Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-05-23
THE TIMES
PLANK ROADS,
Their Utility, Cost, Mode of
Construction &c.

A correspondent Of the Ohio Cult.
uator, who resides near Plank roads
that are in operation, affords the pub.
lie much useful information in regard
to the utility, construction and expense
of such Improvements. His letter is of
late date, (March, ls5o) and we pui
1t on record for the benefit of the rea.
ders of the Times. The writer says:
This is emphatically the plank road
district Of the State. To Huron and
Erie counties (and to the town of Mi.
Ian, in the latter county, more particu-
larly) belongs the honor of having con.
structed the first plank road in Ohio; to.
wit: THE Milan and Richland Plank
road"-commenced in ls47--leading
from Milan, southeasterly into Huron
about ! l miles, and which will be ex.
tended into Richand county. There
is already, in these Two counties, a
greater extent of plank road, either
projected, in a state of rapid progress.
ion, or in actual completion, than in
any other district of equal extent, in the
State. About fifty miles of these roads
are completed and drawing toll; from
thirty TO fifty will be built in the en-.
suing year, while the whole extent of
plank roads chartered in this district,
including those of this winters Legis.
lature, will not fall short of 800 miles.
lst. Asto their utility. Of this, no
person who has lived near 10, or driven
team upon such a road, can for a
moment entertain doubt. They are
the cheapest. most profitable, safest,
easiest repaired, most agreeable TO man
and beast Of all roads which the inge.
nuity of mankind has as yet invented
Upon them team can draw double the
load usually drawn upon McAdam or
Turnpike roads, and TRIBE that upon a
common dirt or blay road, with equal
facility, In bad weather, the advan.
,age is decidedly in favor of plank
roads. They are TO the farmer what
railroads are to the merchant and cap
italist, and the wonder is that we have
been SO long without them.
The beauty of these roads is that
they are always in good condition TO
drive upon. No matter at what season
of the year, if directly after our long
fall rains, at the time of our winter
lhaws, or Immediately upon the open
ing offspring; when the frost has left the
ground, and when other roads are one
interminable and fathomless slough of
mud and mire, upon the plank road the
farmer or the teamster finds a safe, sure,
firm footing for his team; and can fire.
quent the markets with the same fa-
cilty as in midsummer. Does one
wish to drive to neighboring o wn, or
a few miles ride, with light vehicle,
Just get on a plank road, and off, hur,
rail- away he rattles-no disagreeable
ruts, no vexatious sloughs or corduroys,
no dislocating Jostles, impede or inter-
rupt his course; but over the smooth,
unbroken surface, up and down the
gradual slopes of the hills, his carriage
spins away as easy as a quilwheel.--
True, for all this easy road. he must oc-
casionally stop and drop into the toll.
gathers box his "cent per mile;" and he
who would not cheerfully do so, ough,
to he put into the Black Swamp road,
as it was fifteen years ago, and compeli-
ed to wallow through, from Lower
Sandusky to Toledo, his five or ten
miles per day.
But one of the best features of these
roads is, the spirit of growing and en-
terprise they impart to. the country
through which they are built. Unlike
railroads, they inspirit and build up our
little towns. New villages spring up,
and old ones are renovated by them.--
They afford good road at all times of
the year, and thus obviate the stagna-
ton of business attendant on foul
weather. They are roads that any Sec
ton, even half settled, can build, with
out the aid of foreign capital, and are
constructed of timber easily at hand
and otherwise not valuable.
I'd. Ofthe construction. One track,
upon that side of the road where the
loaded teams will most usually pass, in
meeting others should be first laid
down, as il is an object 10 have the