Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-01-03

earning is done in q shorter or longer time.
On the Syracuse and Central Square Plank
road, the tolls on 8 miles, for two years.
ending las, July. were $4,000; the expen-
ses of srlares and repairs were $1,000.
leaving sll, 400. The plank were half
worn out Zone irch) SO that their net prof
| its before renewal would be $l2,s00; for
the eigh. miles, or So. $50 per mile.
ADVANTAGES.
In improvements of This character, II Is
difficult 10 say who gains the most-wheth-
er it Is the stockholder. the farmer, the city
merchant. or the consumer Of the produce
brought in. The farmer can bring his po-
ta,oes, apples, grain, wood. pork, &c, to
| mar ket at seasons when he would Otherwise
be imprisoned ut home by the state of the
road, and could not there work 10 advan-
tage. He could also carry twice as heavy
load rs ever before, and therefore at
half the former cost. He could therefore
sell cheaper, and yet make larger profits.
The consumer would consequently get the
articles he uses at lower prices. Wood, for
example. would be greatly lowered in cost
by being brought from distant forests now
inaccessible to US. So with other articles.
Every inhabitant would therefore be bene-
fitted, for every one must be warmed and
fed. The merchan: will find ais old coun-
try customers and many new ones coming
at all times, and will share their larger por-
ton of profits. The stockholder, besides
his gains as member Of one of these three
classes, of producer, merchant. or consum-
er, will in addition receive his dividends
from tolls. Ii is one Of those rare business
transactions. by which all parties gain.
Among the most remarkable consequent
ces of such Improvements. is the rapidly
increasing proportion in which their oene-
fits extend and rodate in every direction,
as impartially and benignantly as the SINH
larly diverging rays OF The sun. Around
every town or market-place we may con-
ceive number Of con centric circles to be
drawn, enclosing areas from any part Of
which certain kinds Of produce may be
profiiably taken 10 The town, while from
any point beyond each circumference. the
expense Of the carriage Of the particular
article would exceed Its value. Thus the
inner circle, al the centre of which is the
town. may show the limit IN every drec-
ton from beyond which perishable vegeta-
bles, or ar ices very bulky or heavy in
proportion to their value, cannot be profit
ably brought TO market: the next larger
circle may show the limit of fruit; and so
on. If now the roads are improved in any
way, so as in anv degree 10 lessen the ex-
pense of carriage, then the radius of each
article is correspondingly increased. and
the area Of each circle is enlarged as the
square Of this ratio Of increase. Thus if
the improvement enables horse 10 draw
twice rs much or travel twice as fast as he
did before. each Of the limiting circle is ex-
panGed outward to twice its former radius,
and embraces four times its former area
If the rate of impros ement be three fold,
the increase of area is ninefold; and so on,
All The produce, industry, and wealth.
which by these Improvements finds. for the
first time, market, is as it were new
creation.
The views here expressed have been
confirmed by recent inspection of three
plank roads. which start from Utica
Their contrast with the mud holes OF the
common roads adjoining them makes it seem
impossible to exalt too highly their advan-
tages; and the merchants Of that place are
emphatic in their appreciation of their ef-
fects on their trade. Rome preceded Utica
in this improvement, and was in conse-
quence rapidly drawing away its business
till in self defence the inhabitants Of Uti-
CO resorted to the same expedlent. and are
now enjoying its benefits. Ii is TO be ear
nestly hoped that the enterprise of our cit.
izens. will be sufficient 10 enable them to
reap equally golden harvests.
In great haste.
have the honor to be-. &c.
WIN. M. GILLESPIE.
To Gen. CADY. Chm. Plank Road Cont