Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-08-12
n;rection. for lsuilding.

Make survey OF the route, get level rs near
as possible; allowing certain high ground to be
removed. This level is at the base, or six inches
above the dwelling or foundation OF the road and
called the base level. Then strike another level
three feet six inches above, and place signals at
proper distances 10 preserve straight and level
line. This line is the guide for setting the posts,
or piling, and by which the same are squared off
on their top ends. The posts Or pilng are set OF
driven, according TO the nature of the ground and
their lengshs determined by the variations of the
ground, from the last described level. The posts
or pling should be of durable wood from twelve to
sixteen inches diameter, (soana1 aud 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 piling until they reach hard bottom.
The posts or piling being thus set in straight
line, ditch is to be dug along the base of them,
OH both sides, Of sufficient depth to sink long logs
sticks of timber; being two continued con se5
bodied and close to the posts, with pieces Of tim
Der locked across from one TO tho otha, toksep
snug to the base 81 the posts before embedding said
tmbers, key seats or places for wedges are cut out
directly against each post; theposts are TO be sI-
ted opposite the key sents so as TO receive the wedg
es. The timbers being firmly embedded in tegrond,
the wedges must be driven on each side each post
or pling, until they perfectly tight and plumb;
horizontal ,inbers and wedges from the air, which
will prevent their rosii,g ;--pou,a III the earth
solid
Where the ground is low the piling of course
becomes elevated; to SECURE than Cross titnbe,s
are locked into the horizontal logs, the bottom
reaching off far enough for lateral br ces on each
side Of the posts or ping, these braces reaching
from the ends of the said cross timbeis up to the
base level, three feet six inches below the tops
the post. When the posts thus set, keyed up,
bIaced, squared off at the top, and hewed down on
two sides, three and a half feet from the top,
leaving at least eight inches solid TIMBER observe,
"a feet below the top of the post make saw cut,
forming shoulder for the guide rails to rest upon.
The posts are now ready to be mortised or
throated for the reception of the main upper rail,
which should be about three inches thics, by ten
inches wide of hard strong wood: Theodore 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 irm-
to its place, and pin il there through the tops of
the posts; il should thon be dressed off level, and
square with the perpendicular line OF the posts.
Now for the guide rails below, which should be of
hard smooth wood, about two and haif inches
thick by six wide; these should be dressed on one
side, the dressed side out, and fastened on both
sides of the pling three and half fee, from the
top faiIng the ends to fit snug at the ceptre of the
posts like making fence. Care should be taken
that they retail. the same distance apart, from
outside to outside, all points Of the road tina,
the guide wheels of the locomotive and cars run
smoothly over them. tits not necessary that these
guide rails should be ironed; for in all cases the
surface of tho guide wheels should be smooth,
wide and nearly fiat OH their periphcries, as they
only occasionally come in contact with the guide