The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-03-28
CURIOUS SHIFTS OF EARLY ROAD :. =
BUILDERS IN THE EASTERN STATES
Evolution of Good Highways Along the Histori.
Hudson River and Catskill
Mountains of New York
PLANKS AND STONE PAVING TRIED

built very solidly and evenly across
the road for twO-fOld purpose; one
to direct the water from heavy rain
falls from the road to bitches at the
side; another to afford resting places
for the teams, especially those draw
ing heavy loads. There must be an
other name by which they were
called, but only remember the
childish one of 'thank-ee-ma'a am, =
which was applied to them because
of the movement in crossing. AS the
horses passed over, the lines would
! tighten with the extra reach, then
when the wheels reached the high
est point they would slacken, while
the buggy descended with sudden,
short leaping movement that caused
the occupants to make quite a grace
! full courtesy, tho seated, and a rather
friendly nod of the head that al
ways, reminded us of how our
mothers had been taught to acknowl-
edge a greeting or courtsey of an
elder.
| Well, every horse stopped to
slacken traces and rest and Pant and
relax his every muscle, seemingly,
as soon as the wheels reached the
little declevity, so the mound back
of 1t would prevent the load from
| going back. But the team would
not be very much spent at this first,
which was called Johns hill, and at
the top was watering trough, reach
ing from fine spring Of pure cold
water, into which the noses Of the
team would be Immediately plunged
with eagerness. Then we passed
several good farms, the view began
to show interest and small animal
life darted in and out of the stone
wall that bordered the lower side.
The way was level and smooth, but
the team would soon begin prick
ing up their ears and assuming an
exrectant attitude while dad would
say, Looking for the sand, are
your"
Suddenly the wheels would seem
glued to the spot, while the blacks
stiffened for effort. We had reached
the sand, heavy indeed was the tax
upon the burden-be bearers, but when
the next hill came it was even worse,
for it was long and the deep sand
continued to the very top. The
friendly "thank-ee-ma' ans" were
made here by embedding very good
sized log in the sand. At the top
the team would be sweating and
painting with exhaustion, while dad
rested them and told me stories of
happenings down in the valley be-
low, that had become intensely in
teresting, especially when the many
orchards were in bloom. The way be-
came comfortably easy now with only
an occasional "thank-ee-m a'am,"
and several big chestnut trees reach
ing their arms clear across the road
then home was around the turn, and
the jaded span would nicker and
sprint up for the last lap at the end
of which was cool stable and feed
of oats. II
These roads were good ones, we'll
built for the times and the work was
accomplished by neighborly co-opera
ton with lax laws for up-keep labor.
There were no advantages afforded
by bond elections with long easy
payments, such as we are permitted.
Plank Roads
The stream mentioned was called
Esopus, and the valley named after
it. The mountains about were
heavily timbered with pine, the bark
of which was desirable for tanning
leather. So in the source of de-
velopment tanneries were built at in
tervals along the stream. Then the
problem of hauling the finished
leather to market had to be over
come. This was done by covering
one side of the road, which was
ample width, with planks a little
better than the width of the wagon
track in length. This method pro-
vided dirt road for the empty
traffic returning, and a plank one
for the heavy loads Of leather. But
the heavy planks, which were four
and five inches thick soon wore thru
with such constant heavy travel and
gangs of men were continually at
work repairing Them OF course
this all happened before I was in
troduced, but fragments Of the plank
road stood for years after the rail-
road came.
The market was at Rondout where
the leather was transferred to Hud-
son river boats by dealers and taken
by navigation to New York City.
Stone Roads
A few miles out from Rondout
some one discovered a flag stone
that could be quarried out in layers,
cut in size for paving streets, lay
ing sidewalks and building purposes.
This industry also called for heavy
transportation and the traffic null
tiplied on the plank road to such
an extent the tanners howled for
relief. Then the stone quarry people
conceived the idea of laying a track
of paving stone for each wheel OF
the wagon, leaving a dirt streak thru
the center. This stone was probably
six or eight inches thick, but the
constant stream Of heavy travel with
almost perpetual friction kept repair
gangs on the jump. A deep rut was
soonworn in a fresh stone, then 1t
would be turned over, worn thru
to breaking, and replaced. When
the ruts were cut deep 1t became
impossible for a driver to turn out
for any person, SO II an accident