The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-01-25


FRIEsD ALLKs:-It may be Of some use
10 talk a little about the construction of
Plank Roads, as many are in contemplation.
Experience proves that CO nPanies should
as soon as they have determined on the con.
strustion Of aroad, procure the requisite a.
mount OF lumber; very few persons would
imagine the difficulty in getting enough
Plank along the line. to lay the track.
If the Plank be eight feet long il VIII re-
quiro lee. 900 feet to the mile. In gen.
eral way this should be in readiness. SO as
to be laid down while the Road is being gra-
ded. In places when it Is necessary that
one end of the Plank shall be on solid ground
ard the other on earth that has been lately
moved. it would be we'll 10 grade FIRST; and
the Planking Of these places delayed until
the winding up of the concern; so that the
Plank would not become uneaven by the
settling of the earth after they were laid
Deep cuts, and fills, should be- avoided as
much as possible; the first is expensive and
the latter dangerous. Where situations
will admit of it, roads should run in the
flats or bottoms, far enough from the foot
of the hnl to admit Of wide, deep, ditch be-
twee the road and the hill; otherwise the
freezing and thawing, together with heavy
ra Us will soon fill up the ditch and swamp
the road. -"
There are some places when the ground
is hg,, smooth, and level it would do very
well to place the Plank down the first thing,
plow few furrows each side, serape the
earth little on the'ends of"the boards (it
| x. IL, -, 1, ,ts,l-F 80
and the road is cone. " ''
In all pl ices where the travel will not JUS
! tify two tracks oi Plank it is better to lay
| the one traci,. so thai a team may alwas
keep to the ris hit, without leaving the Plank
in going up hill. It's important that Plani
should be laid horizontal (thatis one end
end as high as the other 1t has
been thought by $ ONE necessary to lay the
| Plank slantiug to Ike ep dry road, but the
only effect is 10 thro the water all on one
side'of the road (which already the lowest,
and keep the earth moi, ,'tened beneath the
track. .oi the heavy wheel
Itmust be evident to Al that examine
the subject that the road will become more
and more in siding condition. and OF course
render travelling OF all kinds n are unpieas
ant on account of the tendency 10 slip.
The plank by being laid leveI does not
need as much earth on the ends. 20 keep ii
in its original position there is no tA ndcncy
TO slide either way, @and the weight being
| the same on eaclY end causes it to wear even
I ly and settle evenly. Very little water col.
lects on the Plank if the Road is sufficiently
guarded by di'ches. but +. should have an
out let at every point in heroad where it
seemed inclined to stand. Itsvery import
ant that Plank should be laid with the heart
side up to prevent warpng. The law al
lows roads to run as steep as five degrees,
companies can clId6se their grade SO 1t does
not exceed that, For each degree the road
will raise four inches and one tifth''in the
space Of twerty feet, until we reach FIVE de-
grscs, after that it raises faster" -
MICAJAH T. JOHNSON.
Short Greek, Harrison County. Ohio.
This 23l ofIst mo: 1854.