The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-03-26
PLANK ROAD MEETING.
ELKrox, MARCH 18th, 1S5;

Pursuant to notice large and res.
prctable meeting Of the citizens Oft
Sd and 4th Election districts of Cecil
county, convened at the Office Of f. A.
Ellis, Esq. Elkton, to take into consid-
Grafton the necessity and practicabilty
IF constructing Plank Road from Err
ton northward 10 the Pennsylvania line.
Joseph Miller, Esq. was called to the
Chair, and H. Nanderford, Jr. appoint
cd Secretary.
The Chairman stated the object of the
me ting, when Mr.. }. McCauley nov
vi that the sense Of the meeting be TAX
IN as to the necessity and praciicability
of constructing said road.
Pending this motion, information was
called for as TO the probable cost of con.
structlon, per mile: the proper material,
&C., the durability and advantage of
such road, sc.
George Earle, Esq, after stating that
he had in his possession Pamphlet on
Plank roads by w kingsford, civil En-
gineer on the Hudson River Rail Road
which contained information that would
prove useful and interesting to the
meeting-read from the said pamphlet
the following extracts:
"The COS, of plank road depends on
contingencies, and will vary with To-
calities; but may be stated. with tolera-
Bile accuracy to range from $1,000 to
$4,000 per mile where there is no extra
ordinary items Of exPenditures."*
The repairs which Plank Road will
need:
"The repairs which plank will need Tor the
first Two years ought to be trifling. To great
extent, at this early period, they depend upon
the mode in which the road has been construct
ed. If it has been well kept up and well drain
ed, and the scepers have been carefully laid,
there is little fear Of the road settling nor will
any oilhe plank become loose. Even on roads
built before experience had pointed out a good
mode OF construction, the repairs were no, a
! heavy charge. The Chamhly and LongucI
road, Cauada East, was laid down in 1871, with
white pine which generally lasted about four
years. II has since been renewed, and the rond
has been more carefully constructed; and there
Is reasonable expectation that it will last seven
years. The ordinary annual repairs have been
81 mile.
After the third year some Of the planks may
require to be replaced; but no serious repairs
Will be called Tor, especially if pine be used
winch, beng clear from knots, however worn.
will afford no impediment 10 the travel, until
the plank break through, when it will become
necessary 10 raise them.
The piuhth y.nr NAV ,.,. ;,t,.
road will require recovering. From the roads
already built. we are satisfied. tina, at this ne
Rod the strInsers arc comparatively uninurcd:
and, therefore, the cost Of plank and the labor
OF rclaying have only TO be taken into account, ,,
On the construction of Plank Roads
Mr. klngstord remarks:
"Whcrc there is single track required, il is
not the custom TO lay the plank in the centre Of
the causewaE generally, the lclt-hand side of
the road leading from The city is selected, bv
winch arrangement loaded vehicles coming into
the city have the right Of way. Running mar
nllel to the plunkS the road is carefully made.
aud the name by which i, is now known indi-
cafes its use. 1t is called the "turn-oG." Ne
ccssarliy, il ought TO be kept in suificien, re-
pan-since vehicles goin. in either direction
take the plank, and those not having the right
Of way, abandon it when meeting a vehicle
which has.
For ordinary travel, single plank track is
suiilclcnt-an assertion fully proved BY a very
few roads having a double track But If the
press oil business renders a double track ncccs-
Sary, 1t ought TO be lail down in two tracks Of
eight ieei, not in single track OF sixteen feet.
The best mode Is first TO lay down single
Track, and II I"und insufficient in any particular
locality, such as the immediate approach 10 a
ciiy, another one can. Of course, be added.
he cost OF the several roads varies This
is attributable TO the difference of the amount
raIn Tor surveying, night OF way, grading and
layIn" plank-thc prices Of lumber. and the ry-
penSc OF bridging, &c. The Lumber which has
been principally used il hemlock and white
pine. until within the last few months, when
hand wood has somewhat come into use, with n
ialr expectation OF proving more suitable. On
The SaIlna and Syracuse road, beech and maple
have been laid, al d Oh the Rochester road some
elm-lhc latter not exceeding twelve inches in
width. The principal experiments have been
iHade with hemlock, and il has been proved that
it Is not the best fitted for the purpose. 1t is
loose grained and knotty-conseoucntly the
plank soon wears away, stringng off from fric-
lion, lea>j hard knots standing erect. Inde-
p"ndrnlly of the rugged surface which these
Il nolS present. they may be clasSed among the
princIpal cauScs which lead to the destruction
of the road, for US the shoe OF the horse strikes
the knot it slips tIain it. and cavity is made
White pine, which has been used, has the ad.
"aniagc OF being ire" from knots. But it is ar
gu"d that this wood is 'iablc TO decay. All lum-
Der used on n road will undoubtedly decay Of
its, t--cvcn should II remain without any trait
tic pa, slug over it. Two Influences work upon
The pl1l \; the damp from b.low causing mil
lew, whil. the upper pal; is all, 'rnatry drench-
ed with waite. and exposed 70 The burning heat
'' the sun. All examination Of p,,unk long in
nsr, is sufficient c,idence Of This fact. Against
some OF the inhuenC"S it is no, pos bic 10
guard, and they come uDdcr the brad Of wear
md tear. But good CONSTRUCTION will 10 IN Nh
10 ohvIate others. In the advertisements fl v
he plank-rrHd timber, great care ha> been IA.
ken to specify thai She plank has 10 be sawed
out OF sound timber, free from wanc sap, rotten
icss, knot holes. md excessive knnltiness. Still
hcse precautions ere va!Ecless where the tim !
Der Is naturally imperfect. ard in spilp of the