Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-01-25

o>-o--~NoON~~~N0o~"~@~>
in the following article copied from the
Utica Herald. We will not attempt to en-
force upon our readers the lesson taught
nv thi. statement. It must be obvious to
every one: ;.
Never was a better investment made
than thatwhich has been embarked in plank
roads by the citizens Of Utica. The ap-
nearance of our streets, crowded daily, at
this naturally unfavorable season, with well
filed wagons laden with lumber, rnanufac-
tured goods, butter, cheese, grain and 9TH
er staple productions Of the country, and
by people from the country coming to trade
with our merchants, affords perfect evil
dence of the wisdom of the policy which
dictated the liberal expenditure OF money
in the construction Of these roads.
At this period of the season. one year
ago, our streets wore the appearance OF
the Sabbath. The wares of the merchant
lay gathering dust on his shelves; the pro-
duce Of the farmer was diverted from our
city by more accessible communications
with other outlets to market and no lumber
found its way to the city except through
the channels of water communication
Wood, that indispensable article Of domes-
tic comfort in this inhos pitable season,
came to the city in small quantities from
the surrounding country and commanded
prices which rendered it almost too great
luxury for common consumption. 1t
was not only pinching time for the poor,
but the inconvenience Of being cut off from
easy communication with the country was
seriously felt by all classes of our inhab-
itants. The notes of the merchant, given
in anticipation of the fall trade, fell due. but
his wares remained unsold on his shelves
and counters. Extensions of time, bank
accommodations and in many cases usuri-
Gus loans, had to be resorted to in order
TO avert the sheriff's call.
That these same evils are not expert
enced now, is in main degree attributed
to the plank roads. Business in our city
is as active at this time as it has usually
been the most favorable seasons of sum
mer or winter. There is great store Of
wood, of lumber, and Of all kinds of coun-
try produce in market, and prices kept at
moderate rates by the wholesome compe-
tition.
The four roads extending from our city
are now in full operation and the amount Of
travel on them surpasses the estimates Of
their projectors. The Bridgewater road, I'VE
believe, is doing the largest business and
paying the best profits. The Northern
road, which was the last to be completed,
is doing more than double what was an
ticipated. The road is some % miles in
length, extending from the city to within
few miles of Boonville, to and beyond
which place it is to be extended next year.
The route was difficult and expensive
one.
The grades were many Of them, very
heavy and difficult. In one place, to avoid
hill, the turnpike route was abandoned,
and new passage cut round a circuit Of
some five miles through the woods, at an
expense of $500 mile for clearing away
the timber alone. The whole cost ofthe road
was about $4,000, or upwards of$2 500
per mile, which is, we believe, nearly
double the cost of the Southern roads.
The business at this time of the year is
mostly the transportation of butter, cheese,
wood and sawed lumber to this place for
market or shipment. The butler teams
are equally heavily laden. The receipts
for tolls at the first gate on the Northern
road during the week OH the 18th, were
800, an average of nearly $l5 per day.
There are three gates on the road--one,
we believe, for each seven miles. 1.-THE
~ 20 fna
fits of the road must pay its whole cost in
four or Ave years.
1t will be observed that Mr. Gillespie's estimate
of $4,000 per mile for the cost of plank road does
embrace extra excavations and embanl ments and
houses.
The cost of the two first must always vary with
the face of the country which the road is to
run and the degree of perfection to be aimed at for
the road. It would be most perfect If brought
to perfect level. Bat the New York roads
brought to grade not exceeding one foot inclina-
ton in thirty feet. And upon those roads by ex-
periment,t is fully proven that the same horse pow
er will draw tUice as much as on McAdamized
road and eight times much common roads.
We may not desire so perfect grade as is used on
those roads, But taking that grade for rule any
person acquainted with the route to Mt Pleasant
will see that track, which will be quite direct and
not over 70 miles in length may be secured which
will! require no excavations or entertainments except
in getting to the prairie from Burlington and in
passing few ravines between the Aspen Grove
and New London and between New London and Mt
Pleasant, which ravines may be wholly avoided by
veering to the north or be passed by few bridges
OF the cheapest construction.
There is no route Of the same distance extending
back toward the centre Of the State from any town
on the Mississippi, so highly advantageous in re-
spect ofeasy grades, as the route from Burlington
to Mt Pleasant: and we may reasonably anticipate
that get the route, without using, at any
point, sleeper grade than one foot in thirty; and
without any extra expense for excavation or en-
bankments except above stated in getting out
from our city.
It is believed that the lumber be procured
cheaper somewhat than the price paid on the roads
referred to in the foregoing article Of Mr. Gillespie.
The cost of gate houses can probably be wholly
avoided by placing the gates at farm houses on the
road.
The road from Utica toward Boonville 70 miles in
length, was an expensive rohte-the right of way
for that road cost 100000. In one place to avoid
hills, a circuit of FIVE milss was made ar cnsf of