Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-03-21
Plank Road to Hinesburgh.
VT

Plank Road to IIinesburgh.
Our readers will have noticed that the Stock
Books for this Work will be opened in Burling-
ton. on Monday next, at the Counting Room of
Messrs ]. s. i. II. Pack & Go. The Commits
ssionels arc Mcssrs G.. 2. PECK, II. B. STACY
md II. i. llcKoK, Of Burlington, and 10 EpH
MARsu. DANIEL GOODYEAR, and NJ. Hull, Of
llncsburph.
We trust our citizens will sec to it that this
most desirable Public Work shall not fail for
rr,sng projectors Of it may be able TO lay down
Plank Road that shall realize all the multi
form benefits, both to Stockholders and the
whole public, that have, with surprising unilor-
nifty, resulted from similar Improvements elsc>
where The first Plank Road in North Amer
lea was laid in Canada. ON the road running
rlst from Toronto. The experiment was found
tD be cmincntlv and unexpectedly successful.
tanada now possesses numerous roads of this
character, about 40 miles being III operation.
The system has been in operation in the State
Of New York but about four years and already
TWENTY ONE HUNDRED miles OF these roads
have been constructed, or are i'll process Of con-
structon! These facts, and others that we
propose to mention, VIC learn from an excellent
treatise on Plank Roads, by w. kINGsFoRD,
Esq. Civil Engineer OH the Hudson River Rail
road. which sets forth the advantages, the pro-
per method of construction, &C., with sufficient
a -
Mr.. Kingsland's pamphlet contains a large
amount of interesting and useful information in
regard to Plank Roads and should be in the
hands of those who are about constructing these
Works For the copy in our possession, we
are indebted to the courtesy of President
WHEELER. It's contents are classified rs fol-
lows |. istorv of Plank Roads ii. Comppri-
son with other roads: III. Comparative cost of
the two Roads ". What Plank Roads do for
cities from which they run nnd property through
mhich they pass: V. Whn Plank Roads d for
hc f. r0,er VI. What PLANK Rords do for The
Si0ckhoHcr: VII. On the facility of travel Civ
cn by Plank Roads and VIII. Construction,
Though the information and arguments under
clch ofthesc heads are useful and instructive .wc
may ASSUME that what is said under the Fourth
fVh and 81 III, will be more immediately APP
rro1rlate to the purpose We have IN view, L. C.
the encouragement Of those who can and ought
TO subscribe for the Stock III the Burlington and
Iiinesburgh Road. We wish we could publish
It entire 1t is all Interesting and bears direct
ly upon the project in question. Mr.. Kings-
land shows. by actual statistics, that Farms
through, or by, which Plank Roads pass, have
uniformly increased IN raiuc, from ! ) u % per
cent; that produce, especially peri>habie pro-
dace, can be sold for remuneratlng prices y
where before it could not be sold at all that
traffic along their lines is generally increas-
ed lG0 per cent; that the retail trade ui our
Merchants has doubled" that the profits Of
transportation are greatly increased 10 the
leamster, and the charges diminished to the
consumer; (reamsters making more, OH Plank
Roads, at rs cts. ton, than they formerly
made at ,25); that there is great saving to
the Farmer in the wear and tear " of horses
harnesses and vehicles that " hOrse-shoes last
twice the time )" that tolls not only 'pay theme
SeiteS, but leave surplus in the pocket of the
Farmer :" that "woodands acquire, nlrinsica.-
", higher value, for he can cart sufficient in
one load to pay him for the expense OF caring
and cutting, allowing fair value for his tin
her;" &C., &c, all which Mr.. kngsland proves
by authentic statistics. We cannot refrain
from quoting a few paragraphs respecting the
s,ciai advantages that, in Mr.. KingsIands view
land sensible view it will be acknowledged
TO bel result from Plank Roads, He says:
On sunday, farmer can go TO church with gu
larIty. whrh was WAS no, always possible IN the
ball. when the church one fourth OF mile irunl
the m lie can live with more rlrndllness with
ms ne. hboie--ior the Plank Ronds hive led 10 an
I'cr.nscd intercourse brtwrcn families. Socially
the farmer hrcumrsn better aud a wiser man, lie
can meet people OF his own pursuits more frequently
aud converse upon prices current aud Improved
modes OF farming. lie learns what IS new, aud what
hrurils any particular experiment has led to. In
case OF sick ness relir be obtained readily, and
with Dispatch and it medical skill eau save the
head 81 family II young witc, the ply sclan cnu
Sunu he brought to the bedside.
Indeed all the advantages which result from n road
at superior excellence, accrue to the farmer There
T. uothing which much retards improvement ns
imperfect communications " OF all inventions" says
one ui the greatest writer's OF the day, ,Mdcauiay -
Hist. England Chap. III tue phnhet and print.
me- press alone exCrptrd-ihuSr inventions which
ahndge distance have done most for civilization
Every improvement oi the means of lOcumouon ben.
rlir- mankind lnoray and intellectually, well ~
maternity and uotouy facilitates the interchange
al The vnIinus productions ui nature aud art, bu
t"ns remove national aud provincial antlpathlrs
and 10 bind together all the branches Of the grea
hu,nnn family
lieyrr such a remark could be- directly applied, il
- To sections liavrrscd by plank roads The amIly
Iu-lcad'ul periodical visits to lur uclglhurlng cry
irr continually passing Ia aud fro. The change
the hustle, the animation, all have tlrIr influence =
The lanu"r SECS uihrr lIuuS finds them, perhaps