Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-02-25

CHARcoA1 RoADs.--We cal attention Of
parties interested in the construction Of du-
rable ihoroughf4res in The Yazoo swamp,
to the following paragraphs, which we find
in the Mssissippian. We prepared a pa
ragraph oursef on this subject, several
months ago, founded on some statements
in the " Report of the Commissioner Of
Patents" but il was msiaid, and the mat
ter escaped our memory. The experiment,
on small scale, will cost linle money or
trouble, and we hope our enierprising
friend, Col. L., will Try it on his new road
and communicate the result 10 the public
The cheapest turnpike roads that are
built, are made of charcoal. The process
is very simple, and he cost ineonslderabIe,
when compared with either the cost Of a
M'Adamzed road or a rallrond.
We understand it is III contemplation TO
build a charcoal road from Pamela TO Delta,
on the Mississippi river, in Coahoma coun.
ty. The experiment of charcoal
roads has been tried with success in Hi
nois md Ohio, and such a road is in pro.
gress OF erection between the iar-famed
Salt river, and the city Of Louisville, Ky.
We wish to see the experiment tried in
Mississippi, rot doubling ils entire success:
The following is from the Cleveland
CO., Herald
"Tmber from six 70 eighteen inches
through, is cut twenty -four feet long, and
piled up length wise in the centre Of the
road about five feet high, nine feet wide
at the bottom, aud two at the top, and then
covered with straw and earth in the man.
ner of coal pits. The earth required to
cover the pile, taken from either side,
leaves two good sized bitches, and the tim
Der although not split, is easily charred,
and when oharred, the earth is removed
to the side OF the bitches, the coal raked
down to a width of fifteen feet, leaving it
two feet thick al the centre and one at the
sides, and the road is completed"
road Of this kind is now being made
in the Cotton Wood swamp, near BIssfieId,
in Michigan. From the writer above
quoted, we learn that about seventy rods
are completed, twenty of which have
been used for the last seven months and
the balance for three months; aud as it is
on the great thoroughare west, and as,
in addition, on an average, sixteen heavy
loaded teams, to and from Ashery, pass
over it daily, it has been very well tried
during the winter and spring, and YET
there is now no appearance Of ruts, but il
it presents an even, hard surface.
The road is said to become very com.
pact, and to be free from mud and dust
Hon Elisha Whittlasy and Mr.. Newton
an engineer, who inspected The Bllsstiolc
road above mentioned, state that they
passed over it the morning after a rain:
CAT each end of the different sections
of the coal road, the mud on the causeway
was belly deep, where there was tha
depth of earth; and nearly or quite hal
axletree deep where the logs We're broken
when, on the coal-road, there was not the
least water standing, and the impress o.
feet OF horses passing rapidly over II, was
like that made on hard washed sand, an,
as the surf recedes on the shore of the
| lake. The water is not drained from the
bitches, and yet there are no rus or inc
qualities in the surface Of the coal,road
except what is produced by more compac
packing on the line Of travel, We thlnl
| it is probable that coal will fully compen
safe for the deficiency OF limestone an'
gravel in many sections of the west-2nt
where q road is to be constructed through
forest land, that coal may be used at
fourth of the expense of limestone"