APPENDIX, 



CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCUSSION, WHICH TOOK 

 PLACE AT A SERIES OF MEETINGS OF THE STATE BOARD 

 OF AGRICULTURE, HELD IN THE HALL OF THE HOUSE 

 OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN PURSUANCE OF A RES- 

 OLUTION ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD 

 ON THE NINTH OF JANUARY, 1852. 



Reported for the Indiana State Jonrnal by L. Bollman, Esq. 



January 17, 1852. 



Mr. Litchfield was called to preside. 



Governor Wright suggested that the subject of this eve- 

 ning's debate should be, " What is the best system of roads for 

 Indiana^ The society having signified their concurrence in 

 this suggestion, he proceeded by saying that Mr. Ellsworth 

 had suggested an improvement upon the common plank road. 

 Instead of covering the whole of the track with plank, cross 

 ties were laid down, and on these planks about 14 inches in 

 width were placed lengthwise for the wagon wheels to run 

 on, and the intermediate space was filled in with dirt. This 

 would afford a firm footing for the horses, whilst the wheels 

 would have a smooth and firm track. For common roads he 

 believed that ditches cut on each side of the track, about IS 

 feet apart, and covered, as in draining lands, would keep the 

 road always dry. 



