The North-Carolinian., 1850-05-18
EXTRACTS FROM THE
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE
DIANK pnAn CnND.N1v

| In looking over the Report of the President of
the Plank Road Company, find number of
items of very general interest. We make the
following extracts, worthy of public attention:
The route of the Road was located
from the Market House up Haymount,
and so on to the Factory, and the work
was commenced and prosec uted as vigor-
ously as the Engineer deemed prudent.
The Board concluded, as a work of the
kind was new in this part of the country,
and by many regarded as an experiment,
land in truth the system ofimproved trans
portation by means of Plank Roads may
be said at that time to have been new in
the United States.) prudence required
they should construct the first section of
the Road under the immediate charge of
the Engineer and the Board thought, by
this course, they would be better inform
might feel disposed in the progress of the
work TO make contracts, an opportunity of
obtaining information. They have accor-
dinghy built the first section Of 125 miles,
by hiring the necessary hands and teams
by the day. The men Oh the Road have
been worked in gangs of Is, 20. and IS,
as they could be judiciously superintendent
by foreman, held accountable for the
faithful discharge of duty by the men,
he receiving One Dollar day, and the
hands 60 to IS cents, finding themselves.
Teams of Q horses each, with the driver,
at So per day.
The Board have concluded to lay only
| a single track through the entire line first,
and try the experiment. Where proper
soil. say an admixturc of clay and sand,
are found, or can be made. they think the
Road will become sufficiently firm and
4 <>f Il III
track.
The width of the plank track has been
spoken of. Our wagoners, many OF them,
complain of it. Various widths, 9, 10,
9, and 16 feet. have been tried in Canada
and New York, but the s feet track has
been settled on as the best, because sufii
GENTLY wide, with proper teams well
managed, and the most economical. One
foot added to the length Of the plank would
add much to the cost. Our wagoners,
heretofore in the habit of driving 4, 5,
and 6 horses, when they find that two
horses will co the work Of fe"r on this
Road, will dispense with all but two
horses. They will drive these two hor
ses with reins relieving one of their horses
of bearing rider as we'll as doing his
share of drawing the load, protecting
themselves also from much exposure, by
vate the complaint of the narrowness Of
the track.
Again. 1t is fact that horses will,
after they travel a Plank Road for awhile,
rarely leave it; and they have been
known, it is said, to look back on the
track of Plank Road, upon their lea wing,
with evidences of regret.
1t has been found, as we have remarked,
that the stringers hewed from the pine
trees along the road, of sizes from $ to E
by inches, hattened on the lower side
aud hewed smooth the upper sIue,
answer as good, if not better purpose,
than the stringers sawed. They are
cheaper by at least one-half, and they
make stronger and firmer road.
They must be firmly embedded, The
stringers ought to be LAID inches apart,
and the two outside stringers 2 inches
road bed.
In many roads, and where the travel on
the road is light, 9 stringers by 6, with
inch plank, will answer every purpose.
Our Road has been laid with stripgers,
because it is one which must bear great
| deal of heavy travel. The stringers should
be as straight as possible the joints, where
they come end to end, should be we IL brok-
en-, or the ends may sink.
In no part of the country can a covering
of plank be obtained Of better and more
durable material than in the section through
which this Road passes for the greater
portion OF the line. The pitch pine plank
forms the best material, and an experience
ed and practical man from the region of
Plank Roads, on looking at the lumber
covering this Road, said they would not
put such good lumber in a Plank Road at
the North.
The advantage of keeping the road we'll
sanded is. that the sand gradually wears,
uuder the pressure of the wheels and the
tramp of the horses, into the plank, and
makes the road more durable
| 1t i. plain, that if the roads in Canada
and at the North, with the covering they
put on them. wear7 years. this Road OF
ours will last 10 years at least.
| tits the opinion Of the able Engineer OF
this Company that the l25 miles of road
| now laid down will not for some years, it
properly attended to, require repairs Of any
consequence.
The right Of way on the first section OF
the Road was in NEST cases secured and
in view of SO great advantage to all through
or bv whose lands this Road was to pass.
it may be surprising that any one would
demand comPen sation. Cases will occur
where it is impossible to avoid some com
pensation being made.
i v.h. ucord have naid and will he call