The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-02-28
Iron Tramways for Wagon Roads.

cago Times from Huntington, Ind, as
follows:
The recent embargo on the rural
traffic of the country has demonstrated
the absolute necessity of a better means
of country communication than that
afforded by ridging up roadway of
muck. No argument is needed to show
up the utter futility of any attempt to
make good, permanent and economi-
cal road of surface-soil, or, indeed, of
soil of any kind. Experience has DEM
onstrated that plank does not meet the
requirements of the case, as hitherto
applied, the element of decay standing
as too large factor against its ecOno-
my. Gravel roads have been found to
answer a better purpose, where the ma
terial can be got at not too much ex-
pensc; but even this material is open
to the objection Of rapid wear and
wash, costly to keep in repair, and
falls far short of meeting the require
ments of a perfect and permanent road.
There is too much wear and too much
expense in repair in all material hith-
to used on common roads, and the
question is-and it is one of vital in
terest to the whole country-cannot a
solid permanent road be made cheaper,
better, and more permanent and dura-
BILE than can be made from muck, plank
or gravel?
Ipropose to demonstrate that road
can be made that has every advantage
over gravel or stone turnpike, or
plank road; that the road can be put
down for less money in the first place;
that the road is more efficient agent in
its own construction than anv other
road; that the weight of material is Is
per cent. less than the same of any 9TH
er road; that it costs far less in the
matter of wear and repair than any
other road-a road that ought to, and
ultimately will, revolutionize to a great
extent the entire internal transporter
ton of the whole country. 1t is not
the purpose of this communication to
present many arguments or objections
against the common road systems now
in use, but to demonstrate the entire
practicability and economy of an iron
r0atl,Uay for common wheels to run on.
and, where practicable, enough sand or
gravel to cut and dry the clay for a
roadway for the horses. 1 lay it
down as fundamental proposition,
that will probably provoke no
dispute, that it is mainly the We
hicle and the load that needs solid
and unyielding foundation. propose
to lay down my road somewhat on the
street-car track plan, the iron to be say
eight inches wide, One-fourth of an inch
thick; the edges turned up, say u half
inch, and the bars to be sixteen feet in
length, resting on a plank eight inches
wide and three inches thick, the plank
being held in position either by cross
ties eight feet apart, or on posts three
feet long, sunk down to level with the
surface or little lower. The posts
are spaced eight feet apart, and the
dirt or gravel firmly tamped under the
planking. Suitable and simple frogs
are provided to hold the ends of the
bars in position, and frog is placed
under the middle also, making the frogs
eight feet apart. The frogs secured to
the planks with bolts clutch over the
outer edge of the iron bars and pro-
vide an easy means for the wheels to
get on or leave the track.
The track may be put nearly or quite
on Il level with the surface of the
road This track will be absolutely
solid, and is so as soon as laid down,
and consequently a great help in its
own construction. There is no wear on
the wood, and the posts, being all UNI
der the surface, are not exposed to rot,
and the plank can be treated to coat
ing of pitch, and can readily be re-
placed. At the present market rate
the road would cost as follows: