Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-01-05


ty of its construction, the fertility and vast ag-
rcuItural wealth of the country 1hro' which
ii is to pass, with the natural advantages pre-
scented for its location in that direction, by a
ridge of high land running between the head
waters of the Rock Fish Creek and Lumber
River, on the one hand, and the two Little
Rivers on the other, and particularly adapted
for the purpose, ii may be we'll TO inform the
reader of certain estimates kindly furnished us
by scientific gentleman from Fayetteville,
touching the durability and cost of these
Roads, TO which we request special attention,
being persuaded that they must convince eve
ry intelligent mind that Plank Roads are the
most practicable form of Internal Improvement
in our State, as they are also best adapted TO
the present business wants of our people:
Estimated cost of one mile Of single Plank
Road, Eight Feet Vide
Ist 81 $50 # in. pitch pine plank at S. s422 20
3D. 100 Ib. iron spikes, &C., 66 90
4th. Grading, laying &c, 25u wv
9th. Toll gates, TOLL houses. &c, 100 on
9Th Survey location, mans plans, DC, 100 on
18th. Earth work, such as extra hewing cutting
entertainments, sluices, bridges, vary with
the nature of the country, and are not SO
readily estimated with accuracy, but from
what is known the proposed route, we .
8th Builders profits at 20 per cent, 24o Sc
One mile of Plank Road, sl44s sc
Now, Railroad built under the most favo-
rabIe auspices, would cost at present an aver
age of 8 10 1000 per mile. So that as far
as the cost of the two is concerned, Plank
Road is by far entitled to preference. We pro-
pose now to examine the
Durability Of Plank Roads-This depends
in great measure, OF course, upon the amount
Of travel. One efficient means of protecting
the plank against the wear by abrasion is the
covering them with an inch or two of sand or
earth, the grit of which combined with the ex-
crement of the animals and the fbres of the
wood. protects the planks from the corks of
the horses shoes and the bruises of the wheels,
and forms hard coating OF grit fibre, &c, OF
three-fourhs of an inch to an inch in thick
ness, which it is difficult for either cork or
wheel to disturb. Mr. Gzowski, late chief
engineer on the principal Plank Road in Can
ada, from practical observation calculated the
wear by abrasion at the rate of one-fourth OF
an inch TO an inch in two years, and as plank
ing will not break through until one and hall
10 two inches of the surface is worn away, il
follows from this that the duration of the plank
will be eight years This calculation is based
upon the supposition that the plank used is OF
pine or other soft wood; oak will of course last
from twenty to fifty per cent longer. According
to the report of the Salina Company in New
York, plank from three 10 four inches in thick.
ness will wear from seven to twelve years.
The wear and tear of the first year is said tc
be equal to that of the seven succeeding years
owing TO the absence of the coating of sand
and excrement which accumuates thereafter.
The citizens of Wilmington have an op
portunity of ascertaining the probable dura
ton of a Plank Road from the planked way
near the railroad. on which all the produce
transported on the Wilmington road, consist
ing of barrels of Turpentine, bags of Cotton
and other heavy articles Of merch 'ndize j:
instantly passing. This way, as we under
stand, is now being repaired alter the lapse o
nearly three years The timber used is BIZ
two and half inches thick, and the repairs
now being made are but partial. Perhaps there
is no road in the country by heavy vehicle!
and teams more travelled over than that lead
ing into the City of Boston, from the East
The plank used in making the bridge over thu
Charles River on that Road is of the soft pine
and as we understand, usually lasts four years
If the Southern pine were used, even with tn
enormous wear and tear, necessary for the vas
number of heavily laden teams which use it
it would probably last twice as long.
Profits of Plank Road-We have seen tina
according to the estimates of competent En-
gineer, ST 500 may be taken as the fair aver
age cost per mile; but allowing $3.50 more pc
mile, which would we imagine, be fully sufi
cient to cover all possible contingencies, AM
assuming $3.50 to be the basis of calcula
ton. one hundred miles would cost SITS, 200
The interest of this sum. if at six per cent
would be SlO,5OO. Suppose the contempla
ted Road between Fayettevileand the Yadkin
both in operation, 1t may be safely calculated
that fifteen wagons per day, would pass on
the first year, which would be 1893 per an
mum. The toll on the Salina Road is ten cts
per mile for two horse wagons estimated
carry 40 cwt. Upon our roads from four t
six horses are usually employed. But takin
the minimum four horses carrying 80 cwt
which they can easily do, the toll at cent
per mile, would produce an interest the fir;
year of per cent on 81 400 IS. 1t bein
: fair to presume that in five years the travt
would be fourfold, long before the road woul
need repair. it would pay for its own erection
We have shown these calculations to man
intelligent and practical persons in our react
and they consider them not only fair, but me
derate in comparison with what may well !
anticipated from the final result
Speed, Draught, Sc.-On the Post Stanle
and London Road, Canada west, two hors
f light wagons, with five to six passengers, tr;
vel at the rate of eight miles an hour wit
I perfect ease and two horses in lumber was
= on, usually haul two tons, 40 cwt. at loa
And on the London and Bradford Road, NV
1 horse teams invariably carry sixteen barre
| of flour each, at load, from Woodstock Mil
80 miles The motion over these roads, an
= one who has travelled in Canada, will remen
E Der is similar 10 that of solidly beaten sno
! track. Perhaps there is no more pleasa
} Road to the traveller in the world, than tb
r by which for some forty miles of plank, yc
: approach the City of Montreal.
Lord Lydenham, late Governor General
t Canada, has the credit of being the first to il
troduce the Plank Road into use in Americ
t The first Plank Road was built in Canad
5 under his direction, some nine years ago.
Since when the Canadians have become
More. The item marked 9TH may be, and is prob
bly, moderated From the information which has be,
received of the general character of the country throu
which the Road would pass builder could not safe
contract TO construct it for less average SUN TIL
, 81 500 per mile