t s . The t r e n d i s more and more t o a l l - w e a t h e r a c c e s s r o a d s which, even though by comparison c o s t l y t o c o n s t r u c t , a r e cheaper i n t h e l o n g run because of t h e r e s u l t i n g increased volume and p r o d u c t i o n .
It could b s a f e l y s a i d t h a t w i n t e r r o a d s o v e r muskegs a r e secondary a c c e s s even though t h e i r prime purpose i s f o r t h e e x t r a c t i o n of pulpwood. If we c o n s i d e r thena'as such, t h e n t h e f o l l o w i n g p o i n t s a r e of i n t e r e s t .
With t h e l o n g , c o l d Northern Canadian w i n t e r w i t h no r e a l thaws u n t i l break-up, t h e muskegs do make t h e b e s t h a u l r o a d s because t h e y a r e g e n e r a l l y f 1.a.t and s t r a i g h t r o a d s can be l a i d o u t . Once c u t , t h e y do n o t grow up a g a i n f o r a t l e a s t
50
y e a r s andperhaps more. They m n be clearec! vesy c h e a p l y . Provid.ed a n
o p e r a t o r i s w i l l l n g t o t a k e a chance w i t h h i s equipment i n b r e a k i n g t h e r o a d , t h e w e t t e r t h e .~nuskeg, i;i-le batter t h e soad because a l l
t h e h o l e s f i l l w i t h w a t e r and f?reeze l i k e a l a k e . I n t h i s c o n d i t i o n , t h e y w i l l s u p p o r t heavy l o a d s because of' t h e f i b r o u s m a t e r i a l t h a t f r e e z e s i n t o t h a T e e . W?"' L b n o u t c01.d weathers f r s e z l n g c o n d i t i o n s and l ~ n g w i n t e r s , t h e East,ex3n Canad.ian pi~lpwood i n d u s t r y ,201rl.d n o t
t a k e c f f :ts annuai. kiarvest of about .l0,Q0OEOOQ u n i t s , Conseq!lerrt.ly, t h e pulpwood l c g g i n g o p e r a t i o n s
are
mainly wint.er p r o p o s L t i o n s .Access r o a d s o v e r muskeg f o r l o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n s s e r v e as
a means of f i r e p r o t e c t i o n a s w e l l , and t o r t h i s purpose t h e r e a r e n o t enough r o a d s khro>-@out t h e f o r e s t s of Canada. I n d u s t r y I s c o n s t r u c t i n g a s f a s t as condi.tio.qs w i l l permit and goverrunents a.-re
doing t h e l r p a r t , but i t i s not, f a . s t enough as w i t n e s s t h e b?.uge a r e a s t h a t a r e burned a n n u a l l y because t h e y c a n n ~ t 3e reached q u i c k l y by mer_ w i t h equipment, A l l l a r g e f i r e s a r e s m a l l ones at.
t h e s t a r t , and i t is impostant t o a t t a c k thzm when t h e y ar+e small.
It i s t.rue t h a t a i r c r a f t p l a y s an Smpcr+ant. p a r t , and of r e c e n t y e a r s , t h e h e l i c o p t e r h a s become a. f:ire f i g b t ' i n g unit,. Buf t h i n k
bn~,ir much more e f f e c t i v e man could be lr t h e f o r e s t s were a c c e s s i b l e
rr:rv1.gh a n adequate network of r a a d s . The time w i l l come no doubt
i;rl-)pr: S L ~ C , ~ w i l l be t h e c a s e , but ir, t h e mean.time, we must c o n t e n t
? ; l r s e l X ~ e s wi3h f i g h t i n g t h e muskegs, a ~ d , unt2.l some economical. s o l u t i o n 1 s fcund t o t h e problem of g e t t i r i g a c r o s s them, we w i l l go
,39. " f i g h t i n g " them.
I n c o n c l u s i o n I would Il.ke t o make a f e w g e ~ e r . a L o b s e r v a t i o n s .
We have f o - ~ r ~ d t h a t r o a d s s h o u l d be c u t a y e a r %head of operatl.cr,s a s b u l l d 9 z i n g u s u a l l y makes t h e f?ozen crust, of: t h e muskeg o r bog v e r y raugh and we have fomd t h i s w i l l s e ~ t l e down d u r i n g t h e summer.
Any snow a t a l l , 2ven 2 i n c h e s , w i l l r e t a ~ d t h e fx-eezlag of a muskeg. I n f a c t , we have found t h a t a muskeg w i t h nc m o w cover and exposed t o extreme low t e m p e r a t u s e s might not f s g Q Z Z ?
because any moss p r o t r u d i n g above t h e g e n e r a l w a t e r - l e v e l makes p e r f e c t i ~ s u l a t i o n .
Snow o r no snow, muskeg m a d s have t o be packed d ~ w n u n t i l t h e w a t e r comes u p . 'This is f o r a w i n t e r haill r o a d , F o r
a n a l l - w e a t h e r graded r o a d , we have fo-md t h a t t h e grade h a s t o be
5
t o 6 f e e t above t h e w a t e r - l e v e l .Packing t h e r o a d down t o o b t a i n a bottom i s t h e f i r s t
and most important o p e r a t i o n i n p ~ e p a r i n g a w i n t e r h a u l r o a d . Once t h e muskeg i s f r o z e n down
4
t o5
i n c h e s , we plow o f f any e x c e s s of snow t h a t h a s n o t been f r o z e n h a r d .The road h a s t o be dragged t o c u t o f f t h e h i g h s p o t s and
f i l l t h e h o l e s . S e v e r a l t r i p s w i t h t h e d r a g a r e r e q u i r e d , w i t h i n c r e a s e s i n weight being added a f t e r each t r i p , t o complete t h e bottom f o r a p e r f e c t r o a d .
J u s t as i t pays t o go out of your way t o . a v o i d deep muskegs on a graded r o a d , we have found t h a t i t pays t o f o l l o w
t h e s e w i t h a w i n t e r h a u l r o a d .
S i n c e t h e war, a e r i a l photographs have become t h e l o g g e r s 1 maps. The s p e c i e s of t i m b e r can be e a s i l y d i s c e r n e d . A
l o g g e r ' s knowledge of t r e e s can u s u a l l y t e l l him t h e d e p t h and n a t u r e of t h e s o i l t h e y a r e growing on. T h i s i s i m p o r t a n t because
i t e l i m i n a t e s c o s t l y f i e l d i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
Our a c c e s s r e q u i r e m e n t s o v e r muskeg, whether primary , o r secondary, a r e unique i n t h a t t h e y must f i r s t of a l l s e r v e a
prime f u n c t i o n which i s pulpwood l o g g i n g . We a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e cheapest c o n s t , r u c t i o n methods, which a t t h e same time w i l l be
1 a s t i n g . f o r t h e t e n u r e of t h e a r e a s t h a t we have under l i c e n s e . Our t r a f f i c i s c o n t r o l l e d , and o u r equipment might be c a l l e d s p e c i a l i z e d . Unlike p u b l i c highways, w e can s e t up o u r own s t a n d a r d s t o meet t h e c o n d i t i o n s we have t o work w i t h . Thus I
would n o t promise t o g i v e advic.e on how t o b u i l d r o a d s i n muskegs because o u r p o l i c y of f o l l o w i n g d r a i n a g e s f o r a l l - w e a t h e r r o a d s and adequate l o c a t i o n s u r v e y s have k e p t u s awaygrom t h e
s p e c t a c u l a r problems t h a t r e q u i r e s p e c t a c u l a r s o l u t i o n s and c o s t s .
D i s c u s s i o n
The Chairman thanked M r . H a r r i s o n f o r t h i s r e p o r t and opened t h e meeting f o r d i s c u s s i o n . D r . R a d f o r t h brought t o l i g h t d i f f e r e n t t e c h n i q u e s used i n road b u i l d i n g over muskeg. He
s t a t e d t h a t v a r l o u s companies adopt c e r t a i n methods t o d e a l w i t h t h e i r own problems, and use t h o s e methods which seem b e s t f o r t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l n e e d s .
S e c t i o n 5
Engineering C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s --- of Western Muskeg
Dean R . M. Hardy
T h i s paper w i l l revlew what i s known of t h e e n g i n e e r i n g p r o p e r t i e s of muskeg and a t t e m p t to d e l i n e a t e t h a t which i s n o t krlown but might be of value t o t h o s e concerned w i t h problems of a c c e s s o v e r muskeg a r e a s . It f s a l s o i n t e n d e d t o d i r e c t
a t t e n t i o n t o r e s e a r c h t h a t might be undertaken on t h e s u b j e c t . Organic t e r r a i n , as defa.ned by D r . N.W. Radforth,
i s t h e r e s u l t of t h e g r ~ w t h of o r g a n i c m a t e r i a l under c o n d i t i o n s of e x c e s s i v e m o i s t u r e and w i t h o n l y s l i g h t o x i d a t i o n of t h e dead m a t e r i a l . The wet c o n d i t i o n s conducive t o muskeg grawth a r e t h e
r e s u l t of poor d r a i n a g e i n s o i l s of s l t y o r f i n e sandy t y p e s
immediately below t h e groruxd s u r f a c e . Tk-eee a r e u s u a l l y u n d e r l a i n by h i g h l y impermeable s ~ i l t y p e s such 3 s c l a y , s h a l e o r r o c k , s o t h a t a "perched" w a t e r t a b l e e x i s t s above t h e h a r d bottom.
A wide v a r i e t y of muskeg c o n d i t i o n s a r e encountered i n n a t u r e w i t h d e g r e e s of s u p p o r t l n 3 p ~ w e r r a n g i n g from t h a t of a heavy s l u r r y t o t h a t of s o f t mud. The d e p t h t o t h e h a r d bottom
i s a f a c t o r of c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r e s t and i t h a s been found t h a t t h i s v a r i e s w i d e l y i n d i f f e r e n t a r e a s , I n O n t a r i o t h e Department of Highways h a s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e d e p t h t o h a r d bottom seldom exceeds
15
f e e t . However, I n A l b e r t a t h e petroleum e x p l o r a t i o n people have found i t 50 extend t o d e p t h s of 50 t o 60 f e e r , and, o c c a s i o n a l l y , even more. A t a l o c a t i o n west of Edmonton t h e h a r d bottom was computed t o be a t a deykh of 150 t oL6Q
f e e t .It i s c h a ~ a c t e r i s t i c of s a t u r a t e d f i n e sands 2nd
s i l t s i n a l o o s e s t a t e t h a t t h e y have low s h e a r i n g s t r e n g t h and a r e r e a d i l y l i q u e f i e d by d i s t u r b l r - g f o r c e s . They t e n d t o "quick" when d i s t o r t e d o r d i s t u r b e d under v e h i c l e l o a d s . T h i s I s one
reason why r o a d s f l o a t e d on t h e t o p of muskeg g e t out a f shape s o q u i c k l y .
The phenomenon of l i q u e f a c t i o n i s of c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r e s t and one about which v e r y l i t t l e i s known concerning i t s fundamental ca.uses, A road b u i l t o v e r l o o s e s a t u r a t e d s i l t
o r f i n e sand may be capable of s a t i s f a c t o r i l y c a r r y i n g a s i n g l e p a s s of a v e h i c l e w i ~ h no a p p a r e n t damage t o t h e road-bed,
However, i f s a y t e n v e h i c l e s , one a f t e r t h e o t h e r , a r e moved a l o n g t h e road g r a d u a l l f q u e f a c t i o n of t h e s u b s o i l may occur and f i n a l l y t h e road becomes impassable. With such a l o a d i n g c o n d i t i o n
-
t h a t i s , s e v e r a l v e h i c l e s t r a v e l l i n g on a c l o s e timei n t e r v a l
-
t h e b e s t remedy for t h e l i q u e f a c t i o n e f f e c t is t o remove t h e t r a f f i c from t h e road f o r a p e r i o d t o permit t h e s o i l t o " s e t up" a g a i n . There i s a r e a l need f o r r e z e a r c h i n t o t h e mechanics of t h e l i q u e f a c t i o n of l o o s e . s a t u r a t e d e l l t s and f i n e s a n d s .The f i n e sands and s i l t s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of s o i l s
s u p p o r t i n g muskeg growth a r e of a t y p e i d e a l f o r i c e s e g r e g a t i o n , t h a t i s f o r t h e fommation of i c e l e n s e s i n the s o i l , under
f r e e z i n g c o n d i t i o n s . Thus road-beds b u i l t on muskeg are s u b j e c t e d t o s e v e r e heaving d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r , a n d t h e f ~ r m a t f o n of s e r i o u s f r o s t b o i l s d u r i n g and immeaihteiy a f t e r t h e s p r i n g break-up.
The f i n e sands and s i l t s aizJc c o n s t i t u t e t h e most
t r e a c h e r o u s forms of p e c f i a f r o s t i n f'am, r.orthe,-s, r e g i o n s . I n t h e s e s a i l s t h e f o r m a t i o n of th? p e r m a f r o s t is ~ ~ s u a l b y accompanied, by t h e growth of s u b s t a q t i a l i c e l e n s e s . The muskeg c o v e r i n such a r e a s p r o v i d e a n e x c e l l e r i t i r ~ s u l a t l o n f o r t h e permafrost and c c r ~ s e q u e n t . l y t h e t h l c k n e e s of t h e a c t i v e l a y e r , t h a t i s , t h e d e p t h of thawing i n sumrner, may be o n l y a few i n c h e s below t h e o r g a E i c c o v e r . However, i f t h e muskeg Fs removed o r i f i t i s zornpressed by a road-bed f i l l , i t s i n s u l a t i o n v a l v e i s Lost and a n a c t i v e l a y e r s w e r a i f e e t t h i s k Flay c e v e l o p i n t h e s - ~ r n v e ~ w i t h d i s z s t , r o u s
r e a i l l t s t o t h e plmd. Aszl-xate d a t a o:; t h e $.'1~1~.lat F OP c h a r a o t e r i u - t i c s of muskeg a r e n c t a v a i l a b l e and h e ~ e a g a l n i s a f i e l d f o r ~ 2 s e a r c h .
S t a r ~ d a r d t etk;nic;~es f o r rcsd. c o n s t r u c t i o n i n muskeg are3.s i n v o l y e f l o s t i n g t h e rohd-bed Oi? t o g of t h e muskeg w i t h o r
I I
w i t h o u t t h e use of " c o ~ d ~ u o y i n g " o r p L ~ n c h i n l ' ; displacing t h e ur?derlying a m t a b l e mat erlal
,
t h u s sinkJ.ng t h e road ernbsn-bentt o a s t a b l e bottom by nieans of blastil-g, h y d r a u l i c p r e s s u r e o r
simply weight; of errhaalkment ; o r by p r e - c ~ : ? . , q o l i d a t i n @ ; t h e urzderlying
1 1 ~ ~ t a S l e m a t e r i a l by t h e use of sanC drains and a s u r c h a r g e of
embznkment m a t e r i a l .
The h a z a r d s ir; f l o a t i n g t h e road-bed on t h e muskeg a r e , f h s t , t h a t i f a z e r $ a I n l i m i t i n g h e i g h t and cross-sectional d l r n e ~ s i o n of' ernbankmen5 aye exceeded t h e n t h e u n d e r l y i n g m a t e r i a l w i l l be f a i l e d i r i sl-,ear; second, l a r g e a r d i r r e g u l a r s e t t l e m e n t s
a r e t o be expected ancl t h i ~ ? , s s r i o : ~ ~ darage from f r o s t a c t i o n
may occlAr. I f t k e a ~ i l u d e ~ l y f n g t h e muskeg Is f a i l e d i n s h e a r t h e n a t such 1 c c a t t o - s t h e c o r s t r u c t i o l h a s , o f i t s own a c c o r d , r e v e r t e d t o a c a s e w h e ~ e t h e displaeernerzt t e c h n f q u e must be u s e d ,
A s k e a r l n g f a i l u r e d e v e l o p s by displacement of t h e s o i l below t h e yoad-bed e x t e n d i n g down t o t h e t o p of t h e h a r d
bottom m a t e r i a l . The s o f t z o i l i s d i s p l a c e d l a t e r a l l y and farms
a s e r i e s of mud waves f o ~ a c l > n s i d e r a b l e d ~ s t a n c e on both s l d e s of t h e yoad-bed.
T h e o r e t i c a L l y , t h e s a f z embankment h e i g h t a g a i n s t a s h e a r i n g f a i l u - r e and t h e magnitude of s e t t l e m e n t t o b e expected
can be computed but such computations r e q u i r e a knowledge of t h e p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s of t h e muskeg m a t e r i a l . A h e i g h t bf 10 f e e t was a r r i v e d a t i n one such computation i n my own e x p e r i e n c e . T h i s was s u b s e q u e n t l y proven t o be c o r r e c t w i t h i n a n a c c u r a c y of about 1 0 p e r c e n t by f a i l u r e of t h e embankment where t h e computed h e i g h t was exceeded.
T h i s same c a s e p e r m i t t e d a computation t o be made f o r t h e average s h e a r i n g s t r e n g t h of t h e wet s i l t w i t h i n t h e zone of f a i l u r e below t h e muskeg. It worked out t o be 82 t o
84
l b . p e r s q u a r e f o o t . T h i s i s a n e x c e e d i n g l y low s h e a r i n g s t r e n g t h and means t h a t t h e s o i l i s s o s o f t t h a t i t cannot be s u c c e s s f u l l y sampled and s u b j e c t e d t o l a b o r a t o r y s t r e n g t h t e s t s w i t h any of t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l methods of sampling and t e s t i n g . The s h e a r i n g s t r e n g t h t h e r e f o r e can o n l y be determined bycomputation f o l l o w i n g a s u r v e y of s e c t i o n s which have f a i l e d under l o a d o r by i n - p l a c e s h e a r i n g s t r e n g t h s u s i n g a vane b o r e r o r
p e n e t r a t i o n t e s t s . However, o n l y a v e r y few such s t r e n g t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n s have been u n d e r t a k e n and o n l y t h e most meagre d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e c o n c e r n i n g t h e range of s h e a r i n g s t r e n g t h s of muskeg s o i l s . The s u c c e s s f u l a p p l i c a t i o n of a n a l y s e s of t h e s a f e h e i g h t of r o a d embankments p l a c e d on muskeg a w a i t s t h e r e s u l t s of f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h on t h e s t r e n g t h of t h e s o f t s a t u r a t e d s o i l s u n d e r l y i n g t h e o r g a n i c cover.. I n - p l a c e t e s t s u s i n g t h e Swedish vane b o r e r o r a l t e r n a t i v e l y p e n e t r a t i o n t e s t s a p p e a r t o o f f e r t h e b e s t p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r d e t e r m i n i n g t h e s h e a r i n g s t r e n g t h of t h e s o f t s a t u r a t e d s o i l s below t h e o r g a n i c c o v e r . However, d e s p i t e t h e l a c k of s o i l d a t a t h e f l o a t a t i o n procedure o f f e r s t h e most economical method a t t h e p r e s e n t time f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of low c o s t o r temporary a c c e s s r o a d s over muskeg a r e a s .
The q u e s t i o n i s f r e q u e n t l y asked: what i s t h e e f f e c t of p l a c i n g "corduroying" o r "punchin" on t o p of t h e muskeg b e f o r e b u i l d i n g up t h e f i l l ? It w i l l have no v a l u e i n i n c r e a s i n g t h e s t a b i l i t y of t h e embankment a g a i n s t a s h e a r i n g f a i l u r e i n t h e s o f t wet s u b s o i l . However, i t w i l l h e l p t o d i s t r i b u t e t h e l o a d o v e r t h e s u r f a c e of t h e muskeg, t h u s p r e v e n t i n g l o c a l f a i l u r e by r u t t i n g , and i t a l s o w i l l have a b e n e f i c i a l e f f e c t i n r e d u c i n g t h e s u s c e p t i b i l i t y of t h e u n d e r l y i n g s o i l t o l i q u e f a c t i o n from v e h i c l e l o a d s on t h e r o a d . There a r e , i n g e n e r a l , f o u r displacement methods which have been s u c c e s s f u l l y used i n b u i l d i n g road embankments
over muskeg. The f i r s t of t h e s e i n v o l v e s r a i s i n g t h e h e i g h t of t h e embankment u n t i l a s h e a r i n g f a i l u r e o c c u r s i n t h e s o f t wet s u b s o i l . A d d i t i o n a l f i l l i s added u n t i l t h e s o f t ma.teria1 i s completely d i s p l a c e d and t h e embankment r e s t s on t h e h a r d bottom. The procedure i s somewhat wa.stefu1 of f i l l ma.teria1 and d.oes n o t produce a p a r t i c u l a r l y s t a b l e embankment. Considerable s e t t l e m e n t and d i s t o r t i o n u s u a l l y f o l l o w s b u t i t i s l e s s t h a n would o c c u r by f l o a t i n g t h e f i l l on t h e muskeg. The economical use of t h e method
