Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-08-04
From the Temperance Aduoeate.
PT.ANK ROADS.

Mr.. Editor,-I would like 10 call the
attention. ofthe people of South Carolina
10 the mode of improving their highways
BY means of pIankroads. II appears to
me that this is the very best possible i'm
1proyemenl for this State, where, from the
great scarcity -Uf stone, MeA AdamizinsS 8 IS Is
almost iinpracticable; and even if stone
were pientiier, the nature of1he soil would
bo the wors, for that kind ofimproyemenf
while ills the best possible kind Of road,
Vet there are many situations where,either
from the nature Of the country, or the
smalness of its products, the expense oil
constructing them would not be justified.
VS. The railway is more adapted to the
exigencies Of great highway, where a
large and regular supply of trade requires
the power of steam to transport it, The
communications to this great highway
are the positions where the plank road is
required. Upon them any kind of vehicle
NAV be used, which is not the case with
the railway, which, from its nature, ne
cessarily confines the transport TO par
ticular kind of vehicle, which canno. be
used in other situations. Thus, though
generally, the railway is the best kind of
road, there are situations in which the
plank road is lis superior.
These roads, first made in Russia, have
been use in Canada, and portion oil the
State Of New York for some years, and
are highly approved Of. There are now
in Canada, some FIVE hundred miles OF
them in successful operation. and many
more miles projected. In fact, in any
situation where timber is plenty, they are
next to railways, the bes, possible kind oil
road. both for ease of draft, greater uni.
formity during all kinds of weather, aud
presenting the greatest facilities for re-
pairs.
The mode OF constructing plank road
4 is very simple; two pieces Of scantling,
four inches square, are laid ia the direction
Of the road, aud at the proper distance
apart-these iimbers are entirely imbed-
sled in the ear,h, aud upon them, and
across the road, three inch plank is laid,
.imbers, but without being fastened to
them in any way; upon the plank abou
one inch OF clean sand is slrewn. This
with side bitches for draining. similar tc
those made on other roads, and especially
necessary for this, completes the track
Careful experiments made 10 this object
have determined that the friction Of vehi
cles, Of the amoun, Of power required tt
draw them, on good gravel road, amont
{ to one. sixteenth Of the weight; on Nc
Adamized road. one-thirty-sixth Of the
weight; on a McAdanized road. will
paved bo,om, one-6fly-firS. ofthe weigh:
es we'll made payment, oue-seventy'
4 first the weight; on an oaken plank road
Z one -niuety eighth of the weight; on {
heavy railway bar, one-,wo hundred ant
eightieth of the weigbt.-From which j
will be seen tha, plank road ranks mex
/ 10 tiIe railway in the power required L
transport freight over it.
think il may be assumed. that th'
average cost of a railways with bar no
exceeding so lbs. to the yard, ~ ton
10 The mile, will be fifteen thousand dol
lars TO the mile, in this portion ofthe Stat,
fora single track. essS ).
The following rs the estimate Of the cos
of!a single track of plank road :, one mil
long, eight feet wide: l26. .72O feet boar
measure, 3 inch plank, and 14.OS0 feet
a by a inch scanllins, in all l40,S00 fes