Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-02-25
Plank Roads.


18th inst. This report embodies much
valuable information on the subject of Plank
Roads, and especially at this time, when
the public mind is so generally called to
this species of public improvement, will
the matters discussed in the report be ac-
ceptable 10 the people. We take the hber-
ty 10 abridge and TO make extracts from
such portions of the report as will be of
immediate interest to our readers.
The report discusses the relative merits
of Railroads, Macadam roads, and Plank
roads. Railroads are doubtless destined
some years hence to become the most i'm
portant means of travel in the west; but
our territory is yet comparatively in It's in
fancy, and there is not yet sufiiciency of
capital, 10 warrant the undertaking of Rail-
roads. Macadam roads are much more
expensive in their construction than Plank
roads, beside, they are kept in repair at
greater expense than Plank roads. Greater
speed is attainable and heavier burdens can
be carried, by the same power on Plank
roads, than on Macadam roads. The fol.
lowing facts, says the report, stated by
Henry l-ejyard, Esq, of Detroit, go far to
show that Plank roads are preferable 10
Macadam under all circumstances
AT town in New York plank road is
about to be constructed, where, for a reach
of 3 miles, the line of road runs along n
a ledge of exposed rock proper for Macad-
dmi2ing, which only needs 10 be tumbed
into the road way ready for usc Here,
| # anytchere, it might be supposed Mac
adam road could be proftAbIv made In
another town in the same State, move
ments are making to take up the 'cobble'
stone pavement of street, for distance
of two miles, and lay down plank road in
lis stead.
Plank roads are peculiarly
adapted to low, fiat, or wet regions; and in
such localities, practical business men can
construct them without the expense OF en-
Iploying an engineer. Buttheir adaptation to
a rolling and even hiIly country, has been
fully and tavorably tested: As their smooth
and even surface opposes no resistance TO
the wheel of a road vehicle, the draught on
them up an inclination is much easier than
on an ordinary road, demonstrating their
ability to overcome considerable elevations;
the exposure Of the horses to slipping
on such asccnts, being almost entirely
Obvlated by slight covering of sand or
earth upon the pIanks. On the alternate
plank and Macadam road at Toronto, the
plank portion of the road follows the same
inequalities of surface of the ground that
existed before the Macadam road was SUI
prrceded BY it; and the writer in the De
trot Free Press says it rises and desccnds
hills of much sharper grade than the foot
of Woodward Avenue in the city of De
trot. Thomas G.. Alvord, Esq, member
of the legislature, and superintendent of
the Sallna road, writes u.s." We pass
over rises in our road (sIort it is lrue) of
one foot in tcn;" and further, "that it is
far easier to 90 over the same elevation on
plank road than on acomnun dirt road.
The Canadian plank roads are princi-
pally located in the London District, Canada
! West: There is one from Port Stanley Ia
London, 26 miles; Cd, from Hamilton To
Port Dover, SO miles; Sd, London To
Brantord, ST. miles; 4lh, London TO Chat
ham, G73 miles; 9Th. Chatham to Sandwich
go miles; 9th Chatham TO Amhersthurgh,
8 miles; 9TH, London TO Port Sarnia, 81
miles one in progress from London 10
Godericl, rs miles two or three radlating
from Toronto, one or more at Montreal and
Chamblv, one at Quebec, and several others
Of less note in other parts OF the provinces.
| OF the precise number of these roads III
Canada, we are not advised but we learn
/ that their aggregate length is between 400
and 500 miles.
Perhaps the most successful plank road
vet constructed is that at Salina, New
+ York, extending 70! miles eastward To
Brcwton, on the line of the old military
road from the Salt Springs to Sackcts Iiar
! Dor 10 Watertown ; and il is said 10 be one
OF the most extensively travelled roads IN
the interior of that State, in the hauling
! Of wood, barrels &C.. to the salt works,
and in Transporting the plaster and sal. OF
! Onondaga to the farming counties of Os-
wego, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence
1t went into operation in 1916; and so well
satisfied is the whole adjacent community
of the great advantages of ibis road. the
price OF lands and the general value OF pro
perry contiguous to ithaving been enhanced
by its operation, that the people are taking
active steps for the construction of similar
roads in every direction. We learn from
/ Mr.. Alvord, that the Salina road has divl-
ded Ia per cent profits the last year, with
a reserve ofsurplus p profits Of over $4,000.
The Salina was the first plan' road finished
in the u. States. OF the Rome and Oswego
road. IS miles arc finished and in use -
Besides these. there are some 90 other plank.
roads in the State of New York, of the ag-
grcgate length of 336 miles, the stock OF
which is taken, and they are to be built IN
the spring: And there are half dozen
others projected there, and will probably
be made. of some l44 miles in length. In
Ohio, there is plank road in progress from
! Milan south, 45 miles.
With regard to the mode Of construction,
the report says that various experiments
have been tried, particularly as 10 the method
of laying the plank. The plan of laying
the plank lcnglhwise on the road-also OF
LAYING the plank diagonalIy with the road,