No. 2. 



Plank Roads. 



51 



For the best Oats, not less than one bush- 

 el, SI. 



For the best field of Wheat, not less than 

 five acres, $5. 



For the second best field of Wheat, not 

 less than five acres, $3. 



For the best field of Oats, not less than 

 five acres, S3. 



For the second best field of Oats, not less 

 than five acres, S2. 



For the best field of Indian Corn, not less 

 than five acres, S5. 



For the second best field of Indian Corn, 

 not less than five acres, l?>3. 



Potatoes. — For the best sample of Seed- 

 lings, S5. 



Fot the best bushel of Potatoes, $1. 



For the best Acre, $5. 



For the secfind best Acre, $3. 



For the best bushel of Sweet Potatoes, $1. 



For the best specimen of any agricultural 

 implement, a Certificate of First Merit. 



For the best article of manufacture in iron, 

 cutlery, glass, woollen, and cotton fabrics, 

 and of manufactures generally, a like Cer- 

 tificate. 



For the most satisfactory experiment, in 

 converting green crops, or other vegetable 

 matter, into manure, with full details, a like 

 Certificate. 



For the most satisfactory experiment in 

 top dressing grass and grain, a like Certifi- 

 cate. 



For the best experiment in increasing ma 

 nures, a like Certificate. 



Plank Roads. 



Their construction and advantages, with 

 observations on the present system of mak- 

 ing public roads. 



By Georoe Geddes, Esq., Civil Engineer, Fairmont 

 Onondaga County. 



Good roads are very important to the in- 

 terests of agriculture. The surplus produc- 

 tions of the soil are valuable to the producer, 

 just as they are near market, and if distant, 

 the avenues for their conveyance, become a 

 consideration of the first importance. The 

 common roads of the country are very gen- 

 erally badly located, little or no regard hav 

 ing been paid to the grade ; and the system 

 by which they are attempted to be kept m 

 repair, is such as must result in their being 

 in bad condition a great portion of the year. 

 The tax is an unfair one ; for the persons 

 who are to enjoy the benefits of the road do 

 not pay for the repairs ; but the persons who 

 own property within the town or road dis- 

 trict, are taxed in proportion to their proper- 

 ty, without regard to the amount they are to 



use the road ; and it often happens that in 

 the vicinity of large towns the road districts 

 are entirely unable to keep in repair a sec- 

 tion of road, over which not only the pro- 

 duce of these districts is to pass, but the 

 whole business of perhaps fifty such districts. 

 The results of such a system must continue 

 to give us bad roads; and the only remedy, 

 is to adopt some course which shall result in 

 taxing the travellers with the expense of 

 keeping the road in order. No tax can be 

 more equitable, if it be not in excess, than 

 that of the toll gate. 



The only thing to guard against, is the 

 diversion of the money thus raised from the 

 repairs of the road. In those sections of the 

 country that are yet but sparsely peopled, it 

 would be impracticable perhaps, to introduce 

 a system requiring the payment of tolls from 

 the traveller, as the expenses of collecting 

 the tax would bear too large a proportion to 

 the total amount. In such districts, the first 

 settlers must open the roads, and continue 

 to work them, until the amount of travel 

 will justify the collection of toll. But in 

 all those parts of the State that have been 

 settled for any considerable period of time, 

 we cannot too soon commence levying a tax 

 upon those who use the roads, and expend 

 the money thus raised, in the immediate vi- " 

 cinity of the gates, in repairing the roads. 

 As the roads become better, we may lessen 

 the rates of toll, being always strict in ap- 

 plying the receipts for the benefit of those 

 who pay. 



In some instances, it would be for the ad- 

 vantage of the public, to make a large out- 

 lay in order to have a good road before the 

 receipts from tolls would be sufficient to 

 make it. In such a case, the creation of a 

 company, who will furnish the capital neces- 

 sary to at once make a good road, and trust 

 to the tolls to pay the interest and reimburse 

 the capital within some fixed period of time, 

 and besides keep the road in repair, will be 

 for the public advantage. 



Common road making, is a branch of en- 

 gineering that perhaps has received less at- 

 tention from scientific men, than almost any 

 other. Canals, railroads, tunnels, and works 

 of like splendor, are more attractive than 

 the humble country road ; and it has been 

 trusted to a class of men who possess but 

 small qualifications for the charge of so im- 

 portant an interest. 



It might be impossible to determine the 

 cost of all the roads in the State, so that the 

 comparison might be made with the cost of 

 the canals and railroads ; so too, it might be 

 impossible to make a correct comparison of 

 the cost of the cars and boats, and the wag- 

 ons and sleighs; but it is certain that the 



