Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-01-19

each having light sharp sieel'pointed
crow.bar, which they stick into the plank
thus thrown or dropped belofe Them, aud
Lifting together they bring the plank to their
places, and dropping the end Of the crow
bar Just ahead Of the plank. bringing it
tight up to the work by the back purchase.
Two men laying plank with their hands
cannot keep up with one set bringing plank
TO the track while in the way above point
ed out, the same men easily match two set
Of men, aud will with a change Of plank
carriers once in Is minutes, alone lay essi-
ly 100 rods day.
In laying down the plank ii would be
well TO permi, occasionally the end Of
plank, any one IN three or four, 10 project
into the dirt track beyond the general line,
so that Il in turning on to the plank the
dirt should be depressed by the weight of
the load, the wagon wheel will readily roll
up out Of the track.
In crossing swaes or low wet spots.
would frs, lay logs across the road, then
cover them with dirt and brush and then
dig wide and deep bitches on each side OF
the logs, covering the brush with foot OF
more Of earth. In taking the line Of old
roads the general plan which ! have sug-
gested should lie presented. In determin.
ing the cost Of plank road Of course ref
erence must be had 10 the value Of lumber
which varies at different points, also 10 the
nature Of the grading required, the price Of
labor. &c. ; but we can probably approx
mate as near as may be desirable 10 the ex-
pense I have no doubt thai, putting ii nj,
very high rate, the average cost OF grad
ing aud laying road in this state would
not exceed one dollar per rod.
For a mile, say $500 90
3 inch plank, 1920 f. to
mile, by siringers, i4,s00
TO a mile, sc per thousand. si4 SO
Say for gate houses aud land for
them per mile. 100 90
Contingent. expenses 10 per cent l26 4e
1891 Is
may be mistaken, but this conceive
TO be high estimate, and consequently 4
safe one, on which to make estimates o.
the proprieiy ofUuiding roads in this State
The road which was built by Mr. Geddei
and myself. cost 81 ,4S7 per mile, but w
used 4 inch plank at cost Of ss47 81
per mile, exceeding BY over 800 per mill
the above estimate. Our gate houses will
land attached, cost over $3.50 per mile. til,
land alone costing $500 for four houses
Owing to the high prices for lumber, will
us compared with your prices. the value o
land and the necessity which existed in on
case Of building large toll houses. VIC wer
at greater expense in this item than woul
be necessary here, and therefore think tina
my estimate for your az" houses Is iu
| high enough. In reference TO the pric
of lumber have been governed by infol
nation as TO the now asking price in you
State, but am satisfied that by the ercC
ton Of steam mills on the road a eompan
would be able TO furnish themselves wit
lumber for at least $40 per mile less, an
their mills would readily sell when the
had done with their use. A company
Ohio has adopted this plan; they furniS
two responsible contractors with steal
saw.mill. ready to run, situated on the lln
Of the road. The contractors keep Oh
mill in repair and furnish the compar
with their lumber as fast as they lay ii, I,
FIVE miles each way from the mill, f
81 l.2 per one thousand feet, and have col
uac,ed at the end Of the contract TO tai
the mill at the original cost TO the comp
J ny. The ordinary cost Of the same kin
OF lumber in that vicinity is from six to Sc
en- dollars per thousand feet. This comp
ny save the difference except the loss
the interest on the first cost Of the siea
. mill.
In grading our road we paid the hest
? all teachers, experience, al least 80 p
: cent, and could we now procure our mat
. rails at the same cost as in the first j
: stance, with reduction Of the ihickne
D Of our plank for the last twelve out Of q
? sixteen miles Of its length, TO three incht
/ with our present acquired knowledge. 4,
Z could easily reduce The cost Of simil
/, road ut least $3.50 on each mile.
e For this reason ] would say that were
n in a situation 10 desire Contract to bui
d roads in this State, have no doubt
o that could make 90 per cent on the es
e mate Of the cost as before stated.
:. But in building plank road compa
If must be its own contractor, If economy
II building, and permanency aud utility I
n desired. for the work is Of such natl
g that false estimates can easily be made, a
h If the closest surveillance is not practice
B; the work can be apparently well done, WI
lie in fact time will very soon show that il
re good for nothing.
e. The durability of plank road will
ID pend almost entirely upon the amount
g travel if built upon the plan which
lg have described. roI or decay is out Of
Of question, and Of course cannot enter il
hi the calculation. The Canada plank ro
he imperfectly laid as | think, have endured
5 (; far as tested, from seven TO eight years
"a roads ms much used as any probably will
ng here for some time to come. The tim
" of which they are constructed is pine.
II. am satisfied that our hemlock roads v
&C. the same amount or travel will endur
he least one third longer and here J think
ad il may safely be calculated that the
an roads will last 10 years il not longer
he The road should Al all times be cove
up with one and half or two inches Of e
lcl or sand, which obviaiing The object
nh suggested TO the use Of oak as to its
nd dency to warp. will be generally avail
EN- aud ensure a greater duration Of struc
L than No can exnect. have heard il