Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-05-14

One hundred and sixty-three ,hites Of
plank road connect Utica with the su--
rounding country, and since their construc.
tion business has increased 100 per cent,
and in all weathcrs, whether in the spring
or fall, the city presents bustling and
animated appearance, and as necessary
consequence, the population has increased
25 per cent, and property Is per cent.
On the Rome & Utica road, property
some few miles from Utica has gone up
% per cent.
On the Utica & Frankfort road, proper
ty has advanced Is per cent.
Rome, Syracuse, Salina, and other pla-
ces exhibit equally favorable results.
WEIGHT OF LOADS
Farmers take one and half solid cords
Of green wood to market, where formerly
half or three quarters ola solid cord was
considered load so bushels of rye or
100 bushels of oats, when formerly they
carried but 40 or so bushels. This is
done at the rate of four miles an hour,
whereas three miles with a team was in
tolerablc order. A manufacturer of Utica
formerly transported from the railroad to
his establishment, dkttn of seven
miles, ten bales of cotton per day, with
two teams, which made each but one daily
trip but on the recently constructed
plank road, one team performs the journey
twice, delivering Is bales per day. The
average weight of bale of cotton is 5 cwt
therefore one team is now equal to the
work of IS cwt, while on the old road it
was equal to only 25ewt. and these loads
are considered fair average burdens, with
out the energies of the team being unfairly
taxed.
WHAT PLANK ROADS DO FOR THE STOCK
HOLDER.
The tolls authorized to be collected in
New York are not to oexceed three-quartcrs
of cent per mile for vehicle drawn by
one horse one cent and half for veh,
icle drawn by two animals; one half cent
per mile for every additional animal, and
! for each horse and rider or horse lead, one
half cent per mile while jurors, witness,
troops, and travellers attending religious
worship, are exempt from toll, With the
above rates, the profits on some Of the lines
have been as follows
Troy & Lansingburg Road,2 per cent,
besides laying by large surplus-the
stock is in few hands and can not be pur-
| chased Utica g. Nothern Road Q Per
cent, laying by sufficient surplus for re-
building ; Utica g. Frankfort Road in five
months declared divident of 10 per cent;
Utica & Burlington, 20 per cent; Salina
& Central Square Road has declared Z!
per cent every six months and its stock of
which only $50 is paid in, is worth s1lO;
Rome & Oswego, 10 per cent, laying bya
sufficient surplus; Aurora L. Buffalo %
per cent; Charlottville 20 per cent, and
laws by sinking fund-the stock can not
be purchased Other instances are given,
all showing it to be one Of the most prof.
table kinds of stock
REPAIRS OF THE ROAD.
The repairs which plank road will
need for the first two years are but trifing,
depending much upon the mode in which
the road is constructed-the expense ,how-
ever, increases each year until the eighth
year, when the planks have to be relaid.
Mr.. X. assumes that one man can keep
miles in repair during the first years of the
road, and gives the following estimate Of
expense first year, So; second year, So;
third year, 81; fourth year, SO; fifth
year, $40; sixth year, SIS; seventh year,
800 Averaging annually for seven years
$40 per mile.