The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-12-21
PLANK ROADS.


urging the construction of Plank
Roads in the Willamette Valley. The
Journal says that nothing is more APP
parent than the necessity of Plank
Roads," and the editor thinks that
one running from Albany to Browns
vile would be profitable to the stock
holders.
We advise the readers of the Dem
ocrat not to be unduly excited over
Plank Roads. We need better roads
than we have in the winter in Oregon;
but for one we do not believe that
Plank Roads will supply the demand
in this respect. We acknowledge
that they seem to be just the thing for
this country. Lumber, and all other
materials entering into their construc-
tion, are reasonably cheap; but they
nevertheless do not stand the test of
experience.
Plank Roads had their origin in
Canada. For time they seemed to
work so we'll there that several were
soon after constructed in the United
States; but most, if not all, have long
ago been abandoned rs worse than
worthless. Some of our readers in
Oregon are well aware of the fact that
we are not speaking unadvisedly on
this subject. About fifteen years ago,
believing that Plank Roads were the
great Panacea for all the inconvenicn-
cies and disadvantages of wet wealth
er and bad roads, we advocated with
might and main, the construction of
one running from Florence, on the Ill
inois river, TO Pittsfeld. Distance
twelve miles. Florence was the ship
ping point of large and fertile dis
trict of country and it so happened
that at the very time when the far
mers most wanted to ship the bulk of
their wheat, pork, &c, the roads were
muddy and sometimes almost impass.
able. We pointed out the advanta.
ges which would be secured by good
road-one that would be as good in
winter as in summer. We showed
what an immense saving there would
be IN time and wear and tear of horse
flesh, and how great the reduction in
the price of freight; and the result
was that, in due time, nearly every.
body was convinced that Plank
Road would be most excellent thing,
"a most profitable institution. A
company was duly organized, books
were opened, stock was subscribed,
surveys were made, the road located,
rights of way obtained, the contract
let, and the road built, with all the
parapharnalia of good bridges, toll
gates and toll-honscs. For awhile the
Plank Road affairs went on swim
mingly. The "goose hung high."-
Everybody was delighted. The road
was so smooth and SO nice, and IL af.
forded such easy travelling in wet
weather Teamsters paid their toll
cheerfully, and it was deemed a spc-
cies of treason to say aught against
the Plank Road or any of its stock
holders or officers. This happy state
of things continued during the win
ter and spring seasons. Summer
came, and its heats twisted, and warp
ed, and curled up the planks. Occa-
sioEally rain-storms would wash away
great sections of the turnpike. Sun.
dry planks, at sundry places on the
route would break in two, thus caus-
ing dangerous traps for horses. The
dirt on the ends of the plank would
wear off. All these things annoyed
teamsters. Besides, during the sum.
mer season the dirt road was prefcra.
BILE to the plank-it was about as
smooth and was not so hard on teams,
and-there was no toll to pay, a very
important item. The Plank Road
was repeatedly repaired, but after
running it awhile it was found that,
so far from being profitable, it was an
actually sinking concern. 1t managed
to exc out a miserable existence for
two or three years, when it was actu.
ally sold, by the sheriff, for debt, and
brought only a little over $780,
When it finally went down it did SO
amid the execrations and maledictions
of nearly the entire community
Teamsters and merchants-men most
particularly interested-were espe.
cially jubilant over its downfall, and
they fell back on the old dirt road
with absolute pleasure.
Thus it has resulted with other
Plank Roads with which we are more
or less conyersant. They have all ul
timately been abandoned and regard
ed as worse than useless; and We
opine that what is true Of the States
and Canada will prove true in Oregon
Much as we desire to see good roads
here, much as we know they are
needed in the winter season-we nev