Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-12-31

P. ST. send you Chicago paper con-
tanning couple OF articles ON the subject of
Plank Roads, from which you can take such
extracts as you may deem proper.
I'VE copy the following article from tho
paper sent us by our correspondent 1t is
in reply TO committee Of Chicago gentle
men, and will be found to contain valuable
information.
Gentlcmen:-In compliance with your
request, have recently examined the Plank
Roads building in Canada, and submit a
brief description of the plan Of their con-
structon.
The road is graded uniformly thirty feet
wide. slightly convex, and the centre is
raised TO three and half feet above the bot
tom of the side bitches, which arc mado
sufficiently large to carry off the water rea-
Oily. The vertical line Of the road is made
to conform as nearly as may be TO the natu-
raj surface, by frequent changes, varying
from perfect plane TO maximum nclina-
ton OF one foo, in twenty-one.
Uponth road thus graded, the super
structure is placed, by laying down longi-
tudnally with the road, five pieces of Axe
scantling, equidlstant from each oher-
These are firmly beddcd in the earth, and
the spaces between them compacily filled
even with the surface.
Upon these n course of 3 inch plank is
laid, edge TO edge, and the ends secured by
7 inch spike. About one foot Of each end
Of the plank is then covered with earth, to
the depth ofthrec inches, and the reminder
Of the plank covered with sand, to the
dept of two inches. The same pro.oc Is the
plank from wear and is kept in place by
the deeper covering of earth OH each side.
From the covering on the ends ofine plank,
the slope 10 the side bitches is sufficient TO
carry off the falling water. The wafer that
settles beneath the planking, is discharged
into side bitches by frequent cross drains.
Through and in the vicinity of the princi-
pal towns, the plank arc sixteen feet long,
forming two rold-ways; but where the trav-
ell is less, the plank arc twelve feet long,
forming only single track.
The Engineers in charge Of tho consruc-
ton of these roads, estimate their duration
at ten years,wiih slight annual expenses for
repairs. ....
1t is evident that if u road Of this kind be
we'll constructed, by having ample drainage
and the plank laid so as to have firm aud
uniform bearing, that the annual expense
for repairs must be very small, until tho
wear and decay require un entire renewal of
the superstructurc, which, under favorable
circumstances, think may last eigh, or len
years.
In regard 10 the cost ef,hcsc roads-Mr.
Czowskl, the Engineer ia ehareo Of con-
siruction in the London district, Informed me
that the acreage cost of grading and brid2.
ing was about $4,000 per mile.
Some portion of this road passes over ve-
~ level ground, covered mostly with heavy
timber,'a nd could be graded, Except grub
bling, al about the same expense as tho prai-
rio immediately west Of Chicago Other
portions of the road require expensive exca.
vations, embankmcnts, and bridges, which
form but small extent of the road, and
greatly increase the average cost per mile.
Tho supcfsiructure is of pnc,. which is
generally obtained, convenient TO tho road.
and costs, laid down, from $4,000 ,sa,5oo
per mile. - =.
The cost Of building Plank Road over
any gwen section st country, must, Of