Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-04
Mr.. Geddes, the engineer, made the fol-
lowing estimate of the average.
COST PER MILE OF THE SALIVA ROAD.
Stills, by inch scantIing l4,0S0h.
Plank, 8 f. long a ms thick l6S 1904.

COST PER MILE OF THE SALIVA ROAD.
Slls, a by inch scanting l4,0S0h.
Plank, 8 #. long, A ms thick l6s, 92OH.
At IS per NJ. ls3,OOOh. s9l5
Laying and grading, 81 per rod 800
Engineering, superintendent, &c. 10
pr. ct. luz
Gates and gate houses 100
Sluices, bridges, and contingencies 63
Aggregate cost per mile 1880
This was the estimate; the actual oOst of
the road, as we learn from the superintend-
ent, was only 81 ,4S7 per mile.
Mr.. Judson estimates the cost of road,
" Made of hemlock plank four inches thick,
the track fourteen feet wide, with carriage
way to turn out on each side, having five
good stringers six by eight inches in size,
all complete, at about $4,000 per mile."-
But Mr.. ]. wrote four years ago! and his
fancy road is six feet too wide, with three
strngers too many in number, and one-third
too large in size so that his estimate, after
scaling down his road to modern dimensions,
(say eight feet track, with only two string
ers of lour-by-four inch scantling,) would
not vary materially from that of Mr. Geddes
of the Salina road, about 81 500 per mile.
Mr.. Talcott made an estimate ofthe cost
of double track plank road, 16 feet wide,
from Chicago to Desplains river, at an av-
erage of 50, per mile, reckoning the
plank at So so per M arths rate of COM
putaton, the expense of an 8 feet feet wide
single track, built after the most approved
dimensions at this day, (his calculations
having been made three years since, would
be something over ST. per mile. But
as Mr.. Il. acknowledges he never had any
experience in that line of engineering, and
seems to have adopted the maximum price
for plank, for work, &c, your committee
think it would be certainly safe to assume
his calculation as the maximum cost of a
plank road on almost any feasible route in
Wisconsin.
Having now furnished the data on which
to base an estimate, any ready reckoner can
calculate for himself, and Judge of the rea-
sonableness of the estimate we present be-
low, of single track plank roads, tee'
wide, built in accordance with modern i'm
provements.
If of Hemlock, at Sc per NJ:
Sls, A by A inch scantlg l4,0S0lt.
Plank, inches thick 16s, 1904.
AT Sc per NJ Is3,O4Oh. !, O9s &c
Grading road, and laying plank
and sills 800 0O
Suices, bridges, and contingent
Engineering, superintendence,
&c. 100 OC
Gates and uate-houeas tID nc
9l,7lS 81
Or if white or burr-oak timber be used
at So per NJ, then we would state the max
lmum cost of such road at about 81 900
per mile.
In all the most densely populated portion:
of our Territory south and east of Wscon
sin river, the general character of the coun
try is that of plane surface Offering very
/ few obstacles to the construction of roads
such as deep excavations, heavy embark.
ments, costly bridges, or frequent sluices OIL
culverts, and where timber is not very scarce
nor dear, we feel confident that roads o
this characer, ofa capacity sufficient to NEE
all the wants of our productive and indus
trial classes, as well as of our market towns
and commercial and business depots, at al
average cost certainly not to exceed 81 ,S0(
per mule.
Your committee understand that Govern
or Cass is at this time constructing All
feet wide single track plank road on hi
individual account, to extend from his farm
Into the city of Detroit, distance of abou
one mile and half 1t is laid upon atrav
eed roadway; the lumber costs Sc per M.
and the whole expenditure will not exceed
an average Of 5 500 per mile.
TOLLS.
1t is suggested by those most experience
in the management of plank roads, that tn
tolls be so regulated as to blend the inter
ests of the owners and of the public. B
the charter of the Salina road, the director
are authorized to levy toll Of two cents
mile for a two-horse vehicle but as it is 70
their interest to encourage such an amour
of travel as will insure the Wearing out rath
err than the rotting out of the plank, and a
light tariff will bring heavy rever ne
they have thus far never availed themselve
of the maximum rates Of toll allowed, bu
have only charged one and half cents pc
mile in summer, and one cent in the winter
PROFITS OF PLANK ROADS.
From careful estimate of the quantity {
travel on the market roads and princip;
thoroughfares of Wisconsin, your comm
tee are OF the opinion that the stock {
plank roads on the routes of nearly all ,
that kind of highways, would be good ii
vestment, yielding profit OF seven to fl
teen per cent. per annum. The stock {
5 the Salina Company cannot how be pu
chased at par and we learn from the ST
perntendent, that, since the completion {
that road, they have made semi-annual di'
idends at the rate of IL l-2 per cent. pr
annum; besides having accumulated n
served fund of surplus profits, within SOM
what more than one year, of about 1901
So that considerations of private revenl
; are superadded to those of public utility,
, urging the adoption of plank road improv
!, ments among us. And this profit accruir
to the company, is not the only pecunia
!, advantage Immediately emanating from Il
|. construction of plank roads, for they lmpa
!. increased value to all contiguous propert
We are advised from Salina, that 1t is
4 universally admitted and proved Fact, tina
: since that road has been III existence, p
: riod of about eighteen months, " 1t has be
:, etitted the three towns through it passs
y, more than 100000"