The North-Carolina standard., 1849-02-28
PLANK ROADS

We lind IN the last Detroit Free Press vo, ::
teresting letter from Mr.. T. S. Paxton. of IJtic,
York, in relation to Plank Roads. We >roLoU
following extracts:
"UTIcA, January %. 1910
There are four plank roads leading from this ctv III
of which, feel justified in saying meet the eyns"
tatons of those who projected carried forward I
furnished funds to build them. AS to cost tb. a
pends very much the price of lumber, riqbt Of
way, grading and filling up vallies, and many Otbs,
things occurring under varied circumstances.
Lumber at about SIS per thousand, and laying down
on an old road, and open bitches, good suices toca
off the water, and contingent expenses all embraced
will give you plank road for from thirteen to sytesn
hundred dollars per mile, including toll houses T."
Should you attempt to do much grading, il will
increase the expense, Of which you can udge by tb
amount to be done and cost of doing that part. Bv
building roads on ncU soil the cost is very much IN
creased. 1t is best in all cases. where nracticN
to keep on the line of old road.
Our roads are built with hemlock plank q es
long, inches thick, laid stringers A. A. the srm
ers laid In such a manner to have the plank aS
on them, and at the same time fiat on the ground
No pinning spikng is necessary but let the earth
be flush with the top of the plank at the ends and
the plank laid firm the earth. The stringers are
not to be depended on for anything. more than to
steady the plank.
We have generally laid the plank on one side Of
the centre of the road, and sometimes on the right
ana SOlneumeS on lett nanQ SlQe calculating
the loaded teams to have the of the panked par
the other part should be flush with the top of the
plank, and made smoothly, and all small round stones
thrown off. This will induce many light teams to
travel on it, and thereby save the plank
We calculate our roads to last from FIVE to seven
years, when probably the plank will require to be
renewed.
They are kind of road every body seems to be
pleased with, and enable men to do business at all
times of the year, being just as good one day
other. And if a man wants to go to market he has
only to decide in his mind as the ,oecther the roads
being always good; in short, they are the farmers
railroad, and very democratic, all being allowed
use them By paying for it.
l consider every farm, through which plank road
passes, increased in value fire dollars per acre.
least And since commencing this letter two very
respectable and intelligent farmers came into my Of
fee, and asked them this question, and they readily
acknowledge my position correct, and said that many
farms are increased in value beyond my estimate
Plank roads have tendency to equalize business
very much in city, and our business men,
chants, mechanics, and all classes, fully agree as
their value and importance TO their business.
My own opinion Is fully confirmed, having been
long an advocate for them, and the wonder
to be, that should have discovered their value
BEFORE
If Plank Roads succeed so we'll at the North are
they not bound to 60 ahead here, where we have
wetsr-power for saving and timber in the greatest
asundance1 Mr.. Faxton-and this is the uniform
experience the subject-states that every farm
through which a Plank Road passes is " increased
in value FIRE dollars per acre. at least" This is one
Of the first results; but then the benefits of such
works are gradually but surely difused, until the
whole community, bordering on these thorOughGTes
and at both extremities feels them in quckened trade
and remunerating prices. "a little leavcn leaveUs
the whole lump.'
We are gratifed to learn that the Fayetteville and
Salisbury Plank Road will certainly be built In
this laudable work these two Towns are not only
laying firmly and surely the foundations of their
prosperity, but every section within the compass
Of their trading operations will be benefited and
improved