Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-08-19
direction, for Building.

Make n survey of the route, get level rs neal
as possible; allowing certain high ground to bt
removed This Lowell is at the base, or six inchc!
above tho lcvcliAg or foundation of the road, and
called the base level. Then strike another love
three feet six inches abovc, and place signals Al
proper distances TO preserve straight and love
line. This limo is tho guide for setting the posts
or piling, and by which the same arc squared of
on their top ends. The posts or pling arc set OF
driven, according 10 the naturo of the ground, and
their lcngshs determined by tho variations Of thu
ground, from tho last described level. Tho post.
or pling should be of durable wood from twelve te
sixteen inches diameter, (round) and placed
about fyc feet apart in direct line with each
other. When set as posts they should be put
down from tfrcc to four feet according TO the hard
ness of the earth. In soft ground they should be
driven us piling until they reach hard bottom.
Tho posts or piling being thus sot in straigh,
line, ditch is to be dug along the base of them,
OH both sides, sufficient. depth to sink long logs
sticks Of timber; being Two continued courses en-
bodied and close to the posts, with pieces Of tim
ber locked across from to tho other, okeep them
snug tho base of the posts before embedding said
tmbcrs, key seats places for wedges are cut out
directly against each post the posts to be fiat
ted opposite the key SEATS SO as to receive the wcdg
es,. The timbcrs.being firmly embedded ntheground,
the wedges must be driven each side of each post
pling, until they perfectly tight and plumb
this being done, fill in the earth SO as to keep the
horizontal timbors and wedges from the air, which
will prevent their rotting pound in the earth
solid.
Where the ground is low the piing Of course
becomes elevated; to secure thom cross timbers
are locked into the horizontal logs, at tho bottom.
reaching off far enough for lateral braces on each
side of tho posts piling, these braces reaching
from tho ends of the said cross timbers UP to the
base level, three feet six inches below tho tops
of the post. When the posts thus set, keyed IN.
brace1, squared off at the top, and hcwed down Of,
two sides, three and half feet from tho ton,
leaving ut least eight inches solid timber, observe
"a feet below the top of the post make a saw cut.
forming shoulder for the guide rails to rest upon
The posts arc now ready to be mortiscd or
throated for the reception of the main or upper IN IL
which should be about three inches thick, by ten
inches wide of hard strong wood: Therefore the
tops of tho posts should be throatod three inches
wide and seven inches deep, to secure the rail
without cutting any of it away, drive it down firm
ly to its place, and pin it there through the tops of
tho posts; it should thon be dressed off level. and
square with the perpendicular line Of tho posts.
Now for the guide rails below, which shouldbc Of
hard smooth wood, about two and half inches
thick by six wide; these should be dressed on one
sido. tho dressed side out, and faste,iet on, both
sides of tho piling three and half feet from the
ton raing the ends to fit snug at tho ccntre OF thc
nns,s ike making fence. Care should be ,,tcn
thnt they rctai. the same distance apart. from
ousile to outside, OH all points of tho road thai
,bo puido wheels of the locomotive and cars RIM
smoothly ovc, them. 1t is not necessary that these
guido rails should be roncd; fnr in all cases the
surface of tho guide wheels should be smooth,
wide and, nearly fiat OH their pcriphcrics, as they
only occasionally conc in contact with tho guide