Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-03-02
GEORGETOWN, D. c., Feb. Is, 1s4s


soon speak for themselves:
GEORGETOWN, D. c., Feb. Is, l849.
DEAR SIR - Al
the time parted with you, | knew very little
in regard 10 Plank Roads 1t was subject l
had never investigated, and l have only been
waiting until | could find time to do SO, and
procure such information in regard to the sub
ject as may possibly prove interesting TO you.
This description of road has obtained de.
gree of usefulness and consequent importance.
and is found so admirably adapted TO certain
localities, as TO cause it TO be considered We
ry important element in the development OF
the resources of country.
1t is found 10 be emphatically the Farm
ers road'-the producer being more benefited
by it than any other CLASSIFY means OF which,
at all seasons, in wet weather as well as in
dry, he has it in his power to convey his pro-
duce to market-and profit by any rise in
price-with one half the labor-in one half
the time-and with double the load, that he
could transport upon a McAdamized Road
The advantages it has over the latter road are,
that it is cheaper 10 build-more economically
repaired-of lighter draft and in its exemption
from dust and mud.
The lands in their vicinity have been found
to appreciate in value. They can be laid upon
any grade that McAdam;zed road can operate
upon with advantage-and when laid are less
destructive to horse flesh. In any country
where timber abounds they will be found to
he an immense auxiliary to trade and travel.
Their plan Of construction is very simple
and cheap. Thorough drainage is absolute
| ly necessary 10 their stability and usefulness
and attention to this is about all that they
require TO keep them in repair for several
years after their completion.
Their durability depends upon the quality
of the timber; with you I suppose it would
be about eight years for timber in such a po-
sition. After the road bed is properly prepar-
ed by being sufficiently elevated and drained
by the requisite side bitches, ii should be al.
lowed to remain so until one or two rains
have fallen upon it. that thorough settlement
may take place. The scanting used for stills
is by inches and of such lengths as can be
conveniently obtained-the longer the better
These stills are embedded their full thickness
in the soil, so as to leave their top surface
even with the surface of the road-bad, in par.
allel lines feet apart (the width of the wa
gon) across these stills, three inch planks
are laid in eight feet lengths, and true-naiIed
to the sills. The bottom of the plank fol-
their entire lenghth rest, of course, upon the
road bed.
In double track they do not use planks 1e
feet long, but lay two tracks each feet wide
with turnout path graded up between them
The ends of the planks must not be laid even
because in that case, the wheels of loaded
wagon in passing from the turnout patti
to the plank, would be liable to scrape
along the edge, and make deep rut there
before rising Mp-which would deepen unit
it would be difficult for wagon to noun
the plank. To avoid this, one in every three
plank (supposing them to be one foot wide
should project on the turn out path three in
ches, which presenting an rsneven edge to the
wheels causes them TO mount upon the plank
without difficulty. If You build only a sin
gle track, a turnout path feet wide must b,
graded up TO a level with the top surface O
the plank on one side of the road for its 1Uhol
length-due regard being had TO the broker
edges of the plank resting upon it. Civ,
you the estimate of plank road from lax,
Michigan West to Fox river, per mile, wher,
they use Hemlock timber at Sc per M.
Estimate for mile,
Stills by inches
scantling, 14,O80
Plank 8 #. long, in
ches thick, 126,720
10000 at Sc s84.
Laying and Grading road per rod. " 32t
Sluicing, Bridging & contingencies, 1Ot
Engineering, Superintendance, &C., 1Ot
Gates and Gate Houses-say 1O(
Total, 81 ,46:
After the planks are laid down, one incl
thick of clear sand is spread evenly over them
which saves the wear and tear of the road -
The sand protects the wood from the corks o
the horses shoes, (Which causes the main wca
and tearO and soon penetrates the grain of tn
plank, with the fibres of which and the de
posites upon the road, a tough elastic cover
; ing is formed which is found TO protect tn