Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-09-13
TO TIE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.
u All ROiDS

"OoDEN NALL hoAIS.
G-ENTLEMEN-The several communicate lately pub.
lished in your paper, and one in the Rail Road Journal Of
the 3lst ult. from John $. Williams, Esq. OF Ohio, upon The
subject OF my plan of wood tracks for roads, induce me 10
ask Tor a column or two OF your paper, TO detail the sub
stance oil a correspondence with MIR. Williams. | ieei
this course due to The magnanimous character of MIR. vii.
liams, and to myself, az having offered my invention az en-.
tireiy original, and which l can still say most conscienti.
ously is the fact; that as far as am concerned, the idea
was entirely original with Inc; although Mr.. w. preceded
me 'h 'ne o'oug"t' appears Two years, yet 1 never saw
or heard a word OF il. And Mr.. " w. c." Of Hanover.
Gee Enquirer, July 49, It also appears has had a similar
plan in use Tor six months, also unknown to me. And
apprehend these facts were and are generally unknown in
Virglnia, as they have not been noticed in any cominuni-
cation. And 'ts evident, that il Mr.. "Tom Thumb' had
been apprissd OF Mr.. Willisms's also claiming the invention.
he would have called upon him, either before or after his
journey TO England, and hi, Encyciopediacdi researches
after matter TO prove that some sort OF wood roads had been
in use, before proposed il, some centuries. And here let
me make a single remark in reference TO the communica
ton Of " Mr.. Thumb published in the Enquirer Of the
9Th ult., which is all feel myself called upon 10 notice,
ss il is sn anonymous communication. First, that he must
have studied TO misunderstood me, when I said " that the
timbers will not tceor out" he could mol have supposed
that intended TO say that they would last foTeper but
that they would be consumed by decay, before they would
by toedr. Secondly. when I said that a road made upon
this plan would be the cheapest and best ever made,'
he could not have supposed that meant that il would he
better than the common rail road, or cheaper than the
earthen roads in use thus combining tie cheapness OF
the one with the utility Of the other. Now, il 1 am not
greatly mistaken in the cost OF il, and have not been much
IN error as TO The average cost Of McAJami.ed roads, for
which Ibis IL intended as a substitutes, he will find that il
is greatly cheaper than McAdamised roads, in well tim
bered countries, allowing interest upon the difference Of
cost, IL IL lasts but GUe years. have, however, nothing
more TO say upon ihIs subject, than that have not charity
enough TO believe The motive in the publication was in
tended 10 further the spirit of improvement, now abroad in
the land, and that ] do not envy the ceilings which prompt
ed il.
About the last Of July, I received a letter from Mr.
Williams, hrst informing Inc that he had patented a SINH.
lir plan, with 4 report made by him 10 the " Cincinnati
Columbus aud Wooster Turnpike Company" in 1881. up
on the subject OF Wooden fals-snd also an act OF the lie
gislature Of Ohio, authorizing The use Of wood, passed in
1892. Aud here let me say, that, when IN Baltimore in
June last, IN = conversation with Caspar w. Viewer, Esq
Superintendent OF The Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road, &c.
Mr.. Viewer said 10 me and Mr.. Hart, that a plan ONE hai
similar to mine had been suggested by a gentleman in
Ohio, but mentioned nothing OF a patent, nor did under.
stand the plan was one which covered my specification
This was all, however, after had deposited my model ant
specification, and paid the fees and ordered = patent TO is
sue-oi which conversation with, or remarks OF MIR. We
yer, ! have frequently spoken. The following is a cop,
OF The letter received from Mr.. Williams, dated
CiNctNNArI, (ohio) July 9Th, 1889.
DEAR SIR Yesterday IL came to my knowledge tina
You have invented a plan Of using wood in The improve
ment Of roads, with some description OF the manner Of IL
and that you intend 10 take out 4 patent for IL. have NJ
doubt OF the utility Of the plan proposed, but write 10 yol
TO inform you that | preceded you in the invention, probs
bly, more than two years. filed a description Of my dis
covery In the patent Office a. early ss April, 1881. sem
You by this days mail, 4 report made by me To 1881, TO thN
O.. G. and w. Turnpike Company; IN which you vii. SCI
a drawing snd description Of my invention, under the lorf
which 1 thought best TO recommend the road for perma
nency and utility. My specification. however. recognize
your plan IN al is parts, although prefer the mode re
. ported to The Turnpike Company. ! write 10 you to pre-
= vent what ] dosbt not, you will consider an useless OK
. ~penditurs. as can % clearly aud gnequiyoesiiy estsblis
. the Ptlority OF my eisim. You vii sIo see tbsi fsPo