The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-05-21
Report III the Com mIttcc.

Report IT tho Committee.
Ths subject Of the FLANK RoAps At tins time, oc
cupie. a prominent place in the mind OF this and
pelghborlng communities The novelty and ain.
pl.c,ty Of this plan of Internal improvement has
CT cited an inquiry for information which argues
favoraby for the prevailing spirit ofsnterpr'e Sim
liar demands in other portions Of our country have
elected essays and reports from Engineers and those
engaged in their construction. from which your /
COMMITTEES has been greatly aided in ob,.nng sta |
,is,cs snd arriving al the conclusions contained in
the report they now propose to submit.
Their practicability has been tested by 10 years
service In Cansds. and yesrs only IN the United
States New York was one OF the first States 10 |
introduce them. and since the completion Of her
frs, road in 1916, her Legislature has chartered
ls2 companies more. making an aggregate extent
OF 2Ole miles Of Plank Road up TO the year 1850
The result Of tina, States experiences has already
bsen to render them common 10 most Of the New
and North western States, and 10 Introduce them
into almost every other State OF the Unlon-wheh
it, Of itself strong evidences Of heir practical utility
But their published statistics, which will be regard
ed as more reliable evidence, not only show their
local and general benefits but prove them 10 be
profit able for stock Investments
We will hrst give 4 short description OF there con
struction which We fnd TO be simple and well
ada pied 10 our interior country. where building ma
tersi 10 so abundant and 80 cheap, as 10 excite our
surprise that they have not long sace become our
common Highways
The mos, approved plan OF a single track road
10 to make the bed sixteen feet vide. s!svatng TIA
few inches in the centre. and firmly settling tho
earth on one half and planking the other by laying
or sills s,ringen which are TO be embedded IN
the earth and brdged with plank eight feet long by
3or 4 inches thick. which rest upon the earth and
siils their entire length the sls are placed. that
in travelling the road the wheels Of the wagon will
49, IL
OF base Tbs earth track is nsees,srily kept up as
part Of the road. and being always firm, will be
used by returning wagons IN giving the road 10 those
gong 10 market. 10 return upon the plank track
BY wagons which have yielded 1t. will DO a matter
Of no difficulty as the elevation 10 the centre. where
the plank and earth track inset Will place the wheel
Of he wagon al least upon level with the plank,
so that 10 pass upon it will not tArs II 10 mount
The fact that The earth track i. 10 bs used BY load
ed wagons on as turn out. and that to keep It IN
repair will be as much the duty and interest of the
company will the plank track, removes any
doubts tina, NIL ht DO suggested as 10 desp ruts and
mud. holes
The grading we find TO be by no means so formi.
dable as We Imag lnsd or as We presume is general
y regarded. 1t being altogether an arbitrary mat.
tor the ascent and descent, which regulates The
psnse. 10 determined BY tho amount OF means to be
expended IN their construction, the amour, Of busl.
ness they wall do, and tho face Of the country
which they are to pas. The beds OF the public
highways are being used by large pertIon OF the
Plank Roads that are now being constructed. ny
which the expense Of opening new track through
woodland 10 avoided. and the benefit OF firm fou1.
dstisn upon which TO build 10 obtained II differs
altogether from Rail Road grading as ,bsir sdmis
'lbls ascsn. and descent are much greater and their
wlndings and eurvaiures. like turnpikss, can DO
commodatsd TO the most broken country.
To determine the grade will be the business Of tho
company after il 10 organized But for the purpose
Of illustrating tho utility OF such Improvements by
contrasting the power Of team upon them and up
, earth road. We assume grade oyer which the
ascent shall exceed foot twenty The ordi-
nary load per horse with which ~sgonssrs hsgh.
, ted for common roads when in good ord.t 10
y 600 lbs 800 lbs and feed, to team Of four horses
10 common upon our worst winter reads. Practical
tests have demonstrated that in consequence OF the
;. differences in friction, {, controlling csnsdsrstion in
!. the soisnce OF machinery horse can draw thts,
tunes much upon firm plank road as he can up
" on an earth track Of the sans grade II then 00t
J. be load fer q four horse team over our common
roads when 10 .bs,r best condt,sn. the same team
10 able to draw IL 900 lbs upon the indulstine
road II covered with plank. But 10 90 through will
our contrast ss will adhere 10 our grade and TO b.
:" perfectly safe III omit ons-ih,rd OF this e,,im,
= and take 900 lbs as the wagon load, which vi
find 10 bs tho weight reported a. ordinary upon tn
- roads Of New York Of this grade. with which thsi
teams average 4 travel OF three mules psr hour /
W hours in succession. A Farmer living 30 mile
from market, can ia one day deliver 5000 lbs o
:. produce and return on the next. which estimatin
" the services Of his lean At tho common rates here
viz: 50 per day. and tolls at tbs usual rates no,
charged. which 10 4 csnts per milo. will cost % II
To deliver the same upon common roads i
their bsst condition allow 90 miles a. day's trave
~ will require two trips Of three days each, which
30 equal at the ssma rates to sl6 to which add tn
y, tour days saved in time. and At tho Same rates.
~ el2-making tho difference in cost and in savin
;" stand, So 40 to tho Plank Road, and $50 to Il
earth road showing saving upon the Plank Ro'
~ for the single load Sf produce 10 be $2l CO.
49, the same proportion as you lower tho grade, y'
increase tho advantages OF Plaak Roads by adding
III the ability sfths team TO draw heavier loads and co
tribute to the interest Of tho farmer by enabling hi
w to save time at the same ratio inidsvsring hi, pr
u" ducs in market.
The country from Charlotte to Newto, bsu
% somewhat broken. it might DO safe 10 adopt our
-" sumsd grade as q bass upon which TO make Is
' mates. Our knowledge OF tie country over Win
it 10 TO pass is imperfect but va now that the me
' broken portion Of }. in Mecklenburg county q,
are confident it can be passed without exceeding
By tho present high. way from Charlotte 10 ia
lorsvills tho distance 10 about 65 miles and ~ ado
' ting ss the general track for the Plank Road, Al
al. making two dgrsssions from it, which will no,
crease the length one mile. the read will DO plac
~ upon the dividing ridge between the waters
svo the Cstswbs and Ysdkin. and furnish almost
unbfoken level without crossing tho smslest riy
ON lot. But 10 divert 1t by the town Of Statssvjl
tho routo we believe desired By ALL il will on 90,