Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-03-10
PLANK ROADS.
LETTER FROM IT. G.. AlvORD, ESQ.
SALINA, N. Y. Dee, 7, le4e

DEAR SR:-In compliance with the promise
made you, when here few days since, I propose
giving you description of the Plank road between
this place and Brewertons
In Inconjunction with myself George Geddes, Esq,
(who had previously visited Canada on the same
errand,) was deputed to 90 to Toronto last fall and
examine their roads in Canada, for the purpose of
adopting some plan for the building of our4own 1
had the honor of submitting, with the concurrence
OF Mr. Geddes. plan which was adopted, and on
which we progressed. We came to the conclusions
mentioned in that report after mature deliberation
and examination, and have seen occasion to alter
our then plan, except in two particulars which will
be mentioned In the first place, we adopt hernock
lumber, chiefly in consequence of its comparative
COST but also of the opinion that it will out
wear pine, (the lumber of the Canada roads) un-
derstand you have oak in abundance, and as easily
to be obtained as any other timber. Use it by all
means for fear need be entertained of the decay
OF your road by rot 1t will wear out first We de-
termined after examining all widths in favor of an
eight teet track for two reasons one, because the
tendency of all travel is to the centre. and the re-
suit as shown by experience in Canada, is, that
while the centre eight feet road is entirely worn
through the remaining timber on each side, when
taken up is as thick and good as when laid down.
thus involving practically, the entire loss, without
any gain of the excess over eight feet of timber
travel being in the centre as before promised the
centre sinks. the ends of the esplank are lifted up
more motion is given to the road bed thus increas-
ing the rapidity of the wear and by the admission
OF the air, dryrotting it; whereas in eight foot
track the wheels and horses bearing over the plank
equally, keep them down solid to their places caus-
ing no unnecessary spring, and leaving no opportu-
nifty for any exposure of the under side of the road
bed Our stringers are BY inches, laid length
Hv1c fao~ ri a . q H. A.
You suggested, when here, that you could obtain,
as cheaply as any other long stringers made from
trees hewn on one side. Iwould adopt that plan
IN preference TO ours provided the expense did not
make too much difference Our plank are four
inches thick, and laid directly upon our sleepers
without pinning. Their weight, at that thickness,
keeps them in their place; whereas, in the Canada
pine road of three inch plank, they think they
compelled to pin their plank in our case, the saving
OF a considerable and needless expense Another
advantage of this thickness is the greater strength
given to the road and durability to the plank, the
strain of the plank having as much to do with the
wear, as the actual pecking wearing of the hor
ses feet and the wheels.
Our road bed was prepared by plowing beam
deep. Our road, running over a comparatively
level country, we paid no attention to lengthways
grading except to fill up short hollows and cut down
quick rises We laid our road level erosswise I
would suggest as an improvement the laying it on
plane, falling from the centre to the end of the
plank at least two inches. to facilitate the drainage
of the road. We, after preparing the road bed,
plowed out strnger furrow, and laid in the string
er by the eye, taking good care to have it well bed
ded, and then, by means of level, laid the other
stringer to compare with it We then leveled the
earth between the strngers, with their top so
that when the planks were laid on, they would
touch their entire under surface upon the dirt and
stringers. would suggest, as further improve
ment the passing of heavy roller over the road
so as to make the plank stringers and dirt settle
firmly together We find, by experience, that in
some cases, the water finds its way under our plank
and being unable to get out it renders the ground
soft that sometimes isolated plank drop below the
general road think that difficulty is almost en-
tirely, if not quite obviated, on portion of our
road which we have laid with the two inch declin-
alton spoken Of and itsseems to me it would be
removed by the rolling operation Your
eight feet being side of your road the dirt on
the ditch side should come up to the ends (not
aboye) of your plank, and fall off rapidly into your
ditch. On the other, or dirt track side it should
also come up to the ends of your plank and fall or
roll gradually to the ditch leaving us in our road
twelve foot side track The idea wish to convey
s that there should be no hnderance to quick and
efficient drainage from the plank of all surface or
falling water And | wish here to especially i'm
press upon you the necessity of good thorough side
1itches and as often possible under road cuEerts
oe the durability and efficiency of plank road
will be very much benefited by keeping it well
drained.
One track is all that is necessary. Our is laid on
he side taken by the teams coming into market
hus throwing the necessity of turning out as gen.
.ral thing, upon teams with no load The turning
,ut is 50 little, even in great thoroughfare like ours
hat hardly any impression is made upon the dirt
,oad and you see, by observation, that the cir
;ular track made by one team running round an
,ther, will not be followed, at all points, by any 9TH
sr team, once in a great many times. Our expert
snce on that subject is worth, however all theory
md that shows that dirt track is now land this
all has been uncommonly wet) better, far better
han most of summer roads in this country. Our
oad is over soil very similar, to my idea of your
ioil The top surface is wet, vegetable mould, or,
n our language, muck, interspersed with sand
freaks, and occasionally little gravel The road
heretofore has retarded the improvement of the
country for after exhausting the patience and purse
# the inhabitants in its repair it would entirely fail
hem at those seasons of the year when its use was
most needed. Now, the country already, with but
ome five months experience is rapidly improving in
ralue, and Gun farmers on its line would rise in re-
oelon, if the thought of again restoring them their
Did road was once suggested Our people, over
he State are moving in the matter of plank-roads;
and nothing but the increased value of lumber will
ston them from making the entire roads of the coun