Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-12

years, sixty-seven companies have bee
incorporated, with nominal capital ot
near five millions OF dollars, for the pur
pose OF making more than 5000 miles oi
artificial roads; and twenty one other
companies have also been incorporated
With a capital OF 4oo GOO doliars; for the
purpose of ereGling 81 toll bridges. Al
though TO particular account has been re-
c=ived either Of the capital actually ex-
! pended, OF the annual amount of tolls,
or OF the materials of the roads, it is kno wn
taat great progress has bean made and IT
has been stated that nine hundred miles
! OF rad were already completed by IS
companies, whose capital amounted TO
, 1900 900 dollars, and who had 600 miles
OF road more TO finish.
Those roads extend in every direction,
but particularly from every town or village
on the Norh river, westwardly and north.
westwardiy. towards the waters Of the Sus-
quehaunah, and those of the great lakes.
| ihe most expensive is that from Albany
TO Schenectady, fourteen miles long, and
which has cost at the rate of ten thousand
dollars mile. Near lao miles of road.
extending westwardiy from Albany and
Schenectady, appear to have cost al the
rate OF 2,soo or 5000 dollars a mie.-
Fhe expense Of all the others doesuo. seen
IN an average TO exceed 1850 dollars a
nile.
More detailed information has been o..
a ned respecting the roads IN New Jersey
Pennsylvanla and Maryland.
In New Jersey turnpike road has
tely been completed from Trenton TO
Brunswick. The distance is IS miles !:
he greatest angle OF ascent degrees
and the road is nearly in straight line.
only considerable OBJ ,truct.on being
the " Sand HiIls," ihro' which L. was ne
cessary TO Dig at the depth of SO feet in
order not 10 exceed the angle Of ascer,.
The road IS Sc feet wide, Is feet of whicA
are covered wnh about inches Of grave /.
A few wooden bridges wii$ sione abui
rnen's and piers have been cree. ed aero J.
ihe intervening streams. The whole ex
pcnse is stated at $500 dolIars mile
From Brunswick the road will be ex,cD.
ded TO Elizlbe II town, and the work rs
now progressing, Another road has been
undertaken. in The same state from Bruns.
wick to Easion, on The river Delaware.--
she distance is % mics, ofwhich eIeveu
have been completed at an expense b,
40 600 dollars. This road will be m3r
expensive than the preceding, both on &C.
count Of the ground, the bridges being
more numerous, and The Blue Ridge, Mus.
conekong mountain) Intervening: and be.
cause more substantial facing or greater
thickness OF gravel is requisite. The
funds of the company are exhausted:
m Deunet aciiffciaI ,oaIo ,C,t :.
most substantial kind, have been compile.
ted, or are progressing, from Philadelphia,
In sundry directions.
The principal are 10 Bristol ard Tren-
ton, 2 miles of which are completed 20
CermantowB and PeTkiomep, with Two
branches to Willow Grove, and 10 Ches-
not Hill and 10 Lancaster ard Columbia,
with a branch TO Harrsburgh.
The distance from Philadelphia 10 Per.
kiomen is IS miles and quarter; the
Two branches extend, Que 10 miles and
. the other miles and half; making to-
gether near 80 miles. The angle of as.
Get: is 4 degrees, the breadth Of The ROAD
iil,y feet, of which % feet, having a con-
vexity of IS inches, are covered with
j, stratum either of gravel ID inches tblcl
or OF pounded stones ~ inches thick
One half ofihe stonse fo' ming the lowe
, part of the stratum, are broken into pie
ces not more than FIVE inches in diameter
, the other half or upper part of The SRA
tum consists of stones broken into piece
not more than two inches and half il
diameter: and this difference in the sizt
of the stones is represented as a consl.
derable defect. Side or summer roads ex
: tend on each side of the gravel or sion.
: road. The i've miles next 10 PhiladeI.
pbis have cost at the rale of l45ii
!, dollars a mile. The other 90 NILE.
and half al the rate of loI9o dollar.
a mile. Yet there were no natural i'm
: pedrmenls, and only small bridges or cul
: vcrts were necessary. The capital ex
= pended on these IS miles and halfis 2S5,
: GOO dolls. the tolls amount to $4,000 DOL
lars: the annual repairs and expenses I,
y 10000 dollars he nett income 10 abou
? 10000 dollars, or little more Than per cent
on the capital expended.
(T1 be Continued.
--ru. Cd @un
Erfrdet from evidence of the British Or