Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-01-10
PLANK ROADS.

No little attention has recently been awaLe,o,
IN some parts OF the State to the subject of planl,
Roads They have been brought into use in Na~
ork and canada with signal success. and !, !.
hard TO perceive why they should not succeed in
Virginia. There are particular regions 10 which
they would be admirably adapted, and wbera
stone, for macadamized road cannot be had :
Our readers are aware that the ScottsvilIe and
Siaunton Turnpike Company has resolved 10
make plank road-and that the Valley Junction
turnpike Company has the subject under con.
sheraton. The citizens of Brunswick Dinw;d-
die and Mecklenburg counties are moving ON ~.
subject OF a road of this description to Petersbnra
and we find. in the Inteligencer Of that town no
following letter from Lewis NJ. Provost, ESQ. lato
Engineer OF the Southwestern Turnpike and
now in the employment OF the South.S Rail
Road. We invite attention to It's statements
which are doubtless reliable. Why should NO,
the Rocky Mount Turnpike, now in process ~
construction, be covered with plank, and thus be
rendered better for all purposes than a macada.
mized road! We have not moments doubt tina,
IT would pay twice as much upon the investment
as the present dirt turnpike. 1t will be seen that
whilst the cost per mile according to Mr.. Pro.
vosfs estimate, is only two-thirds that of MAJ
adamized road horse can draw upon il twice %
much, whilst the annual expense of repairs ner
mile IS about the same. We commend Mr.. Pre-
vosts letter to the stockholders Of The Rocky Mt
Turnpike Company. Their road is already sLl
fully located and well graded, and for about l5oo
dollars per mile they might make it as profitable
an investment as any in the State-provided the
road be extended 10 the Rail Road near New
london,or brought TO Lynchburg il this could be
done without conflicting with the rights of tbe
Lynchburg and Salem Turnpike.
PETERSBURG. Dec II, lS4o
De@ SF:-ltg gives ne pleasure IL comply with
your request aud in answer 10 lie enquiries made Inv
you this morning. ! reply,
Is. he eost oi Macadamized road whare stope If
good quality is abundant and il, medaiey 4 the line
OF the road. Is about S. 000 per mile Where The ma,
leral would have 10 lie hauled average distance of
more tlana Of mile, the would be increased in
proportion 10 the distance ran~pnted. | for more
than two years chief engineer the Southwestern Furn
ike and when resigned that oilice, had completed
forty miles Of the road and placed thirty tour miles
mpre under cont act. Tile lowest price, at which anv
partlun q the work was taken, was $500 per mile.
While sime Of il cost $5,sto-average about $1,000
The metal (Iime-s one) abundant ON the line pro.
visions cheap, aud hands worth SO year. The Val.
ley road from Stannton u nchester believe cost about
$500 pr nile.
81 Tie cost oirepairiug Macadam;zed road is abo,,
500 per mile per aenoln such is he cost If keeping up
The Valley road, and such my experience on the
Sou'hHe western road.
Sd. | estimate the cost of a plank road, graded 10 a
width If twenty feet and with sluee track If plank
eigh feet wide, (vhch has been found, IN New York
and Canada, all sufficient fer the heaviest uade) at
$4,000 per mile, made up as follows:
q aiding road and laying track 4 800
Plank 52sUO feet, side and edge measure,
al $40. Al O56 on
s4iosers, n,o8o, side and edge measure S''''0 "
al $40 2sl Co
Engineering and Contingencies, 1872 40
Total cost per nile. $4,000 90
The plank RAIDS in New York have cost average