The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-13
Plank Roads.

approved system, two parallel rows Of small
sticks or timber (called indiferently sleepers
stringers or sills) are imbeded in the road, or
feet apart. Plank, eight feet long and three in
ches thick, are laid upon those sticks across them
at right angles to their direction A side track O
earth, to turn out upon, is carefully graded
Deep bitches are dug ON each side, to EN-
sure perfect drainage; and thus is fprned planl
road. -. q ..I--.s5S 49, -
LAYING THEM oGr.-In laying out a plank road
is indispensable, IN order to all the bene
fits which can be derived from it, TO avoid or blu,
down all steep accents, ssi ,tr III 81 3. $3.50 fs'
A very short rise Of even considerable steep.
ness may, however, be allowed to remain, to
save expenses; since a horse can, for short
time, put forth extra eyertion to- overcome such
an increased Resistance; and the danger of
slipping is avoided by descending upon the earth,
Adouble plank track will rarely be necessary.
No sone. without experience m the matter can
credit the afleunt of travel which one such track
can accommodate y Over single track near Syr-
acuse, ISL 200 teams passed in two years, aver.
aging over go teams per day, and and during
three days 100 passed daily. The earthent turnout
track must, however, be Kept IN good order; and
this is easy, if 1t slope off properly to the ditch
for il is not cut with any continuous fengthwise
ruts, but is only passed over by the wheels Of the
wagons which turn off from the track and return
to IT. They thus move lin curves, which would
very rarely exactly hit each other and this travel
being over the earth; tends to keep it in shape
rather than to disturb it, "a @sa -
CovERINe--The planks having been properly
laid, has been directed, should be covered over
anihch in thickness with very fine gravel or peb-
bles, from which all the stones or pebbles are to
beralsed, as to leave nothing upon the surface
of sheroad that could be forced into and injure
the fbres. Of the panks. The grit of the sand
soon penerates into the grain Of the wood and
combines with the fibres and the. dropping upon
the road to form hard and tough covering like
felt which greatly protects che wood from the
wheels and. horses Shoes Saw dust and tan-
bark have ALSO been used. .ya4a,3 1elsa<j 10 80
The roads is now ready for use. no. 10 ID.
LAYINe,-The planks should he laid directly
across the road, at right angles. square, 'tots
line- The ends of the. planks are not lnd evenly
TO line, but project three on four inches on each
side alternately, 50 as to prevent rut from
being formed by the side Of the plank track, aud
make il easier for loaded wagons to get upon 1t as
the wheels, instead Of scrRping along the essds of
the planks when coming towards the track 'obi-
quely after turning, off, will, oip coming square
against the edge of one pfthose projecting phunks,
rise directly upon 1t, On the Canada roads every
three plaDks project three inches On each side of
the road alternately .yaavma9 a-t47a i5L.g,c
DURABuIrY.--A plank road may require a re-
newa, either becapseIt has worn out at top by the
travel upon il, or because it has been destroyed at
Wy wv AStii "a Liz fodu lHhNS 1nNt'
enough to make ii profitable to its buiders,it viii
wear out first, and il il does. il will have earned
abndantly enough to replace II twice over, as we
shall see presently. The liability to decay is
therefore a secondary consideration on roads OF
importance. rsgsT} is3ygs5S 6BUt. Us
DEcAr.--As to natural decay, no hemlock road
has been in. use long enough 20 determine how
long the plank can be preserved from rot Seven
years is perhaps affair average. Diherent species
Of shemlock vary greatly; and upland timber is
always more durable than. from low and we,
localities. The pine roads in Canada generally
last about. eight years, varying from seven to
twelve. The original Toronto road was used
chiefy-by teams hauling steamboat wood and at
the end of not six years began 70 break through
in places, and not being repaired was principally
gone atthe end of ten years. Having been poorly
built, badly drained, not. sanded, and no care
bestowed upon it, indicates the MINIMUM Of dura-
biity. Oak plank cross-waiks are in Detroit, the
plank being laid fat those Of pine. II il be-
eved that oak plank. well laid, would last al
enst twelve or fifteen years. One set Of seepers
viii outlast two plankings. Several Canada roads
have been relaid upon the old sleepers, thus much
iessening the cost Of renewal, Scientific .7mriean,