Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-07-22
Uri Emmons, Esq.
nircctio,,s tor Building.


Make survey Of the route, get level MS near
as possible; allowing certain high ground to be
removed This level is at The base, OR six inches
above the dwelling foundation OF the road, and
tcalled the base level. Then strike another level
4 three feet six inches above, and place signals at
proper distances 10 preserve a straight and level
line This line is the guide for setting the posts,
/ or pling, and by which the same are squared off
on their top ends. The posts or piling are set or
driven, according TO the nature Of the ground, and
their Iengshs determined by the variations of the
ground, from the last described level. The posts
or piling should be of durable wood from twelve to
sixteen inches diameter, (round) ard placed
about FIVE feet apart in direct line with each
other. When set as posts they should be put
down from three to four feet according TO the hard
ness of the earth In soft ground they should be
driven as piing until they reach hard bottom.
The posts or piling being thus set in a straight
line, ditch is to be dug along the base Of them,
OH both Sides Of sufficient depth " sink long logs Or
sticks of timber; bsing Two continued courses en'
bedded and close 70 the posts, with pieces u TIM
Dor locked across from 10 the other, TO keep them
snug 10 tho base of the posts before embedding said
timbers key seats places for wedges are cut out
directly against each post; tho posts are to be fiat.
ted opposite the key seats as to receive the wedg
es. The timbers being firmly embedded in theground,
the wedges must be driven ON each post
or piling, until they are perfectly tight and plumb
this Doiitg uOno Dtl Ill tn0 cdEus ~ 10 " AoOP ZIG
hori zontal tmbers and wedges from tho air, which
will prevent their rotting pound in the earth
solid. $
Where the ground is low the piling of course
becomes elevated; to secure them cross tmbers
are locked into the horizontal logs, at tho bottom,
reaching off far enough for lateral br ices each
side of tho posts piling, these braces reaching
from the ends Of the said cross timbers up to the
base level, three feet six inches below the tops
Of the post. When the posts thus set keyed up,
brace1, squared Of at the top, and hewed down OH
two sides, thrssSSslsl half feet from the top,
leaving at least "a inches solid timber, observe,
| "a feet below the ebf the post make saw cut,
forming shoulder for the guide rails to rest upon
The posts are now reSdSstp b mortised or
throatcd for the reception Of the main or upper rail,
which should be about three inches thick, by ten
inches wide of hard strong wood: Therefore the
tops of the posts should be throated three inches
wide and seven inches deep, to secure the rail
without cutting any OF il away, drive it down firm
y 10 its place, and pin il there through the tops of
the posts; it should then DO dressed of level, and
square with the perpendicular line Of the posts.
Now for the guide rails below, which should BIO Of
| hard smooth wood, about two and a half inchesI
thick by six wide; these should be dressed on one
side, tho dressed side out, and fastened on both
sides of the pling three and half feet from the
top raing the ends ~ fit snug at the centre OF the
posts like making fence. Care should be taken
that they retain. the same distance apart from
outside to outside, all points Of the road. Thar
the guide wheels of tho locomotive and cars run
smoothly over them 1t is not necessary that ttaee
guido rails should be ironed; for in ali cases The
surface Of tho guide wheels should DO smooth.
wide and nearly aat OH their perpheries, a. shsy
only occasionally come in contact with the guide