Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-09-13

rional INTEREST to the commencement OF q" GU
,erorise designed 10 perpelua:e the indepeh>
dence and Liberty, to which that day may oe
regarded as having given birth. ne C"ie,
Magistrate OF the American People performed
this office in the presence Of many thousands
of his constituents, and Of the Representatives
of the most distinguished Nations OF the Oid
New World.
By the period advertised for the first con-
tracts, Mr. Nartineau, with The advice o, Judge
Wright, whose engagements had recalled MN
10 the State Of Delaware, prepared thirty !ou'
sections Of the Canal TO be let, embracing aoou'
II miles and three quarters Of the most dlfhcuH
part Of the Eastern section
Before the proposals were issued to the Con
tractors, the President and Directors, accom-
panied by Judge Wright, reviewed and approx
ed the ground upon which the line oil the IN,
tended Canal had been so far designated ana
marked. :,
Although the notice of the first letting had
been unusually short. about one hundred con-
tractors attended at Washington, from various
portions of the Union, 10 bid Tor the work
AS many as four hundred and sixty two pro2o-
sails wese received, and within three Gays ai'er
the frs, was presented, the thirty four Secuons
were let 10 persons believed to be competent 10
fulfil their engagements. AS manyas elgnteen
Of these contracts, involving an expenditure OF
more than 900 Of the $4,000 dollars oil
value contracted for. fell 10 the lot OF conlrac-
tors from New York and Pennsylvania: the lar
greater part of whom had been engaged, and
some OF them, very extensively, in similar enter
prises, in Canada, Ohio, Connecticut, N York
and Pennsylvania. But one of the thirty tour
contracts was afterwards surrendered, AMI Tor
IL,
one Of which was promptly accepted.
Many OF the contractors coming from remote
abodes, REQUIRED, and were allowed time to
return home, previously to their entrance upon
the scene Of their future labors. Others have,
however, already entered upon their contracts
with vigor, and by the end of the present week,
eight sections will have been actually commenc-
ed. A few of these sections will probably be
completed before the Winter sets in; and no
reason, as yet, presents itself to warrant doubt
but that the whole will be finished BY the time
specified in the several contracts, on the 3lst OF
December, 1929. In the spirit OF the financial
regulations Of the first general meeting OF he
Company, every guard which caution could
suggest has been provided, in the terms OF The
written Contracts, against future abuse. No
personal or Other security, indeed, has been
required Of the several contractors, lest il
might discourage or prevent applications from
distance; but in the monthly payments for
the work actually done, one fifth of its value, as
asses ell by the Engineer Of the Company, will
re retained, if deemed expedient by the Board,
in order TO secure a faithful performance Of
each contract, so long as i, shall remain incom-
plete Due attention will be given liz tht pro-
gress Of The work 10 prevent the completion oi
any ar; of the line, under contract, from being
so m lii rrtorded, by neglect, as to delay the
co,ensporaneous use Of the whole, by the pub
lie, at the expiration OF the ensuing year.
As preliminary 10 any contract, the attention
d, ration of the hes, plan to be devised Tor the
ere,, work commilled to their charge. In
The plan for its structure, which they hnaiiy
adopted, il they have erred, taer error Is upon
the side Of public utility. For reasons winch
they deem i, unnecessary here TO detail, as they
would oe but repetition OF reports OF COM
m;,,ees of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Convention, of The House Of Representative,
and Of the Engineers, both Military and CHii,
in The service Of the u. States, they have given
TO the structure Of a grea, public work cha
racter as national and as perfect as they could
render II. in reference TO the resources actually
nroyided or TO be nationally anticipated Tor LIS
execution.
The breadth OF the Canal, where pI acticable
without very enlarged expenditure, they have
fixed at Sky feet, for the surface OF The wa:er
It's depth, for the present, at never less tnar
Eve, but, .l,ima tely, at six feet It's narrowes
breadth a, the surface (and ,hi, will but seldom
occur) will BE- fly feer. It's breadth, at bot
tom, generally forty five feet, will depend upol
he quality of the earth 'hrough which The
Canal passes and the facilities afforded Tor 'b'
inner pavement Of its slopes as II progresses
All abrupt curvatures in its direction, cal"u
ed 10 change suddenly the line OF motion, vii
be avoided where practicable, and so lar no
one occurs. The inner lining of the Cana
banks with stone, 20 save future repairs, will
be resor,ed to wherever he excavation furnish
es abund ant materials for the purpose, and the
can be employed on economical terms
| Its locks will be Throughout, OF stone, wit
chambers 100 feet by Is feet, in the clear
The lockga,es will be Of locus, frames. ST.
paddle gates opening from the lateral eulver,:
and four in the upper lock gates, extending t
the bottom Of the Chamber, will facilitate thei
filling, while every possible facility will be pro