Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-09-05
"uo----.
bearing at 6rsv vl!::
oflhe planks.

bearing at 6rsy vn!::: 9sfs 1aEs
oflhe planks.
'sThe mud-sills or stringers having urc"
properly adjusted in the trenches. The earth
having been previously made mellow, is
filled in around and between the s'rinserS,
and also for the space Of a few inches on
the outside Of them. This filling is raised
about one inch above the strineers. aud is
now ready 10 receive the plank, which are
uniformly eish, feet long, and of any width
from ten 10 fifteen inches, aud frequently
wider at one end than the other; which,
while i, effects saving Of timber, is al The
same time an advantage lroun the facility
it affords in turning curves, by putting sew
raj wide ends or butts tngether in success.
sion. The thickness Of the planks varies
on different roads from three 10 four inches,
though the former is much the most COM
mon. The stringers are pretty uniformly
four inches square, and any convenient
length from sixteen to twenty feet, aud
simply laid end 10 end without any splicing
or fastening. In some instances planks
three inches thick and twelve inches wide,
have been recommended and adopted, but
the four inch s,ribser is much the most
common, and appears TO answer The pur-
pose we'll, as little reliance is placed upon
the slrinsers for the bearing.
1.-Two men place the plank in its place.
and third standing upon it, with heavy
wooden maui made Of sound piece of
timber Two and half feet long, and eight
inches thick. witt, pin through one end
for handle, strikes the plank blow upon
its edge in The middle to drive it up to its
fellow. Then three or four blows are
given upon line surface Of The plank at diff.
ferenl points, when it becomes firmly and
accurately settled down 10 the stringers,
carrying with it the earth which had been
filled above the stringers. and on which
the plank now mainly depends for its sup
port. One more blow OH The edge Of The
plank finishes the operation, by which
time another plank is ready, and the pr'-
cess is rapidly repeated. Ishoulj remark.
however, that each plank is alternately
laid In and out, or julIiug past each other
about three inches, for the purpose Of as
sisling the wheels to rise upon the road in
the event of ru, being formed at The ends
of the plank. The panks. however, are
all cut The same length, and are either dc.
livered upon the ground eight feet long, or
sixteen feet. If the latter, they are piled
upon and sawed i'll TWO with crOss-cul
saw.
"ln order 10 facilitate the escape Of the
water that falls upon the road, the planks
are laid with an inclination towards the
ditch, on that side of the graded road on
which the planks are laid, of two inches in
six feet, or say three inches in the length
Of the plank, SO lha, all the water that
does no. fall Immediately at the joints. is
conducted of al the euds. To effect this,
s'raisht-edge with carpenters level
properly adjusted to it, is used in laying
down the slrinsers, the ends of it resting
upon either slrinser, aud their respective
elevations arranged accordingly.
''Now follow the filling in Of earth at The
ends of the planks necessary to keep them
from moving Ia,cralIy, as lhcy arc not at.
tached TO the strinsers by any kind of fas-
,euiug whatever, neither spikes. pins, or
anything of the kind, being necessary,
and to facilitate driving upon and off The
oad. The filling is commonly raised