THE SOUTHERN PLANTER; 



pbotetK to ^srtculture, ©ortfculture, atttr the ajouselioto iarUf. 



Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. 



Xenophon. 



Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts of the 

 State. — Sully. 



C. T. BOTTS, Editor. 



Vol. IV, 



RICHMOND, NOVEMBER, 1844. 



No. 11. 



ON PLANK ROADS IN CANADA. 



Lord Sydenham, during his long sojourn in 

 Russia, travelled on several of them, and found 

 them well adapted to the circumstances and the 

 climate ; and, as both were very similar to those 

 in Canada, he was strongly of the opinion that 

 their introduction there would greatly conduce 

 to the public interest. A few miles of road in 

 the neighborhood of Toronto was first laid with 

 plank by the local commissioners who had the 

 management of it. The cost of stone and the 

 great expense they had been at in macadamiz- 

 ing a portion of the same road, as well as the 

 heavy annual repairs, had induced them to try 

 the experiment in that province of laying a 

 planked surface on the road. A gentleman de- 

 scribing it, says : " The few miles nearest the 

 city, and over which very considerable traffic 

 existed, were planked ; and, upon inspection, it 

 was found the top surface of the timber was 

 worn in the centre for the breadth of seven feet, 

 and to the depth of f of an inch ; the ends be- 

 ing to the full dimensions as the plank came 

 from the saw. The bottom or under side of the 

 planks, was found throughout perfectly sound. 

 In two or three places, where a small cavit} 7 

 was left by the foot of a horse or other animal, 

 there was found a slight pinkish tinge corres- 

 ponding with the cavity, and indicating the 

 commencement of fungus. The sleepers ap- 

 peared perfectly sound." The facts elicited by 

 examination of the portion of the road laid down 

 but one season, were the same as the foregoing, 

 except that but f of a„brasion had taken place. 

 From the foregoing, it will be seen — 



1st. That the wear and tear of the plank 

 road, even near a populous town, is confined to 

 the 7 feet in width of the centre. 



2d. That, for the preservation of the planks 

 from decay underneath, it is indispensable that 

 every portion of it be solidly imbedded in the 

 formation. 



3d. That considerably more than half the 

 wear and tear which occurs in seven years' use 

 of the road, takes place the first year; which 

 is easily accounted for, by the natural stripping 

 off while the plank is fresh, of those fibres 

 which were cross-cut by the saw ; and from the 

 fact of the dung of the cattle getting bound 

 with the raised fibre of the wood and thus form- 

 ing a tough elastic covering, which saves the 

 Vol. IV.-31 



plank in a great measure, from the effects of the 

 horse's shoes, and the tire of the wheels. On 

 this road the plank is 16 feet long, 3 inches 

 thick, laid crossways at cross angles to the road, 

 on 5 sleepers of pine 5x3 laid on edge, and in 

 the line of the road ; and this was considered 

 the best mode of laying a plank road, except 

 that on a country road plank 8 or 10 feet long 

 will be found quite sufficient. On the Chambly 

 road (plank) the planks are 12 feet long, but 

 laid diagonally, so as to make the road but 8 

 feet wide. This was opposed by some, and very 

 justly ; for, as apprehended, the weight of half 

 the vehicle and load coming suddenly on one 

 end of the plank, and the other end not being 

 kept down at the same time, the traffic con- 

 stantly tends to disrupt the road, and the planks 

 are loose, and spring from end to end. Another 

 principle connected with the laying of this road, 

 (which was opposed) is that of having the 

 sleepers of much larger scantling than on the 

 Toronto road. It was remarked that, as all 

 earth formation under a road of this nature will 

 more or less subside and shrink, the giving to 

 the sleepers too much area would enable them 

 to bear up the plank, leaving the earth to settle 

 from them, thereby causing springing in the 

 plank, which tends greatly to their being cut 

 away; (in fact, they quickly become rounded 

 from the edges ;) and, also, that fungus and de- 

 cay of the plank would be brought on, in con- 

 sequence of the confined air below. These ap- 

 prehensions are realized. At Quebec, part of 

 the road has been planked, the plank being laid 

 lengthwise of the road. It was considered that 

 the planks would stand better the friction, and, 

 when necessary, could be more easily taken up, 

 and the road repaired. One strong objection to 

 this mode of laying the plank is found to be, 

 that the horses cannot keep their feet when 

 much weighted, and are much exposed to fall- 

 ing, in consequence. Under all the circum- 

 stances, most have approved the manner in 

 which the planks are laid on the Toronto road. 

 Those now being planked under the department 

 in the western section of the province are so 

 laid, except that the planks are spiked with a 

 h\ inch spike — one in each end. With respect 

 to plank roads generally, I wish none to suppose 

 that I am an advocate for their adoption, except 

 in those sections of the country where nature 

 has afforded no better material, and where funds 



