Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-08-26
Uri Emmone. ESQ.
nircctio,s for Eguilding.

Make a 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 levelling foundation of the road, and
called the base level. Then strike another level
three feet six inches above, and place signals at
proper distances TO preserve straight and level
line This line is the guide for setting the posts,
or pilng, and by which the same are squared off
o., their top ends. The posts or pling 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
OF ,ilii,g should DC 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 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 a straight
line, ditch is to be dug along the base OF them,
OH both sides, sufficient depth to sink long logs Or
sticks of timber; being two continued courses en-
bodied and close to the posts, with pieces of tim
Der locked across from 10 the other, tokeep them
snug to tho base of the posts before embedding said
tibers, key seats places for wedges are cut out
directly against each post; the posts are to be fiat
ted opposite the key Seats so as 10 receive the wedg
es.. The tmbers being firmly embeddedin theground,
tho wedges must be driven ON each SIDE OF each post
or ping, until they are perfectly tight and plumb;
this being tone, fill in the earth 50 as TO keep the
horizontal timbers and wedges from the 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 timbers
are locked into tho horizontal logs, at tho bottom,
reaching off far enough for lateral brnces on each
side Of the posts piling, these braces reaching
from tho ends of the said cross timbers up to the
base level or three feet six inches below the tops
the post. When the posts are thus set keyed up,
brace'l, squared off at the top, and hewcd down
two sides, three and half feet from the top,
leaving at least eight inches solid timber, observe,
81 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 TIRES 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 II away, drive it down firm
ly to its place, and pin it there through the tops Of
tho posts; it should then 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 a half inches
thick by six wide; these should be dressed OH one
side, tho dressed side out, and fastened on both
sides of tho piling three and half feet from the
ton faing the ends to fit snug 1t the eartre Of the
posts like making fence. Care should be taken
that they retain. the same distance apart, from
outside to outside, ON all points Of The road that
the guide wheels Of the locomotive and cars run
smoothly oyci them. Its not necessary that these
guide rails should be ironed; for in all cases tho
surface Of the guide wheels should b smooth,
wide and nearly fiat OH their peripheries, a. they
only occasionally como in contact with tho guide