Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-11-20


canal, what will be its cost, which is not
here computed. But, regarded as mere
feeder, il would no. add more than % 900
dollars to tie above SUN.
After the December contracts, the
further progress of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal, which has, in its ascent
long the Potomac, now reached the de
batable lsud," must await the decision Of
the depending controversy, in which il
had been so unexpectedly, involved with
the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Com
psny
The actual subscription of half a mil
lion Of dollars, by the State of Mary
land, and the judicial financial arrange
ments, and harmonious CO operation OF
the u operations OF the District of Co
lumbla, together with the extraoI binary
punctuality n the private stockholders,
have removed all impediments to the APP
plication of 8 100000 do.lsrs to this great
work: a SUN Gale ulated TO place, Boy ond
all doubt, the speedy completion of its
Eastern section, as far as the coal banks,
should the State OF Virginia contribute
her fair proportion to its cost
Although the friends of the canal ap.
pretended, from the Ill health OF some
of the engineers, their survey ors and as
slstants engaged during the present Au-
tumn in locating the line OF the canal,
the prevalence Of disease among the con.
tractors and their hands; il is a source OF
heartfelt congratulation that very few of
the contractors have experienced any in
Dispositions. not ore OF them has been
dangerously i'll, nor has single death
occurred among their laborers, who, to
the number OF several hundred, have
been nj work for more than two months.
1t is, also, confidently believed, that,
while their contracts have comported
with the facilities afforded by the river
Potomac for the execution of the con
templated works along its banks, their
known skill and character, as well as a
1air comparison Of the prices Of their Ia
Dor, with those for, like work on similar
enterprises, IN the United States, are
pledges that they will receive in ample
remuneration for their expenditures Of
time aud money.
At the Leesburg letting, 1903 offers,
for various parts OF the labor on the Ca
nal, were made by lo9 different agents,
counting each company o! persons as
one agent The far greater portion of
the contracts, both as to number anS
value, are made with Contractors North
of the Potomac; from sachuse tts,
Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania,
and Mary land, their experience aud
skill, having enabled them greatly to un-
derbid, except 10 very few cases, the
less confident contractors fromthe South.
The work contracted for, is to be COM
pleted by the end of the next year, and
efforts will be made, as speedily as pos
sible, BY other couti acts, to extend the
Canal, ,oifhia the same period, from
Rock Creek 10 hepherdstown. No 9th
er than legal impsdsnsnfs can prevent il,
and the charter Of the company provides,
it is believed, for the prompt removal Of
these.
Lest the CAUSE Of the reduction of the
contract price of the Canal below the
prior estimates OF the United States En- .
gfnser,, should be misapPrehe nded, e
strict comparison hasDeen instituted, be
tween the various quantities of work, as
well as their value, involved in the est
mate by the United States Engineers,
and in the recent contracts. By the for
mer, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
was designed to be +SJeet wide, and 5
feet deep, except where peculiar diff
.-cuties were supposed to require its
breadth to be reduced. The canal, con .
tracted for. is to be, no where less thar
SO feet wide, and it is to be every where,
at least six feet deep. II will be so wher.
ever the former was to be &c feet wide,
and six where that was to be FIVE feet
deep. The comparative quantities and
prices of labor on this Canal, between
point FIVE miles above the Monocacy,
or half mile below the Kitoctan Noun
tain and the Little Falls Of Potomac, &C.
cording to the prior estimate, and to the
actual contract, are, in relation to the
principal details, as follows: The guam.
tity of excavation of all sorts of earth,
rock, sc. in this part of the Canal, is
computed by the United States Eug
-neers, to reach 2,420.S9O cubic yards,
and to cost ZOE 94s dollars. The guam
sity contracted for, accordingto the est
mate of Mes:rs. Wright and Martineau,