Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-06-08
Plank R0ads-Their Advantages.

ttS III lew TIT dif eiHLtlilCHt u e tiC VII
cause Of honR improvement, IN all its branclies-as
the true FARMER's RAILROAD. That the term is
is a proper orc, in its fullest sense, there can he
no doubt-but il has, also, at least, another signi-
fcation, equally as opposite, While its advanta-
ges to the farmer are as apparent as anything can
be, the beneficial influences which it exests over
the trade and general prosperity Of town or city,
connected by it with the interior. Gre equally ey-
ident. The interests and convenience of the plan-
ter are advanced, because experience has demon
strated that on a good plank road a team can
draw, easily, four times as heavy a load as over
an ordinary road, and with more than twice the
speed. Wagons, carts, and all vehicles for the
transportation of Cotton or merchandise, will last
much longer and Ito much more service, than
when used oven the common thorouslifare, and
horses, mules, and oxen, live longer and do more
work-which is, Of itself, an important item in the
city like Baton Rouge, the immense benefit Of a
good plank road, or roads, connecting here with
the interior, drawing within her grasp the trade
of a rich, p~oprlous and fertile district, would be
incalculal,le, and must be apparent to every re-
fleeting mind.
We are much pleased to know that many Of
our most enterprisiIig and public spitited citizens
are moving in the matter Of building a substantial
Plank Road from this city to Clinton, a distance
of some twenty eight miles, we believe. We
have also, been informed that some Of the most
substantial planters of East Feliciana have ex-
pressed themselves ready and willing to put their
shoulders to the wheel Of enterprise and improve
rnent in good earnest, if our citizens only come
to the support of the good work with hberaity
and energy. That they will do SO, we have as
little doubt as that the stock taken in the road
would yield a handsome dividend upon the invest
ment, vastly increase the business Of the town,
greatly enhance the value OF real estate, besides
proving a great public convenience to the people
at either end Of the road, and to the planters liv-
ing along its line on adjacent to it.
/. We have been informed by a kind friend, who
takes a great interest in the success Of this enter
prise, that it il in view TO build the proposed Plank
Road from this city to Clinton upon the track ori
ginally laid out and graded for a railroad, and
which now affords a splendid and level foundation
upon which to build, This is certainly a great
advantage and one which ought not to be lost sight
OF. Besides the country through which the road
would pass is generally very level, and in all res
poets its topography is favorable to the construc-
ton of such road as the one spoken OF. We
have heard good business men say-men well
acquainted with the resources and products of the
country-that the completion Of this road would
at once, as it were, double the trade of this city.
We have heard others state that it would certainly
bring Ten thousand additional bales of cotton to
this market. If these statements are well found
etaa land we entertain no doubt that they are-for
they come from practical mem it would seem I'M
possible that the business men and property hold
ers of Baton Rouge would delay longer in '%setting
the ball in notion Double the trade, permanently
of any town, and it is no extravaganza to say that
the value of real estate advances IN a proportionate
ratio. Besides it benefits every class of our po-
pulation, the rich and the poor the merchant and
mechanic-it enlivens every description OF bust
ness and invigoratcs every channel of industry.
Trade is The lile-blood Of a towns prosperity,
and the more it is enlarged the greater will be
the advance Of that town on the high road to
opulence and numerical strength. This trade is
derived from the country, from the tillers of the
soil, the intelligent and independent yeomanry of
of the land. They will testow their patronage
upon the town which offers the greatest induce
mcnts to them in the way of good roads and a
good market. Then how important it is that
these inducements should be extented TO them7 We
might enumerate, had we the time or space, many
towns, with not one-half the natural advantages
of Baton Rouge, that have grown up to opulence
and commercial greatness, solely by the enter
prise of their inhabitants in building up factories
and creating good roads, connecting them in every
direction with the interior, thus making their
towns the centre from which the business of the
country radlated. With such facts before them,
it seems impossible that our capitalists and BUSH
ness men should suffer this, most promising work
to lag for lack Of means and enterprise wherewith
to prosecute it to a successful termination.
But the towns along the linc of such roads are
not the only portions of the country which are
benefited. The planter is as deeply interested in
the matter as the business man, which we will
proceed very briefly to show it is a well ascer-
tanned fact that a horse or mule can draw
witt" ease on a Plank Road four times as much
weight as he can on an ordinary road, and travel
at the same time twice as fast. Say, for instance,
d planter from the interior with four horses or
mules, or three yoke of oxen, brings to market,
under the existing condition of things, five bales
of Cotton. Upon a good plank road he could with
the same team, with a suitably constructed wag-
on, bring tusnty bales, and in one hiatt of the time
now required, at that, TO say nothing of the great
saving in horses and mules. This simple fact,
which is susceptible of positive demonstration,
shows the great profit, as well as convenience
which plank roads would be to the planters Of
the country.
We have been obligingly furnished with an
estimate of the cost OF a single track road, per
mile, made by the Secretary Of the Board of I'M
provement of Kentucky zone mile Of road with
a single track, made with plank, eight feet wide
and three inches thick, will require 10000 feet,
board measure, of plank, and Of stills a by q, IA,
600 feet making in all, of number, 10000 feet"
which at 1.-The minimum price for Lumber here, say
SIS. 90 per Thousand feet would cost $2,100. 1t is
possible that; with proper arrangements, it could
be- obtained for the company which ought to be
formed forthwith, at SO, 90 per 1000 feet. The
laying and bridging, is by the estimate of the
authority abcvt. referred to, from 800, or to 1920,
per mile, making the entire cost, per mile Of, from
$1,000 to S1211s From these estimates it would
seem clear that o road from Baton Rouge to Gin
ton can be built far 1000 res mile, and it can be
shown, by figures, thar at a low rate Of toll, even
if it cost SO, 800 per g,ile, it would pay a semi