Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-01-11
For the Burlington Hawk-Eye.
PL ANK ROAD S.

following for publication, should you deem
it Of any use. For the information, l am
principally indebted to an article in that
valuable periodical, Hunts Merchants
Magazine, and report submitted to the
Wisconsin legislatureby Philo White, Esq
Without good roads, no city can pros
per. They are the veins and arteries oil
the system drawing every thing to the CEN
ire.
II is only within the last thirty years,
that much attention has been paid to road
making in the United States. The great
est improvements have taken place, since
| McAdams' method ha. been introduced.
His method is too expensive for the coun-
try, and the want Of something cheaper
has long been Ielt.
Experience has proved that the plank
road, is both cheaper and Letter. On them
horses will travel one fifth faster anddraw
| one fifth more, than OH the stone or Nc
Adamized road.
Plank roads were first made in Russia,
and were introduced in America by Lord
Sydenham. Governor General Of Canada
in 1885. He having from long residence
in Russia, become we'll acquainted with
them, and thoroughly convinced Of their
utility.
The first plank road made in the Uni
ted States was in lS43. twas l2a miles
long, extending from >alina to Beaverton,
State OF New York. "Men who have ira
veled over the best roads in England say
there is not SO good road in Great Bril-
tain as the Salina plank road"
At this time 500 miles Of plank road is
completed in Canada, and about the same
in the State of New York. This is good
proof Of its utility.
For plank road the earth "should be
graded 81 feet wide, measuring from the
inside top lines of the bitches on each
side and the plank should be laid on one
side Of this graded road, the other side for
teams to pass in meeting; also for eou-
Die track should the business of tho road
require it.
'In lengthwise grading. rises are some
times made Of one foot in ten, though gen.
orally from one foot in twenty to one foot
in thirty. Great care should be taken that
the road be kept dry by means Of side
bitches and cross culverts."
made without sils, the plank being laid
Immediately on the graded earth, but ex-
perience has proved il best to use stills.
The stills or stringers should he by
4 inches and moi less than l3 feet long,
placed 6 feet 8 inches apart which brings
them under the wheels of most road ye-
hicles, and thus gives continuous bear
Ing on them. Two stringers thus placed
are sufficient. "They should be we'll bed
ded in the earth, their top surface barely
in sight; they should be laid so as to break
joints, that is the ends Of the strngcr, on
one side should not be opposite the ENDS
Of those on the other"
II has been shown most conclusively
that 8 feet is the proper width for single |
track; and that when double track is |
wanted, IT Is best to make them separate
", and Of that width. The plank should
be 8 feet Icing and 3 inches thick, and laid
across the stills at right angles. "The ends
OF the plank should not be laid ever, but
a part should project from two to four
inches by the general line TO prevent rut
being cut just along the ends OF the plank.
Care should be taken that the earth comes
up to and touches the bottom OF the plank,
as this prevents dry rot After the planks
are laid, the earth should be broug h, up
even with the top Of tho plank, both to
keep them from rotting, and TO prevent any
in turning off from the plank
road to the dirt road alongside. The planks
do not require spiking or pinning to the stills
The timber used is Oak, Pine or Hem
lock. Oak lasts the longest, but is Slip
perry in wet weather.
A plank road will add materially TO the
value Of all land through which il passes.
Every farmer can take stock in il, as la
Dor will pay his share.
Estimated Cost per Mile.
silIs or stringe4 by inches 1890 board measure
f. width of plank 3 in thick ls6,.eO
lao. zoo feet at $40 per NJ. slHsoo
Engineering and experimenting 5000
Laying and grading 81 per rod 10000
Gate Houses 5000
Contingencies $500
Cost per mile slsso,Co
think the above estimate sufficient to
cover every expense off single track. and
hat under no circumstances would line
Of 30 miles exceed it exclusive of expen-
sive bridges. F.
For the Burlington Hawk-Eye.
Pottawattamie County, Locofocoism, &c.
J. q. EDWARDS, Esa.-Sir: see Il sta
ted in several newspapers, that the loco
foco members Of the Legislature either
have passed. or are about passing law
10 di>lranchise Pottawat,amie county
This ''western thunder" (as Gen. Dodge
styled it, with which the loccfocos threat
ened the Wings OF Iowa, before the last
August election, has been to that party
since that election, an interminabe source
Of ''noise and confusion" Before the last
August election, the locofocos Of Iowa were
most assiduons in their proffers of friend
ship and acts Of politene<s 10 the voters of
Potlawat'amie county. Now they de-
nonnce them in the most embittered lam
gnage, and endeavor by legislative enact
ment to proven, them the privilege of vot-
ing. And what have the ireemen of Pot
tawattamie done, that they should receive
such savage treatment? They voted the
Wing ticket. Thew believed with tho