North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-10-01
GREENVILLE PLANK ROAD.
20ibe President and Directors Of tile GreenriLe and
Raleigh Plank Road Compnnu.

To the President and Directors nf the Greenre and
Raleigh Plank Road Company.
l. GENTLEMEN: Agreeably your instructions, I
herewith transmit to you Plot of a survey made
between Tyer's Bridge and Raleigh, accompanying
hch is statement of the general character of the
Country, and also estimate of the cost of construc-
ton and receipts Of your contemplated Road Be-
tween Tyer's Bridge and the Rail Road, two routes
the otherto Wilson. From the Rail Road TO Raleigh
but one, which leads from Wilson 10 Raleigh, pass
ing through Stanhope and Wakefield.
As the survey not intended as one for the To-
cation of the Road but for the purpose of ascertain
ing the situation of different points along the
plated route, and the character of the Country hroug
which 1t may pass, with such other information as
may be OF service to you, the public Road was fol-
lowed for the purpose of saving time and expense.
Accompanied by R. L.. Myers, Esq, member of
your board, also examined route leading d.
rect from Wilson TO Raleigh, which found to be
billy and rocky in many places, and crossing streams
which might be avoided by adopting the northern or
Stanhope route.
The route by way of Stanhope would increase the
distance some two miles, but Plank Road could be
constructed over it at less expense than the direct
route. The grades Also this route, would be
much easier than those of the direct one the bridges
fewer and shorter and the material for the road bed
better. These facts recommend the Sanhope Route
as the most practicable. / shall therefore confne
myself to the consideration of the Northern or Will
son Route passing through Stanhope and the South
ern Black Creek Route.
bLACh CREEK ROUTE.
have not examined this route personally, and can
only give such information as have been able to OBJ
tain from other sources. From Tyer's Bridge to
Black Creek, the route would pass near the Great
Contentnea Creek much of the way.
In the Eastern and Southern portions of the State
the Country near the streams is broken, especially
that situated the north side, and therefore to obtain
level road, they must be avoided.
direct route from Tyer's Bridge to Black Creek
would the Tosnot and Great Conentnea Creeks,
requiring expensive bridges.
BetTeen Black Creek and Raleigh, / know moth
ing OF the general character of the Country except
that the streams in that section of the Country be-
come larger and the banks higher and more broken
they extend farther South and from these facts
conclude that the grading and bridging would be
much more expensive this than the Wilson route.
This route would pass through Stantonsburg,
| TO which place the Great Contentnea is nayigabIe
for part OF the year, which perhaps would divert
portion of the produce in its vicinity from your
Road.
Black Creek is situated six miles nearer WHINING.
ton, than Wilson, and according 10 the present
of freightage from Wilson 10 Wilmington on the
Rail Road, barrel of produce would be carried for
three cents less from Black Creek than from Wilson,
This difference may seem inconsiderable at first but
when we consider that it is more than sufficient to
pay one half the toll ordinary load for two
horses, from the Rail Road GreenviIle on Plank
Road, it is worthy of consideration.
The freghtage, however, from the two places NAV
be the same But even should this be the case, then
the location of Wilson is more favorable than that of
DIacK CTeek; Ior should the Kali Road COMPANY
reduce their treIghtage to the lowest possible rates
for which they afford 10 carry produce to market
from the two places that they may compete with
your Company, then the freightage to Wilmington
must be less from Black Creek than from Wilson. as
the distance is shorter. From Black Creek to Raei gh
the route would pass within twelve or fourteen miles
of Smithfeld, from which place the Neuse River is
navigable, which would to greater or less extent
draw off from your Road the produce Of that section
of Country. 1t would also pass near to- and parallel
with the Central Rail Road ard Northern Plank Road
designed to pass between Fayetteville and Raleigh,
the one already in Of construction, and The
Company ofthe other organized and dytocommence
operations. Your President informs me that along
the line OF this route, conditional subscriptions
10 the amount of some $4,000 have been subscribed,
provided your Road shall pass through Stantonsburg
Black Creek and Buelab.
cannot say that these places are so situated that
the most direct and practicable route would pass
through or so near to them their I" condi-
lions. If this should not be the case, then the
subscribed would be diminished to some extent.
would here remark that is important the success
of Plank Road. any Road, that individuals re-
siding it shall be interested that seIfinterest
will induce them to give their patronage, care and
influence.
THE WILSON ROUTE.
Under instructions from the President of your
body, have made survey of this route from Tyers
Bridge to Wilson, for the purpose of the location of