344 
ceived of the roads in the other eastern 
states; butic is known that besides some 
of a similar description with those of the 
state of Connecticut, several of a more 
expeusive kind have been completed, 
particularly’in Massachusetts, 
A greater capital has been vested on 
turnpike roads 1n the state of New York, 
than in any other. ‘Jn less than seven 
years, sixty-seven companies have been 
incorporated, with a nominal capital of 
near five millions of dollars, for the pur- 
pose of making more than 3000 miles of 
artificial roads; and twenty-one other 
companies have also been incorporated 
with a capital of 400,000 dollars, for the 
purpose of erecting 21 toll-bridges. 
More detailed information has been 
obtained respecting the road in New 
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. 
In New Jersey a tnropike road has 
lately been completed trom Trenton to 
Brunswick. The distance is 25 miles: 
the greatest angle of ascent 3 degrees, 
and the road is nearly in a straight line, 
the only considerable obstruction being 
the “Sand Hills,” through which it was 
necessary to dig at the depth of thirty 
feet, in order not to exceed the angle of 
ascent. The road is 36 feet wide, fifteen 
feet of which are covered with about six 
inches of gravel. A few wooden bridges 
with stone abutments and piers have 
been ereeted across the intervening 
streams. 
In Pennsylvania artificial roads of the 
most substantial kind, have been com- 
pleted, or are proceeding from Philadel- 
phia, in sundry directions. 
In Maryland, roads extending from 
Baltimore in various directions have 
Jately been undertaken by several com- 
anies and are rapidly proceeding. 
South of the Potomac. few artificial 
roads have been undertaken, From 
Alexandria one is now progressing in a 
northwestwardly direction towards Mid- 
dleburgh. Another has lately been com- 
menced from Richmond to Ross’s coal- 
mine, Rutthe only one which, so far as 
any accounts have been received, is com- 
pleted, extends twelve miles from Man- 
chester; opposite to Richmond, in a west- 
wardly direction to the coal-mines of 
Falling creek. 
The greater progress made in the im- 
provement of roads in the northern parts 
of the Union,must be principally ascribed 
to a more compact population, which 
renders those improvements more. neces- 
sary, and at the same time supplies with 
Public Roads and Canals in the United States. 
[Nov. 1, 
greater facility the means of effecting 
them. The same difference is percep-" 
tible in the number of bridges erected in 
the several states. 
In the eastern states, and particularly 
Massachusetts, wooden bridges uniting 
boldness to elegance, and having no de- 
fect but want of durability, have been 
erected over the broadest and deepest 
rivers. In the lower counties of Penn- 
sylvania stone bridges are generaily found 
across all the small streams. Both in 
that state, and at some distance east- 
wardly, bridges with stone piers and abut-- 
ments, and a wooden superstructure are 
common over wide rivers, 
The want of bridges south of Pennsyl- 
vania, even on themain post road, is sen- 
sibly felt. One lately thrown across the 
Potomac three miles above the city of 
Washington, and which without any in- 
tervening piers is wholly suspended to 
iron chains extending from bank to bank, 
deserves notice on account of the bold- 
ness of its construction, and of its com~ 
parative cheapness. 
The general principles of improved 
roads seem to be: ist, The reduction of 
hills by diminishing the angle ofsascent, 
which ought not to exceed, whenever 
practicable, 3 degrees and a half, and 
under no circumstances 5 degrees: 2d, 
A sufficient convexity in the bed of the 
road, together with ditches and drains, all 
which are intended to prevent the injury 
caused by standing water or freshes : 
8d, An artificial bed of pounded stones or 
gravel sufficiently substantial to support 
the weight of the carriages in general use 
on the road, either for the conveyance of 
persons, or for the transportation of mer- 
chandize. 
On the last point it appears from the 
facts already stated, or scattered in the 
communications received on that sub- 
ject: 1st, That the stones ought to be 
similar in quality and reduced to thesame 
size, which should not exceed three 
inches in diameter: 2d, That the prefer- 
able qualities of stone, rank in the follow- 
ing order—hard black stone, granite, 
flint, or quartz, blue lime stone, white 
ditto: Sd, That the stratum may be 
either of pounded stones twelve inches 
thick, or of pounded stones ten inches 
thick, with two inches of gravel spread 
over the stones; or entirely of gravel 
eighteen’ inches thick: 4th, That when 
the materials are equally convenient, the 
expense of those three modes will not 
materially differ, buf that the rate of ex- 
vs pense 
