Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-03-23

team, once in great many times. Our expe.
rience on that subject is worth, however, all
theory; and that shows, that our dirt track is /
now land this fall has been uncommonly wet,
better, far beuer, than most Of summerdirt roads |
in this country. Our road is over a soil very
similar 10 my idea Of your soil. The top sur.
face is a wet, vegetable mould, or, in our Ian
guage, muck, inierspersed with sand streaks,
and occasionally a liue gravel. The road
heretofore has retarded the improvement, Of the
country, for, after exhausIing the patience and
purse Of the inhabitants in iIs repair, it would
entirely fail them at those seasons Of the year
when its use was most needed.
With US the great draughi has been wood
aud barrels. The old road at this season Of the
year was almost if not quite impossible. |
learn from extended inquiry, that where these
articles could be drawn at all, the average loads
of the entire year would be about fihy.6ye bar.
rels, or a half cord Of wood. Now one hun.
dred barrels, and one TO one and half cords Of
wood, even at this season, are the common load,
and in fact the strength Of the wagon, and the
necessity Of drawing off from our road at some
points, are the only limits TO the size Of the
loads. In the way Of pleasure, our neighbors
at the large village Of Syracuse make in their
daily resort. For ease Of motion and pleasure
think il is generally esteemed far beyond any
other species of travelling. You, sir, were
probably made aware Of the fact in your recent
visit here that il was the only travelled road now,
and that the inhabitants along its line had been
reaping rich harvest from the prices Obtained
for wood and hay in our markets, arising from
the premature inclemency Of the weather, and
the almost physical impossibility Of the use of
our common roads,
Our road was opened its entire length, twelve
miles and three quarters, on the 18th day
July last since which time it has averaged daily
about one hundred teams each way, paying us a
good and remuneratng income; il has not worn
in that lime 10Th Of an inch, and it will,
think last eight TO ten years, and even if it does
not endure more than five or six it is the chea-
pest road we can build on our soil.
As to the expense Of building opr road, it cost
us less than 81 500 a mile, including three good
gates, houses and the land on which they stand,
say 81 300, and all our engineering. We built
the road ourselves, that is, we appointed Mr..
George Geddes, director, our general superin.
tendenI and engineer, and he, together with Mr..
c. Braumer and myself, also directors, were the
executive commuee, and had the enIlrs charge.
We bought our teams and tools, and hired our
men, and put al the bead of each working party,
I'VE had lwo) man Of good sound judgment.
In this work. the minute details which can
not be expressed in a contract, and which would
consequently be neglected by contractor, and
which cost but liue, have an important effect
upon the duration Of the road. And again, we
found that no man could be found who would
hazard TO contract at Il price even treble what it
actually cost us to do The work. Mr.. Geddes,
practical engineer, concurs with me in say
ing that a man Of good sound sense and judg-
ment is all that is wanted, and that no engineer
ing properly so called, is necessary. should
have mentioned that our lumber cost us about
$j,l5 per thousand feet, board measure. Re.
sPecIlully yours,
T. G ALVORD.
T. Hamilton, Esq.
N. b. omitted to mention that the plank
way should be covered TO slight depth, say
one to one and half inches, with dirt or sund,
TO preserve the plank from wear, and TO work in
the Joints so as to render the road more solid.
The scrOper is made Of an oak plank about
twenty inches wide. one and half inches thick,
and two handles running out lenglhwise, cut
out Of the plank itself, the length four and a
half feet. Two upright handles bending over
back like plow handles, the chain to draw by is
hooked Into the two eyes, the bottom of the
scruper is plated with an old saw plate; the scru-
per is manned by men; one driver, one at the
upright handles, who is the director, and one at
each of the side handles. We move thrice the
dirt with it that can be moved with common
scraper.
Our level is simple strip of board with a
standard to hang the plumb, and two legs to
stand upon the sloepers, one Of which con be
made two inches shorter than the other in order
to give that declenson to the road il necessary;
it IS made long enough TO reach from one sleeper
TO The other.