Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-05-21

From the Sullivan County Democrat.
Plank Roads

ful that the plank road should have renal
ned so long unknown. Every farmer knew
that on his barn floor, a span Of horse
would draw many times as much as on tn
bare ground; yet until within very few
years ago, 40 one thought Of applying thi
knowledge to the construction of roads
The application was first made in Canada
but has been most extensive and successful
in the State of New York, where RIOT
than 1000 miles of plank roads have beel
commenced within four years past, and il
good measure completed.
Experience-thc surest Of all witnesse
has now fully established, that planl
roads are the readiest means Of openin,
the resources of a country-of iHtroducin:
improvements of every kiHd--of rsisin:
the value of lands-of diffasing genera
prosperity and wealth. They have beer
called the "Farmer's Railroad" and il
fact they are absolutely necessary to thu
perfection of the railroad system, carrying
its benefits to every mans neighboshocd
often to his very door. The railroad, un
assisted by its humble plank auxiliary, i:
but a mutilated trunk without leaves and
branches to collect and diffuse fruitful cir.
culation.
That such is the case, that plank road:
are what we represent, brief ccRsidera.
tion of their character and advantages, will
satisfactorily demonstrate.
The prosperity of every neighborhood,
the increase Of its comforts and its wealth,
depend on facility of intercourse with good
markets. The money value Of lands spring.
from the same cause. In the neighbor.
hood of cities, lands of the poorest quality
command high prices; while at . distance,
without means Of easy transportation the
best lands are almost given away. The
expense of transporting surplus products
creates the difference. II proportion as
that expense is diminished, the difference.
ceases. If the lumber and grain Of Sulli-
van county, for instance, could be carried
to Philadelphia entirely freight free, our
lands would be worth almost as much as
those around the city 4; if for freight ve-
ry moderate in comparison with the value
Of cur products, similar results in an infe.
rior degree would follow.
This principle is illustrated by the rise
Of lands along the linc of cur State i'm
provements, which in many cases approach
the valre Of farm lands IL Philadelphia
county. Near Lewisburg, for instance, in
Union county, land sells at sl25 the acre;
higher than the land in Chester or
Montgomery, which. being remote from
public works, and not nearer thar twenty
miles Of the city, are for purposes of trans
portation virtually further from the city
than the Buffalo Valley lands.
Now let us apply these common place
principles 10 tic cast or p,atk .cad:. Tic
first question is, the gain in the means of
transportation-the diminished costs at
which the products Of the farm and ttrest
may be carried to market. If ore half tic
cost be saved, the land viii be doubled in
value; If two-thi-ds the cost, eren the
most incrcdulous can have but ore opinion.
On these points we will ei.. work tefore
Us, "Kingsford on Plank Roads, -herc
We find many interesting facts collected
from the experience Of the New York
roads.
"Expcrin.ent has determined the load
which horse is capable Of drawing on a
plank road to be so weighty, that enc a.
most hesitates I'd Sc. it down, fer fear of
,eing accused Of cxaggeratior On tie
,alina 4 Central road, few weeks back,
or a wage:, pair Of horses brought IT,
Without any extraordinary strain, six tons
# iron from BrcNe-tcr, a distarcc o. trclec
niles to Syracuse: One and half cords
# green beech is common load, which is
quivalcnt to 80 cwt., or 10 tons. There
S SO little resistance cr properly con-
tructed plank road, that an average team
an travel with this load, from thirty to
hirty five miles day after day, ct an aver.
&c rate of from three to four miles an hour.
indeed the farmer does not seem to make
ny calculation Of TIE weight taken. He
,ads the wagon as best he Can, the only /
arc being NOT to exceed the load 1t will |
AIRY; whether tie horse will draw the
bad, not beinga consideration. The Rome
, Turir rosd passes throug h a dairy coun-
y. Formerly farmers brought 1900 lbs.
) the canal, and took two days to 90 and
eturn. Now they cart from 40 to so cwt, |:
nd 20 ard return the same day. A farm
N miles of the city is almost as near as
nc only mile from it; the surplus being
: calculation convertible into time"
One other extract will suffice at ptes-
at:
''Through plank roads, the farmer has
hat he never had before-ag good road ev-
~ day in the year-the same at all sea-
'ns. Formerly, the spring and fall were
eriods when all avenues to the neighboriry
ties were closed to him. On the plank /,