Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-07-10
PLANK ROADS.
Correspondence of the Times.
CLEvELAsp, Ohio, June 90, 1851.


CLEvELAHD, Ohio. June %, 1851.
Since my last Qrom Boston) have seen
plank roads enough (and travelled upon
several OF them) to reach from here TO Glas
gov, and the same story is reiterated by all
persons, familiar with their construction and
use, with whom have conversed. OF their
utility, and durability there can be but fa'
vorable opinion, and have not yet seen
one that did not pay from Is to 81 per cent.
upon the investment. This city. as vel as
Buffalo N. Y, and Chicago had its streets
planked all over, except the drains upon each
side. In fact the whole Of the states OF Ohio
and New York are checkered throughout with
this kind OF roads and there are hundreds
more in progress Of various lengths.
When at New York, | visited "Green'
wood Cemetery" and had the curiosity to
get out Of the carriage, hunt up rail and
lif plank from the road by using it as
lever. This plank, eight ieel long was not
pinned down, but still quite hard 10 raise,
and about as difficult to return to its place.
This road seemed to have been used for q
long time and was perfectly solid. There
were two stills or strong pieces running length
wise the road at about foot from each end
OF the planks, which were 3 inches thick. -
The sills were inches and Tapped none
at all but broad plank covered the joint,
where they came together. Upon plank
roads you cannot tell without clearing away
the soil or dirt from the side track, where the
ends OF the plank terminate; for they are so
firmly embedded on and in the road that they
are invisible.
The plank road alluded 10 above as hav'
ing been examined by me, is not the main
lhoroughfare from the city OF New York TO
Brooklyn, (where Greenwood Cemetery is
siluated) but road leading from the country
TO the main road, to which deviated for the
purpose accomplished.
In a conversation | had with William
Hamilton, ESQ, actuary OF the Philadelphia
"Flanklin Institute" learned that the de-
mand for Engineers in that state far exceed
ed the supply and that all The members there.
OF, as far as he thus knew, were engaged
This being the case it might be well for the
Board OF Directors OF our Roads to take time
by the (orelock in commencing the endeavor
10 secure the services Of competent men,
In word il is, in and throughout all the
Northern and Eastern States, considered q
per Sc fact, tina, plank roads are indispensable
to the wants OF q farming and commercial
people, os an auxiliary 10 the rail roads
which traverse the whole country, as well al
TO the canals and rivers which interscet this
part Of the Union.
arrived here on yesterday al IL A. Nj.
having travelled during the previous % hour'
from New York city, via Erie rail road t
Dunkilk, the distance Of 649 miles. Or
some OF tue route fifty three miles was don't
in so minutes and one ten miles in 81 min
utes.
ALL A. NJ, instant, leave here on tn,
Columbus and Cincinnati rail road, and ex
poet to arrive home next week, when il an,
thing more turns up, regarding plank roads
think you said "taats what we want TO hea
all about will communicate il to you
from Halle Ridge, with much pleasure.
presume that ground is already broker
for our plank roads.
Truly, yours.