Plank Road Plans and Experience From New York to Syracuse
An 1846 letter from T. G. Alvord outlines plank road engineering lessons, costs, and practices. It details road beds, plank spacing, drainage, and the labor needed to build self financed roads, with emphasis on durability, efficiency, and practical oversight by local directors. The correspondent cites costs near $1,500 to $1,800 per mile, notes decisive savings, and argues for hands on management and simple machinery.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
T.G. Alvord
Esqi
Sausa
Dean Sue
Promisa
Iemynen
Toronto
Anada
Mabire Ian
Pete
Joeerala
Anothr
Gen. Taylor
Syracuse
George Geddes
Uruumer
Alser
Thos
G. Alvord
Salina
Thomas Hamilton
Milan
Alvord
Canada Roads
Sandusky
Storms, trains, and floods ripple through frontier and river regions
From the Washington correspondence of February 21 the letter from Col. Fremont describes a December storm hitting government Santa Fe to Independence trains and a hurricane that cost many animals. It notes Fremont’s route via the Salt Lake Mormon path to California and claims a nearly intact Fremont train. Separately, British debt interest outstrips mint output while the Mississippi nears overflow, Bayou Sarsh and Lake Providence floodtides, levees break, and interior travel halts as rivers rise threatening plantations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Evening Post
Tam
Renton
Fremont
Rocky Mountains
Arkansas
Santa Fe
Independence
California
Salt Lake
Ovenrrow
Concordia Intelligencer
Mississippi
Bayou Sarsh
Lake Providence
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ratified postal treaty changes transatlantic rates and reforms
The Union prints the ratified postal treaty between the United States and Great Britain. Ratifications exchanged in London on January 26. Letter postage from New York to London set at 24 cents: 8 cts inland US, 16 cts sea, 3B cts British inland, plus newspapers 2 cents. Also reports California gold migration totals and local notices from Lower Sandusky March 10, 1849 including stock subscriptions for a plank road and editorial notes on the Free Soil paper folding after Chase’s Senate election.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Union
U. States
Great Britain
London
New York
United States
Bafflo Com. Advertiser
Free Soil splits Whig ranks over Chase election
The Western Whig Standard argues Free Soil backers in Columbus must blame themselves for Chase’s election as Whig unity fractures. It cites Townsend and Morse cooperation with Locofocos, reflecting fear of graft and party betrayal, and features letters from Free Soil supporters and opponents.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ohio State Journal
Free Soil
Columbus
Chase
Senate
E. & Hamlin
Whig
Free Soil Party
Townsend
Morse
Locofoco
Lacofucos
Free Soilers
McLean
Giddin
Western
Tiffin
Dhene
Swift
Trumbull
Vernon Banner
Banner
Democratic Party
Renl
Ohio Statesman
Gold Movements and Pacific Gold Rush News
The Fort Stephenson Mining Association and others depart for California with aims to beat the diggings by mid May. Reports note government surveyors sailing to Chagres and several ships bound for San Francisco or Vera Cruz carrying passengers, gear, and mining plans. Correspondents describe growing English, Scottish, and Mexican mining emigration, while political letters discuss Washington’s legacy and Taylor’s election. Also included are brief notes on pricing delays, congressional adjournments, and local legislative moves toward elective Attorney General offices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fort Stephenson
California
Diggin
Sacramento Valley
Northerner
Chagrea
John Castor
San Francisco
Isabella Reed
Vera Cruz
Union Pacific Gold Company
Charles H. Innes
U. S. Volunteers
Mexico
Mazatlan
Levant
Philadelphia
Pacific Adventurers Association
Lynn
Independence
Mason
N. C. Crescent
Corpus Christi
Inaugural Address of President Taylor Delivers Whig Aims
The Message presents President Taylor’s inaugural address delivered before Congress and the nation. It endorses Whig measures for agriculture and manufacturers, river and harbor improvements, debt management, accountability, and fiscal economy, praising its concise plain language and urging intelligent readers to consider it.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Taylor
Congress
Capitol
Plank Road Hope Foiled by Family Disputes
A narrated tale from Lower Banisky depicts a large farmer’s heirs divided by poverty and selfishness. They resist joint improvements, miss out on a railroad path, try river and plank road ventures, and may still double property value by uniting interests, while new Cabinet appointments and a presidential oath unfold nearby.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lower Banisky
Cnarrencp
Also Mentioned on This Page
Ttetine
Cape Horn
Brazos
San Juan River
Sandusky Freeman
J. S. Fouke
Lower Sandusky
Redolphus Dickinson
Washington City
Sandusky Plank Road
Senator Chase NO
Zack
James Nox Polk
Lewis Cass, Jr
Rome
Boston
Cass
Bliss
Ping Spirit
Ions M. Coarroy
Rough and Ready Association
Battle of
Buena Vista
Gen.Taylor
Jefferson
John Adams
Mr. Foote
Mr. Cameron
Foote
Thompson
Miss
Ficklin
Ill
Giddings
Ohio
Mead
Virginia
The
Cincinnati Dispatch
Horox
Cnacs
Old Beeswax
Democrat
Kentucky
Sulla
Crittenden
France
Isaac M. Betts
Charles Betts
Sandys
Cleveland
Jesul
England
Joseph R. Ingersol
New Yor
John M. Clayton
Deb
Treasury
W.M. Meredith
Geo W. Orawford
Navy
W. B. Preston
Home Dept
J. Davis
Mass
Thomas Ewing
Reverdy Jameen
Tara New Yous
Anne Ce
Washington Corr
N.Y. Tribune
Spas
Atchison
Gen. Shields
Dallas
Millard Fillmore
Fillmore
Supreme Court
Shields
Meredith
Pennsylvania
Monroeville
Greman
Exroarme
Cautronixta Cornoxe
Brooklin Advertiser
Eagle Pratt
Wain
Earl of Derby
Califor
Nia
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!