Weekly national intelligencer., 1853-05-28
FROM THE RAILWAY REPUBLICAN,.

FROM THE RAILWAY REPUBLICAN.
Every judicious improvement in the establishment of
roads and bridges increases the value of the land enhances
the price of commodities and augments the public wealth.
De Witt Clinton.
The most valuable improvement since MAcADAM's and
superior to his, Tin many localities is the recent in
venon of covering roads with planks The first plank
road this continent constructed in Upper Canada
In 1886. In the most generally approved system, two
parallel rows Of small sticks of timber (called seepers
sringers ss embedded in the road three four
feet apart Panks of hemlock eight feet long and three
four inches thick laid upon these sticks across
them at right angles, to their direction side track
of earth to turn out upon, of twelve feet width is
fully graded deep bitches dug each side
perfect drainage and thus is formed plank road-Ga
Iespie Roads, year 1853, p 23l.
Over single track Syracuse, New York, l61 900
teams passed in two averaging 200 teams per
day. Hemock wood has been most used in New York
for seepers from its cheapness pine wood would be
durable. The planks generally spiked down to the
sleepers with spike Of 81 inches long, three-eghths
of inch square, with chiseshaped edges and good
broad heads and to weigh five pound, at each end
for panks of eight feet long. The planks should be
covered over inch thickness with very fine gravel
sand, from which all stones pebbles are
to be raked as TO leave nothing upon the surface
of the road that could be forced into and njure the
fbres of the plank; the grit of the sand pene-
trates into the grain of the wood and combines with the
fbres, and forms tough covering. Sawdust and tan
bark have also been used for covering Seven years is
perhaps fair average for the durability of hemlock
road upland timber is durable than that from low
and wet locaes-one set Of sleepers will outlast two
plankings Plank roads the farmers railroads One
horse can draw plank road from two to three times
as much weight as he can ordinary Macadamized
or good common road. Upon a plank road two-horse
has drawn six tons Of IRON another cords of
green wood estimated to weigh six TONS thirty miles per
day continuously. Upon the and Macadam roads
it requires twohorse team ten hours to draw
ton Of hay distance of six miles. Plank roads do
nure the feet Of horses continue in perfect order for
travel at all seasons thus enabling the farmer to carry
hs produce to market at and in weather when
he would otherwise be imprisoned at home and could
work there TO advantage His farm will therefore be
made valuable TO him. and it has accordingly been
found that the value and price of lands contiguous to
these plank roads have been enhanced in value by the
operation to such degree to excite the envy and com
plants of those living off their line.
The New York plank road law establishes the following
tolls Any vehicle drawn by two horses &c., cents pei
mile and half cent for each additional animal vehicles
drawn by horse per mile for horse and rider
led horse cent per mile for every OF sheep
swine, or neat cattle, one cent per mile.
The cost Of plank road depends upon the price of the
timber il requires l60 600 feet board measure tc
construct mile, Putting the Of all the timber
50 per NJ, it would amount to 81 ,2S0 and all other
contingencies at $500, the total cost would not ex
oeed S 480 per mile the annual interest on 81 4S0
per cent year. say $50 besides this Of interest
IL would require say 800 to be paid repay the
above capital at the end Of years. The annual
tribution, in lieu Of all tolls for making free plank
roads, would be $3.50 per year per mile by the State or By
corporation.
There is annually collected in Woodbridge township
New Jersey for the repairs Of existing mud roads, unde
the Of supervisors, about 10 cents per
amounting the 81 $50 it contains to SO 52 pc
year. which is so much tax thrown away and
ten years to S3l 500
III this $3l $50 was applied to the construction Of plan
roads il would make "a miles per year, and Il miles
ten years If a plank road Of one mile is run throug
any section Of popuous country, the land each sid
should be $40 acres composing 200 acres TO contribu
to support of such plank road and thus II s demor
srated annual Of about 10 cents per acre
pay for the construction Of the road and reundng Of
cost without the collection Of any tolls for the use Of
road. CUBTlNATOR.
RAILWAY, FEBRUARY q, 1853.
WATER SPoUr-A letter TO the Norfolk :" News CIV
the following Of the terrible effects of the la
storm in that part Of the country:
"on Sunday last between three and four o'clock I.
waterspout appeared in North river, the residen
of Mr.. T. f. Morris, which, entering the western point
the woods in its progress laid waste every thing beo
it. An immense quantity oftmber was destroyed DIVE
lines were overturned and human life destroyed. II
sufferers Mrs. J. Beasley, who was badly wounde
two children and young lady visit slightly injure
and dwellings and out-houses totally destroyed Mr.
Juda Stone and daughter both seriously injured, 81
dwellings of every description destroyed The dwellln
Of Mr. Raleigh Grmstead with every other building Il
farm we're destroyed, his wife and daughter kie
and three others severely injured their bodies being
uransled and crushed to be scarcely recognised ~
daughter Of Mrs Pain wounded and Jehn Kilge
NJ m Ina Mre A Carrp and lanes BOw