Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-08-26

OF 500 dollars, the estimate oil tie Board.
Compared with the plan Of Messrs Geddes
and Roberts, OF The canal contracted for, less
portion will be reduced below go feet in breadth,
by a miles, 1907 yards, and the reduction VIII
stop at fifty feet, instead Of forty, the b!eacth
TO which their plan reduced 7.loo7 yards oil
90 miles 27s yards-,heir measurement Of the
ninth and tenth Subdivisions, or the Canal be-
tween Seneca and the present lock below the
Little Falls.
A farther advantage has been gained by the
last location, or that preparatory tor the late
contracts BY trsnlerring the loo alton from the
rocky margin Of the river to the woods and
open fields at the back Of 1t, through an extent
Of four miles, the length Of this portion OF the
Canal has been reduced eight hundred and e'gh'
teen yards, or near half mile below the mea.
surement of Messrs. Geddes and Roberts, and
nine hundred and eight yards below that OF the
U. 5. Board Of Internal Improvement.
These highly gratifying results involve no
reflection whatever upon the antecedent labor Of
other surveys; because much more time has
bsen devoted to the last, and it has been con.
Quoted by the light Of the prior examinations
and reports. All the inquielude which can re-
main, to qualify such consolatory deductions
from the past, must, if it exist at all, arise from
an anticipation Of the manner oil executing the
proposed work, and The ability of the contracts
ors to comply with their engagements to COM
plete the canal, already placed under contract,
"ih the best possible manner, by the slstsof De-
cember, 1929. AS to these subjects OF very
natural solicitude, all that can now be said is,
that the terms Of the contracts give ample pow
er 10 the President and Directors Of the Cons
pany, and their gineers and agents, to super
wise and prescribe the manner OF executing
{ az IL, audi o pY
engineers, engaged in the service OF the Board,
have remarked, that they never, on any occasion,
saw assembled together, at one letting, so re-
, spectacle body Of contractors, as appeared, IN
the City Hall at Washington, at the commence
rent Of this week.
| -Four hundred and sixty proposals were re-
ceived from seventy -6ve Of these gentlemen,
counting as one person each company, or asso-
citation headed by name. For each OF 27, OF
the 81 sections, there were not fewer than ten
distinct proposals offered: for each OF zof them
there wore more than twenty offers; Tor hut 2,
were there fewer than S.
| 1t is believed also that, while experience will
lead to better relative adjustment oil the sever
! al prices, at which the same contractors shall
Offer 10 do the various species OF work describe
ed under distinct heads in The proposals, in no
case of the late letting has contractor engage
ed to finish section Of The canal at less than
Just compensation This, which might be in
ferred from the experience Of grea, proper
ton OF the Contractors, themselves, would be
made more manifest by comparison OF the
terms Of the contracts with those Of the Canals
recently completed, or still in progression, in
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, &
Connecticut OF The thirty four ontraets made
by individuals and companies, viz. eighteen Of
the heaviesf in amount, have been made by
oontr &C tors from New York and pennsylvania.
They involve Sl62, 900 OF the 2l7,473 contract
ed to be paid, leaving little more than $4,000
for The contractors Of the District & its neigh,
borhoodAw who have judiciously waited for in
struction from their more experienced North
ern countrymen.
If due attention be paid, during two OF the
Au,umnal months, August and September, to
the health oftheir laborers, the contractors need
no; fear the completion Of their work by the
end Of the ensuing year, Monthly estimates Sc
payments will denote its progress, aud provide
the capital 10 conduct il to successful issue.
For the preservation Of their own health, and
that Of their hands, let them avoid the morning
fogs, and the dews Of night, by living, during
the siokly season Of the river borders, on
heights mile or two in the rear Of the thea
tire Of their daily employments, in temporary
ha5itarions or tents, sheltered from the South
winds by aneighooring wood, or higher eleva-
ton. Let them breakfast every morning be-
fore they descend 10 the river, and return 10
their lodging place by sunset each day.
This, with precautionary diet. and timely
attention 10 he general health of their several
hands, will preserve their health in those pla.
6es on the river where any peculiar danger is to
be apprehended. In Georgetown, Washington,
and Alexandria, three Of the healthiest Cities
in the Union, as undeniable facts demonstrate,
il would be unnecessary to say that residence
near the Potomac may not every where prove
insalu5rious. And those who have labored
without fear on the Caynga marshes Of N. Y.
on the Canals Of the Susquehannah and Junia-
Ia, need feel no particular apprehension from
encountering, at any season, or on any part OF
the river, the atmosphere Of The Potomac. In
those Autumns in which frequent rains spread
the current Of water over the entire bed Of this
river, It's banks are as healthy as the adjoining
| =