Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-15

before the projection of knots would make 1t neces
sary TO relay the road, so that it would have born
the passage of 100000 teams. But this is an under
estimate, nasmuch the wear and tear OF the firs
wear is more than that of several following; since tn
first travel upon the road tears out the outer splinter
and fbres cross-cut by the saw, while the coating
subsequently, formed protects the plank from wear
). Unon Canada nine road, travelled over by at leas
$50 two-horse teams per day, 100000 eryearO h'
;. road had worn two years only one quarter oil al
inch and this two was attributed chiefly to its expo
sure The first wear without sanding 1t was esma
that sapded plank on this road would wear at leas
/ ten wears. Oak would of course wear longer.
Decau.-As to natural decay, no hemlock road has
as vet been in use long enough, to determine how
) long the plank can be preserved from rot seven
wears is perhaps fair average Dlfereht species o'
hemock vary greatly and upland timber Is always
more durable than that from low and wet locations
The pine roads in Canada generally last e'ght years.
varying from seven to twelve. The original oroh-
TO road was used chiefly by teams hauling steamboat
woods at the end of years, began to break hrougn
in places, and, not being repaired, was principally
gone at the end of ten years Having been poorly
built, badly drained, not sanded and no care bestow-
ed upon il, it indicates the minimum OF durability
OAK plank walks in Detroit, the plank being LAID Hat
ON the ground have lasted two three times as long
as those of pine 1t is believed that oak plank, well
laid, would last at least IL ID years. One set OF
seepers will out last two plankngs several Canada
roads have been relaid upon The old sleepers, mus
much lessening the cost OF renewal. ;,
A Canadian engineer thinks that $2o per mile
would be required the first year, 10 restore lhe grade
where it had settled, to iasten loose plank, &c. FOR
the next five years $40 per mile, and then there
be some plank to be replaced The repairs would
then increase, so as to amount TO renewal OF tne
surface at the end of four years more, making ten iof
the age OF the road
Plank roads are the Farmers Railroads. lie profits
most by their construction, though all classes OF the COM
munily are benefited by any such improvements as mas
been fully shown in the lnoducou" 10 this volume lhe
peculiar merit Of plank roads s thai the great dmlnuon
of friction upon them makes them akin to railroads.
than to common roads, with the advantages over aoaos
that every one drive his own wagon upon Them. lhe
advantages naturally divide themselves Into two classes
their utility the community at large, ana lhelr Pios "
the stockhodrs who build them.
|. To the COMMUNICATING as our standard OF com,
parison the load which hUrse can draw on new graVe
road we nd that while lie draw three times as much
on broken sone or McAdam road In average condition
he can draw six times as much good plank road, or
twice as much as the McAdam road Every days
evnerence confirms these results of dynamomete expert
ments Twice the ordinary weights carried on common
roads (which when in good condition, are smoother tan
McAdam roads) are the usual loads on plank roads, Two
horses draw two with ease, upon them, and on "a
NADIA road of SO miles, always carried barrels OF Hour
On leyel plank road they easily draw four or hVe TONS
Tho nnnsua bulk of the loads of wood drawn over them Is
especially strkngA greater degree OF speed can also oe
obtained upon them with less Injury to Inc vehlces ana 10
tho borses feet than on McAdam road The motion has
Noon connared to that on road CT well beaten snow Eight
foot of Canada McAdamzed road, disrupted by fros was
, ,n and plankedoyer and the horses when relned from
the nank TO the slone in turning out would of their own
accord if not prevented Immediately turn back upon the
plank. ;, g ,.,,
roads is their con inung in perfect order, and afodng u
diminished facilities for travel at all seasons, while com
mon roads are rendered impossible by the continued rains
ofan autumn the occasional haws IN mldwlner or ths
"breaking up in spring. They thus enable the farmer
carry his produce to market at seasons ana IN "ea'e
when he would otherwise be imprisoned home, aud cou
mot work there to advantage. His farm will therefore
made more valuable to him and it has accordingly beef
found ha, the value and price Of land contiguous TO thos
roads have been enhanced by their operation to such de
gree as to excite the envy and complaints Oh 'hose living
be, line The lessened strcton will also enable him
c,rrv his former load to distant market II desired
or 10 carry to his former market larger load and nereo
at less cost per bushe hundred weight or cord lie Cal
therefore sell cheaper and yet gain more. ne cosu"e
of his produce wood &c., gets better supply OF all ai'
cles and at low prices The shoPkeePels carry o ac'
moi far those roads they would have nothing TO do IL
one of these few business arrangements o which all pare
Gain and which therefore, in the words of Clinton actual
= " "augment the public wealth."
= 9 TO the Stockho!deys.-Upon the first eight miles
the Syracuse and Central Square plank road the ,os our
ng it, first two wears, ending July lS4s, amounted 10 $l2
SON and the expenses for salaries and repairs to SloUO
leayng Il 400 for dividends and rebuilding. This amour
of travel had wun the plank down one inch Another incl
could be worn down before renewal would be necessary
and the road would then have earned aooVe all eA
or $50 per mile This experience indicates ina
bonoo,, nIsnk beEre being worn out, will earn two 0
three times their original cost The surplus above the cos
IF renewal will therefore be payable in dividends, amount
@ in grnss TO between 100 and 200 per cent. upon tn
first cost of the plank Chat of the cole road bearing
constant ratio to this; the amount OF eacn aual
being of course greater the more rapidly TINS wearing out
with lis concomnitant and proportional earnlng take
Thscacuationis predcaed upon the tolls established BY
the n York Plank Road law, which are as follows:
any vehicle drawn by two horses, &c, Genus per Ne
and half cent for each additional anna for vehicles draw"
bv one horse three fourth per me for horse and RI
DOR or led horse half cent for every score OF Sheep SWINE
or neat cattle one cent per mile. But the companies are
m, n cbarpe more than will enable them to pay annua
dividends of len per cent upon The STOCK ac'uaiy paw
and eynended on the road after keeping the road IN repair
.nJ settinq aside 10 DER cent for its reconstruction, h
restriction has since been repealed New ioS oD ons
,u ,o plank roads are-lS47 chapters 2lo, |co, $40
lS4S, chapter 500; le49, chapter ooo'I
The great objection to plank roads in The EYE OF at an engl
nee is their perishabe nature, anu m anE %
sIeT" sm, o to all in greater or less degree Thus in thu
~ hen stone or McAdam roads usually cited as con
U models Of durability we find that they wear away
So RAPIDLY as to require only constant repairs but wne,
well kept up actual addition to their substance o' ua Un
cubc ward per mile for each beast OF burden paSSpS WV.
tbsm Csee paoe 2O9 and the $4,000 teams passed owe
he Syracuse road would have required an amount of Dlok
tmes Il" sYv over Canadian report to the Board of PuO
Works shows that the cost of one mile OF McAoa m
will there make and maintain nearly 'oaf far broken
effected S aus saving of an pa's hf
road every three years. if that had been oad over h