Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-22
REPORT
Or 7Hg SEcRE TARr or TAE TREASURY
ON THE suBJgcT OF
PUBLIC ROADS & CANALS,
MApEIN PURSUANCE OF
RESOLUTION or SgNATE OF MhRcR 2.
Continued.
REPORT
CC9nfinucd.J

Continued.
On the last point it appears from the
facts already stated, or scattered in the
communications received outhat subjeS:
isl, That the slohes ought to be similar IN
quality and reduced 10 the same sizs
which should not exceed three inches in
diameter; I'd, That the preferable quail
ties Of stone, rank in he following ordr +
hard black stone, granite, flint or quartz,
blue lime stone, white ditto. Sd, That
the stratum may be either OF pounded
stones IL inches thick, or Of pounded
stone 10 inches thick, with 2 inches of
gravel spread over the stones or entirely
OF gravel l8 inches thick: 4lb, That
when the materials are equally Convenient,
the expense of those three modes will not
materially differ, but that the rate OF ex-
pense depends principally on the number
of hills aud bridges, distance of materials,
b esdth Of the ro.d, and price of labor |:
aud 5th, That the genera, adoption OF
broad wheels tor the transportation OF hea
Wy loads is necessary 10 the full enjoy
msnt OF the advantages expected from The
most substantial artificial roads. On the
OCa,ICC III IOufS@itJ abN Oii VIC pfNPCi
F.. sn&pe to be gwen 10 The natural bed OF
the rosd under The artificial stratum, O
diversity Of opinion seems TO prevail
The roads heretofore made may be d.
yided into three general classes.
l. Those where the oUly improvement
consists in the reduction Of hills, and in
the convexity and diiches Of the road
whereby the aRgie OF ascent is render ID
more easy, and standing water excluded ,
but where the natural soil is used withouI
any artificial stratum. The expense al
these roads may vary according 10 local
circumstances, and the perfection OF the
work, from Ave hundred TO one thousand
collars mile. They are most generally
in use in the eastern states. and may be
in. oduced with advantage in all those
districts of county, whers wealth does
not admit more expensive improvements,
or where the materials of an artificial slta.
tunl ate altogether wanting, Ii Is only III
the last case, that they may be consider
ed as a national object (; and no other I'M
provsncnt besides bridges and cause ways
Is perhaps practicable in the lower couns
try of the southern states. Iron, and {.
ven timber rail roads, may however be
sometimes substi,uisd in those level parts
OF the county, where stones and gfave
are not 20 be found.
2. Roads prepared as above, Of redu.
eed breadth and covered with thin coaj
Of gravel no, more than six or nine niche.
thick; such as the turnpike lately mad,
between Trenton and BrurSwick. These
roads, The expense OF which may be est
mated at about 5000 dollars a mile, mal
be used whenever the frost does no, ma
ieriaIly effect them, and in every climate
when they are iniended principally for tbs
conveyance Of persons, and not for III,
transportation Of heavy loads.
3. The artificial roads of toe besi con
struclion, such as have been already d,s.
cTIbed. These WHEN not excet ding -
feet ia breadth. and except 10 the yicini
iy OF large ciics, will cos, ~ the rae oil
700o dollars a mile, exclusively OF bridg
es over large rivers. And they must b.
rcsortod to, whenever a COMMERCIAL roa,
for heavy transportation is iUended
particularly in the middle states, ~
Tathur in the ". States, between ~
56 degrees Of north latitude. Moth o
the 4ist degree, the SNOW lies generally
during the whole winter; and The grta
bulk Of heavy transpDrla ion is effected "
sleighs during ihst season. There Is
therefore less necessity tor using the road.
in the spring and they are elso bettet
protected against the elf els OF the fros
by the snow. South of The 36th degree
which IN The Atlantic sales may be con
sidersd IS the boundary Of the great cot
ton cultivation, the frost does not mate.
rally iniure the roads. u IS between thos,
two extremes that the most substantial
are required and It also happens lhattb'
great land communications with the west
ern country, which considerably increase