Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-01-03

PLANK RoADs.-R. D. Olven.-We find in the last
number of the Cannelton Economist a communication to
the editor from the pen Of the Hon. R. D. Owen the sub
ject of Plank Roads. Mr. Owen thinks that Plank Roads,
in the present stage Of progress aud population the
country suitable and profitable than Railroads.
He also thinks that "sngle track Plank road (which 10
said every practical purpose except in the inn
mediate vicinity of populous ctes) constructed
average line of country, where timber be had
moderate price, aud where there unusual expense of
excavation bridging be completed for from $500
to $1,000 per mile. if the management of the work be u-
dicious and economcal any for $4,000 The fol-
lowing from the Detroit Bulletin is given to show
the advantages be derived by the public from Plank
road:-.N n. Bulletin.
scientific experiments have proved that the same power
required move one ton in a common lumber wagon on
a level earth road viii the wagon with load
of four and half tons. level wood surface One ton
is the average practical load for horse team over
olersby level road; il follows the
can, with equal ease, draw load of four aud half tons
properly graded plank road Practical results have prov
ed this for four the load
horse team on all plank roads where the lands surface has
been levelled to practical grades"
Mr.. Owen then goes to say:
"By the general plank road law of State, the toll
per mile for two horse team is not to exceed two cents.
The practical result is them that by paying
milo two horse Dogoner can qHadrupIs his bad Or,
may work out the measure OF advantage thus: Sup
pose plank road fifteen miles long, the charge for hauling
goods produce common turnpike that distance,
let put at ten cents hundred though in fact most
of country roads, considerably exceeds that
Then. before the plank road constructed farmer
other WAGNER could convey along this road at each trip
ton, receiving for its conveyance szV0 dollars and
paying TOLL On the plank road, trip. he could
convey four TONS receiving at the rate eight dollars
and paying thirty TOLL netting therefore, seven dollars
and seventy cents OF course IN practice the rate Of
hauling plank road would not remain the the
actual result would be that the woud fall about oae
third what is. The effect dreci of this would be-
to raise to the farmer the value of his produce by acta
ting its transportation to Market aud lower the price Of
the goods he may buy, by diminishing the Of
transportation upon them"
Mr. Owen speaks Of proposed plank road from Mt
Vernon to New Harmony, also from Evansville 10
New Harmony, &c. We quote:
"a company is already organised and their stock SUBJ
scribed plank road from county seat
Mt. Vernon this village, New Harmony; and the e-
of Evansville have resolved organize another for
the construction Of similar road from their town to this
place. We, part have subscribed in village,
twenty thousand dollars towards the confirmation Of the
road hence West Southern Illinois, way Of Car
mi, McLeansboro, Mt. Vernon Nashville and BeIlevle to
ST. Louis the distance hence ST. Louis bsing about 1874
miles, and hence Evansville. IS mcs-msking the dis
from Evansville to 81. Louis l6o miles. do not
doubt that company will be organised under the
general plank road law Of Illinois, complete the entire
On this road cannot, Of course. approach railroad
speed Let stage coach omnibus start four
o'clock in the morning from Evansville. and reach ST.
Louis at twelve o'clock the night and this is much
better than steamboat time. four horse omnibus will
convey along plank road IS 80 passengers and their
baggage-and would pay well charging each passenger
from Evansville to ST. Louis, three dollars for the trip,
which is under steamboat rates"
Mr.. o. concluded his communication thus:
Ii such road caused the land on each side Of the line
slong which it runs advance in price if within mile
81 per acre-if within miles, fifty per acre-f
within three miles, twenty i've cents per and u
not be reasonably doubted that il would q mrch
greater advance than that then the increase in the
price Of land would ovepay by three four hundred dol
lars per mile the cost Of the road"