The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-08-31
Con.truclion Of PLANK Reads.

those disposed TO engage IN this business,
we have copied from the Macon Journal a
number OF extracts from a report Of p. F.
Ilolconb, f q, very compe,en, civil en-
giaeer, embracing the most recent improve
men,s adopted at the North, where these
roads have been very successful;
This Road Uhe Utica and R,ue) is
not YET comp ee-about one third Of its
length remaining TO bs constructed. The
esti'aaIed cos', including grading, super
structure, bridging, toll. houses, and every.
thing complete, is estimsted at $4,000 per
mile. As near as | could learn, the aver.
rge cos, is about 81 500. The NEST ex.
pensive road Of which have any know.
ledge, is tia, from lion TO Cedarv,Ile,
length miles. cos, So 200 per mile. This
road is located along the valley, and oc
casiouilly PERCEPTIONS slopes OF a mountain
stream, and sometimes II was found neces.
sary TO divert the stream from lis bed into
q new channel, and occasionally also, to
cross and re cross ii. The descent 10 the
miles Of road is 700 feet, the maximum,
however. being SIX inches and FIVE .eighlhs
in rod, or sixteen and half feet.
This is a much lower maximum than
is common. or even desirable; as twelve
inches in sixteen and half feet makes a
very good road and travelled upon Plank
Roads with incbnailous Of one foot in ten-
but il was the intention Of the companies
on whose roads these inclinatlous were
found, to grade them to an easier rate. !
would suggest one foot in sixteen snG a
hall, as proper medium between too great
outlay for grading on the one hand, and
too sleep grades upon the other. dis
covered no tendency or liability Of the hor-
ses TO slip on sleeper inclina,ions, as the
plank being laid cross-wise, afford, per-
hsps, the very best foo,bold of any road in
use; but the counteractIns effec, Of gravity
will be seriously felt by adopting a much
higher Standard or 10 other words a much
sleeper grade than one foot in sixteen and
Q half.
"The preliminary steps having been
taken as before described, the clearing,
grubbing, and levellng are commenced
The road is cIeered, grubbed, and levelIed
20 fee, in width. Preparation for laying
the supers,ructure is then made, by pillow.
Jog or picking up Casually the lormer) the
surface, and making il mellow aud conve
nient TO be brought into the precise shape
required. Ga one side ofthe centre Of the
graded track, two channels are then dug,
being guided by line which is stretched
where one cad of the pauks will come
These channels are dug such distance a.
part that the stringers when laid 10 them,
will be seven fee, apart from outside 10 out.
side. At The first glance it nigh. appear
preferable to have them nearer together ;
bu, this would involve liability in The planks
TO tip up when heavy loaded wagon drives
upon the road. having bearing al first %,
ly en- the extreme ends Of the planks.
"The mud sil!s OF s,riagcrs having been
properly adjusted in the trenches, the earth
having b=en previously made mellow, II
filled IN around and between the stringers
and also for the space OF few inches OF
the outside Of them. This filing is raised
about oae inch above the siringers, and !.
nov ready TO receive The plank, which ars
uniformly eight feet long, and Of any aldit
from ten 10 fifteen inches, and frequently
wider a. one end than the other which
while i, effects saving Of timber, Is al th
came lime az advantage from the facility |
afford, ln turning curves, b. putting seVefa
vide ends or butts together IN succession
The thickness Of the plsnks varies o
different roads from three TO four inches
no e., on m
mon. The sirin2ers are pretty uniform
four inches square, and any convenler
length from sixteen 10 twenty feet. and stu
ply lad cad 20 end without any splicing {
fsstenlnl. 10 some instances planks TIRE
inches thick sni twelve inches vide, hay
been recommended and adopted, bu, II
four iuch stringer IS much the most COZ
mon, and appears to answer the purpo
well, as little reliance IS placed upon Il
sirinLers for the bearing.
Two men place the plank in lis pac
and third standing upon It. With hea'
wooden maui made Of sound piece Of III
Der two and half feet long. and eight
cbss thick, with pin through one end {
handle, strikes the plaak blow upon
edge 10 the middle 10 drive /, up TO its f
low. Then three or four blows are CIV
upon the surface Of the plank at ditfsre
points, when it becomes imly and acct
stely settled down to the strlngers, carryi
with il the earth which had been filled
bove the stringers, and on which the pla
now manly depends for It's support. Q
more blow OF the edge Of the plank finisi
the operation, by winch time another pla
is ready, and the process is rapidly repe
ed. should remark, however, that e'
plank is alternately LAID 10 aud out, or
ting past each other about three inches,
the purpose Of assisting the wheels TO
upon the road 10 the event Of a rui BE-
formed al the endi Of the plank.
panks, however, are all Gu, the same len
and are either delivered upon the gre
egh, fee. long, or sixteen feet. 1.-THE
ter, they are piled up aud saved in
with cross cut saw.
S. 10 order TO facilitate the escape Of
water that falls upon The road, the pl