Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-01-26
PLANK ROADS.

WHICH Tue EuftOI fem2fkS, IS entitled TO no.
tice, as well for the source whence it ema-
mates. as for the improvement which il de.
scribes., The fact that good road, fully a..
daptedto all our present necessities, may be
built from Fayetteville or Goldsborough to
the extreme West, with materials, the growth
Of almost every foot of land in our osun State,
and at a cost not exceeding gears interest
upon the cost Of q proper Rail Road. is we'll
worthy of attention: 4r
Schenectady and Saratoga Plank Road =
A new and rather novel improvement in con-
structing roads is rapidly developing the re-
sources OF the agricultural districts in our
State; bringing into play the enterprise of our
farmers, and giving them advantages for trav-
Ell little short of railroads; and in manner
particularly adapted to their accommodation,
and at comparatively small rate of expense.
Plank roads can be made. as general rule,
for about years interest Of a trell-nade rail
road. About one hundred companies have
already formed. or are about being formed, to
construct these roads in various parts of the
State of New York. The time is coming
when most of the roads of the State and I'M
ion, where there is any considerable amount
of travel, and timber reasonable, will be
planked.
Thus far every plank road made in this
State has fully equalied, if not exceeded, the
expectation of the projectors. The fact that
pair of horses can with ease, and with increa-
sed speed, carry double the weight on plank
road that they can on the best common roads,
without. any other consideration, settles their
value. When the roads are bad as they usu-
ally are in spring and fall, four times the
weight can be taken on plank roads at such
seasons that can be taken on common roads
The farmer can go to market at all times when
he cannot work his farm on account of wealth
er, or from other causes; and when other roads
are impossible, he can trot off with his pair
of horses and two tons weight, and return
Giving some is or 90 miles distant from mar
ket) the same day while with bad roads, Ia
king the same weight, would require several
days, besides great wear and tear of horses
and wagons and harness-in fact, leaving &C.
tually little return after deducting expenses
This is no fRnciful calculation; it has been
fully proved. This improvement will bring
up the value of farms within reach of markets,
which have been greatly depressed by the low
price of land at the West. The convenience
of getting the produce of the farm to market
will enable the farmer of the East better to
compete with the farmer OF the West Altho'
the cost of land is so much less at the West,
the expense of distant transportation will
serve to confirm the value of farms near the
great markets. -1@
The following remarks, it will be seen, are
as applicable to North Carolina as any one of
the neU States: sg
Our new States, until they have more mo-
ney, should go TO work constructing plank
IL. Aknr, fau i0nr
purpose Of railroads, except on the great and
central thoroughfares Michigan should be
wide awake on the subject. ~
The press cannot be too dillgent in calling
public attention to these roads. At the South,
where timber is cheap, and the common roads
execrable, they will be of great value indeed,
in every part of our Union, they can be con-
struCted to great advantage-giving employ
ment TO the laboring classes, increased value
to real estate, and a good investment to stock
holders. It is an improvement beneficial to
all classes. Some fear has been expressed
that the timber of the country would be ex-
hausted by the rage for plank roads; but such
will not be the case. These roads will be
constructed 50 as to lead to those districts
where the timber is now ready, but of little or
no value to any one, or the land on which it
grows, on account of the expense OF getting it
to market. ~ z.+... .........-
These plank roads are about to open sour
ces of wealth to the northern part of this
State of more value to the public than the golo
mines of California. 1t is found that very lit
tie grading is required; one foot rise in from
twelve to sixteen can easily be overcome, with
pair of horses, with two tons. II made per-
fectly level, advantage would be taken, and
teams loaded with four or FIVE tons would pass
without any additional toll-carrying weight
too heavy for such a road Legislation will
be required to regulate the weight of loads, so
as to prevent imposition.
Upon the durability of plank roads, the fol-
lowing observations will be found interest
ing:
When these roads were first thought of, il
was supposed they would not answer, on &C.
count of the perishable nature OF the material
used but it is now discovered that these roads
wear out before they decay and that while
wearing out, the income is SO great, that they
will afford 10 per cent. to the stakeholder
(the maximum rate allowed by law in the
State of New York; and from 10 to 90 pei
cent. surplus to keep the road in repair, ant
relay II when necessary.
Ii will take above 5000 loads Of plank O.
three inches in thickness, and eight feet long
10 laytthe Saratoga and Schenectady road. II
about every seven years the worn plank vii
have 10 be replaced; the old ones will be val
liable 10 the farmer on the line for many pur
poses These roads viii also give a goos
footwalk at all seasons of the year free o
cost, and save the trouble of much horse-har
Messing in neighborhood- visiting and church
going, as well as giving the children easy &C
cess to the district schools, the pride OF gu
State. s III 4 -.
These roads are also to be source OF ad
ditionaI income to the great central lines o
railroads and canals already constructed
Plank roads diverging from each side of them
extending through fertile valleys up to on
mountain regions, will bring all the resource
of our State into active play. employing eve
~ idle hand, and every idle dollar. Tens Q
thousands Of dollars are now locked up in on
agricultural dissFicts-one hundred here, fiv
hundred there doing nothing for the want 9
a favorable investment. Plank roads wi
call forth such means and set it at work fc
the public good, and at the same time give
fair return in interest
Gold Dollars-We learn, says the Phils
delphia Ledger. from the Hon. Charles Brown
at Washington. that the subject OF coinin
gold dollars is now before the committee
WAYS and means of the House, as well as on