Dear Mahatma: Is there salt in the sand that Little Rock uses to spread on the icy roads? It does a great job. I'd like to use that in my garden. -- Jim
Dear Jim: People in city government will be happy with the compliment. You are a nice man.
Now, regarding the composition of the road stuff, our old friend and bookend Jennifer Godwin, spokesman for the city, reports it's a mixture of 70 percent sand and 30 percent salt.
Is this good for gardens? We asked Janet Carson, whose gardening column appears in this newspaper. She is well known as an extension horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. She says: "NO!!" That's a direct quote, by the way.
Don't add salt to a garden. Most gardens don't need sand, either. Gardens need organic matter in the form of compost.
Read and heed, Jim, lest your plants croak.
Mr. Mahatma: After the recent snowfall I noticed numerous cars and trucks driving with lots of snow on the roof and trunk. I also saw snow and ice blowing off these vehicles on the interstate and striking cars behind them. I know in Germany it's against the law to drive on a public road with snow on a vehicle. What about Arkansas? -- Mr. Snowman
Dear Snowman: Some years ago a member of our clan, a son, lived in Germany. We visited. On the Autobahn, the son was driving about 140 kilometers an hour. That's just shy of 90 mph. We were being passed lickety-split. Quite an experience.
We have previously quizzed law enforcement on this topic. If there's a law that mandates snow removal from vehicles, it's yet to be found. The Arkansas Driver License Study Guide does say this: "Never try to drive with snow, ice or frost on the exterior windows. Clear the front, side, and back windows before you drive."
A check of the calendar reveals this is February. Plenty of winter left for a nice, big snowfall. Or brutal ice storm.
Dear Mahatma: Every other day I travel U.S. 67-167 north through Jacksonville to our farm. I eagerly await completion of the widening of the road and bridge there -- should completion ever happen. Why is this project taking so long? What is the material being used? It looks like some kind of slate. -- Want to Know
Dear Know: David Nilles of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department gives us an update on the project to replace bridges over Redmond Road and Main Street and to construct a third lane in each direction.
The completion date is currently estimated to be end of 2017 or beginning of 2018. The project was delayed because of a decision to add a turnaround under the Main Street bridge after construction had already begun.
As for that slate stuff, the embankment material is shale.
Vanity plate seen on a red VW Beetle: COKEBUG. On the back window is a sign that says "Coke is it!" We're guessing maybe this driver works in the soft-drink business.
Mahatma@arkansasonline.com
Metro on 02/13/2016