Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-03-06
COMMUNICATED.
Plank Roads.
Editor of the Sentinel.

are peculiarly adapted to the requirements an
condition of this country.
AS 4 system Of Internal improvements, tn,
introduction of Plank Road, should meet witt
that attention which their usefulness, econom,
and general worth, so richlysdeserve, and al
though in this State the subject is new we can
not two warmly espouse the cause of that
measure which has conferred, elswhere, the
most abundant evidence of its utility as an i'm
provement, and its profits rs an investment
! Every new enterprise has to win its way to
popular favor as many are ever inclined to re-
slst the introduction Of new and useful improve.
ments as innovations upon established princi-
| pies: and under the impression that some great
| revolution must ensue therefrom, to overthrow
the hard earned measure of their limited expe-
rence they combat with determination every
attempt to introduce such improvements.
The subject Of Internal Improvements is at
this time agiiating the minds of all who have
our general advancement at heart and while
we warmly advocate the plans ofevery method
to advance the great cause, whether by railroad
canal, or plank road, we will proceed to shcw
the great advantages of the latter over every
other means of transportation in their ready
adaptation and economy of construction.
The Plank Road is emphaticaliy the planters
road, for they in particular are benefited by such
roads as will enhance the value of their lands
and give to agriculture remunerating prices by
making the markets accessible to the great
staple products which go to build up and Sc
cure the interest of the community at large.
Taxation is equalized by bringing to every
mans door good road which will not only
fender our present planting population moro
secure. but tend to it's rapid increase.
t,cOnomv iS the nrdar of thu 1oy op1
must conform to its requirements when the
general result will prove its benefits.
In the state of New York, where every
means of transportation has its useful purpose
and proper adaptation, plank roads have been
universally adopted as turnpkcs, and already
upwards of 1000 miles are in use, some Of
which run side by side with the railroad and
canal, competing proftably with these great
and popular means Of transportation, and have
now been admitted to and established position
in the economy of the great system of trans
portation.
The Watervile and Utica road, nineteen
miles long, which cost $4,000, declared du-
ring its first year devidend OF ten per cent,
besides laying by for repairs The Utica and
Brdgewater road, twenty miles, which cost
$4,000, pays 25 per cent regularly. The
Boonvile road pays % per cent. The Water
ton road pays rs per cent. The Fored and
johnson road, four miles long and costing $8.-
600, pays regularly so per cent. And the
roads in Georgia and Alabama are equally pro-
fitable.
If, then, such Roads pay where the relative
advantages are far less than here, and the ex-
pense OF construction much greater, from ma
ny causes, why should they not prove profita-
BILE investments here where nature has done so
much and art many be so easily applied to the
purpose!
Here we have most miserable roads, which
are at times, impossible by reason of the na-
ture of the soil, and besides which we have
no other regular kinds of improved means to
divide the business of transportation. Access
to the rich products of the interior is at times
impossible and the planter is obliged for months,
to lie out of the interest of the worth of his
crop, because he cannot get it to market, besides
suffeing loss from its depreciation while thus
detained in his hands.
Business generally stagnates and inactivity
takes possession Of all when energy, activity
and prosperity should otherwise prevail to de-
velope the natural resources of the country, in
crease its value and advance the social condi-
ton of its inhabitants.
'Wat until the river rscs'' is the too fatal
answer to many an enterprise and the mind
is brought quietly to sleep under the influences
tificia means within the reach Of all. 1t is thus
we suffer with our hands folded, the willing
victims of our own apathy
This dependence entirely upon water commu-
nication has done more to retard the progress
of the general prosperity Of the people Of the
interior than we can calculate, for the products
due in its season is retarded by the low stages
of water, and if shipped at all they must be
transported to market at an enormous cost for
freight and expenses subject also to numerous
and, unavoidable accident s...
When, however, the long expected rise takes
place and the water communications are opened
the market thus glutted with so great an
amount of staple very naturally yield and pri-
ces fall or fiuctuate so as to embarrass and IN
both the producer and buyer.
We might enlarge upon these losses sus-
tanned from the want of easy and cheap trans
portation by the agricultural community, but
they are too apparent to those concerned to
need further comment, and as all men are gov
erned somewhat by the mighty thing, interest.
the subject cannot fail to meet with attention.
The next thing to be considered is, how are
we to support these roads! The answer, is, by
an equitable system of tolls. But, says the
grumbling anti-progressive, OIL not pay for
travelling over road when ] can travel toll
free upon public road. .s....
Now, it is an easy matter to prove that no
public road is free road, if it is free of toll,
for they are, necessarily, tolled roads.
There is expended on Public Road large
amount of labor or money, and from month to
month the planter is forced at inconvenient sea.
sons to expened upon the roads an amount Of
labor, which, if systematized and reduced to
cash, would more than repay the interest and
cost Of keeping a plank road, and yet these
public roads with all this promiscuous labor are
not at all times passable by any means and
even neghbors are prevented for days tromen'
. Il &c frianHl visits