The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-05-21

,wo streams which il will be necessary 10 bridge,
I'm, will REQUIRE but little additional grading except
10 overcome tho broken ground al the creeks. Tins
will necessarily add something to tie cost OF the
road, but will be economy IN the enc, as VIII en-
list in the enterprise the important aid OF tho wealth
Of the village aud its rich surrounding country Up
on this road the company may determine upon al
most any grade they choose
important as il may be TO show those interested
the advantages OF this system oil lhternal improve
ment, it will amount 10 little unless II can De a.
clearly shown that the cos, of construction :" th
in our means and that their durability VIII render
them expe6ent.
Our calculations heretofore made respecting lum
Der We fnd very nearly correspond with the est
mates given by Gillespie in his treaties upon the
subject and amounts to 100, 900 feet per mile, in
ciuding two setts Of stills instead of one. which ~
more common, and calculating the plank 10 be >
in chez thick, which al SO cents per hundred one
same price Of lumber used in building tho Northern
roads, where timber is much more valuable thsn
with usl ard % per CT moro than II costs upon lie
Fayetteville road it makes that item IN building
mount to $500 per mile. The expense Of grading.
as before remarked. controlled by ercumstances,
but knowing that the larger portion nj the Tsy io"
vile road will require no grading whatever, and wo
do not hesitate TO assume that $500 added TO tho
$500 for lumber and two hundred for eng lncering,
delivering material and other contingencies per
mile will complete the road for use and believe we
would hazard little in saying that SO per cent. ad
des TO this estimate for grading aud the smeunt 10
cover con ey pended upon the Lincolntsn
and Newton Road will prevent tract for . srst
class Plank Road and make the cost OF the lay
lorsvne Rosd 81 800 per mile, and the Newton
Road 1850 per mile
The durability of tho roads cannot be Posiissy
determined as they have not been IN use IN the Uni
ted States long enough 10 wear out OF decay; but
writers upon the subject agree that Hsmoek. the
common timber used for road building at the Nsrth
will la,t from 10 10 years, and also agree that
our Oak and Pine are lntnitsly supener 10 II.
A source of investment they present ihducs
men,s superior 10 any other Internal Improvement.
stock Of tho numerous comP,n,ss in the State Of
New York. and the many scattered through The
other States, we have never seen report OF heard
of one from any of them which did not pay at least
10 per cent, and most of them from ~ 10 81 per
CT Mr. Gregg. of Charleston. in MS essay upon
tho subject, says they are known TO declare much
a. 10 aud per cent. dividends, when run BY the
side Of Rail Roads and carry passengers cents
per mile.
These eslima,ss may sppsar 10 those who have
not had an opportunity to sIamins the subject. a.
too favorable TO the Plank Road improvements 10
/ be reliable We are free TO eonfs" that, although
advocates Of these enterprises We were not prspa-
REQ find their advantages great aud SO nantes!
ss our inquiries proved them TO Do, and IN every "
innate and onc!uson hsre submitted have made
liberal allowances sgainst them to cover any draw
backs which the use Of thsm Oh, discover.
These facts your committee believe be So iieisn'
TO commend TN, sy.ism of Internal improvement
10 III. favorabls csnsdsraton OF every patriotic and
,n,orprIIng citizen. 1t IS especially adapted TO en-
interior countiy, az offering cheap, easy and con
vsnisnt transportation Of lie agricultural products
10 market or to rail roads and navigaee rivers
which are the busine,s Arteries Of eur large market
towns Their eh.apness IN fret construction piiee'
them in the reach Of every thriving section OF oa'
country and IN ,hs age Of improvement we cannot
think ~s are TO be disappointed in expecting The
rich Yadkin and Catawba poitsns OF Carolina &c
adopt them as the means Of overcoming The natural
barriers to westh sga,nsi which they have Away
struggled, and as means OF dsytloping our grsa
resources aud adding 10 our cemmsn prosperity
No calculation, by ". certainly, - necessary Is
show What wou DO the increased profit OF GU
farm. II furnished msrke, Tor the surplus trey al
ready produce of to convince farmers Vat this ,ur
PIus would be greatly enlarged # they we're s,rma
lated with market. Nor will reflect uPoi
their intsIisnee in Isbored effort to prove that
country locked up like ours from natural oo,lss
DO its capabilities what they may, can ever emo
natures gifts matuted unless .s overcome her def
csnees by adopting the Improvements OF the age
and thu. place ourselves on a level with more favor
cd locausns.