Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-22
Sl,l43.553 rs
LETTER TO THE PREsIDEN'


The President IF the L.. States:
STR Tie unhersigI ed members Of The House of
ReP,es natives duly impressed win the importance of
uniting. by the closest ties intercourse tho. portions
Of the United States, which az At present divided hv
continued chains ri lofty mountains. aud esreciay The
extensive slopes descending from the Allies hanv west
wardy towards The Mssissipp and The Gulf Of NJ xico
and easiwardly TO he Atlantic; and understanding that
by the existing laws, the soldiers of the gular Army
may he employed works OF public utility be leave
TO recommend to your consideration the expedirncy of
concentrating near the proposed tunnel, for uniting the
waters OF the Chesapeake ADD the Ohio, portion of the
army and OF directing its abour under the inspection
OF sknl engineers first in sinking the rrces s2ry air
and working sbafs for contracting the said tunnel and
next In petng the same in the shortest practicable
period.
The ahour which these works would CURE of the
troops bears peculiar analogy 10 of The dit
hcui', and in Europe, the frequent operations of
war; wtle The instruments employed in them such
as mpar additional strength 10 The Of the soldier
and render him more formidable 10 his enemy.
III objections were made to the suhierranean charac-
ter Of the labor or The Of healh an answer 10
them would be found in the unremitting veour and
feriui "iacry with which he hands engaged the
rGa' lhes o. J'mea river perform their daily tasks, in
pits sunk below the level of tide The proposed
tunnel on The contrary will be rendered. by lite great
elevation above the adjacent vallies of the Allegheny,
both dry and healihful.
force not exceeding one thousand men stationed as
is here proposed would greatly accelerate the compile
lion oil The tunnel while its position, during the conin
uance o its useful labor would render efficient
the public defence if il distributed at present
where lite labcur the undersigned have been crcdbly
informed. j. often misappied.
The distance from the tunnel 20 tho nsvg aba u aters
OF the Potomac does not exceed thirty-onc miles and
from the Monongahela, seventy, while TO both
s opened from Smilh6sd, by the Cumberland road
AZ distance not exceeding forty miles from either.
To supply he troops employed in this service with an
incentive 10 labor with greater ascity the undersigned
have no doubt hut that, il their shall
accord with the views of the Executive Department,
the Congress would increase the compensation now all
lowed for extra labonr and the readily the mo-
uVes TO seserton, which thin The ranks of the ar.
i my tpptlI ha. TIL. A II
OF the soldier, the wholesome occupation given him. and
the absence OF all countervalng temptations TO disspa-
{ on and excess
The undersigned aware that the AL horty TO con-
srmct the proposed ok has been expressly vested in
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company by their char
ter, ise compact between the United States and the
states OF Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania; but
they are well assured that arrangement might he
made with that Company alike beneficial their inter.
est ard he great AMI useful end which the undersigned
have in view as well as TO the general health and tfi-
cheney Of the Army
The undersigned also apprised that doubts exist
as to the eSPedency of crossing The Allegheny the
proposed route, by Canal Rail way and according
y that authority has been granted TO the Chesapeske
ard Ohio Canal Company, by early amendment Of
heir charter 10 effect their this formula
bic barrier, in either mode. The construction Of the
tunnel by overcoming rise and fall of 100 feet in
the short compass of four miles, would prove, howe.
yer. alike beneficial either OF these modes Of COM
munication, between the Eastern and Western Wa
teTs.
II is not designed by special recomme ation Of the
F'"PpSeu WO1k on lDe huegnAny, IN unit, IN
spect, the executive discretion, 10 which the employ
men Of the troops, useful public enterprises is con
bded by tie ldwS The under igned believe that the
ehciency OF the army in war, apart from the valuable
military use Of the works which may Construct would
be promoted by judcious application OF s lobour in
peace.
We have the honor to be, with great respect your o.
bedi"nt servants
Signed by seventy eight Member Of Congress1
MIR william Archer, from the Special Committee APP
polhted on the Sh instant, made the following
REPORT:
compliance with resolution passed Al the General
Meeting ol the Stockholders Of the Chesapeake and O.
ho Canal Company, the 7h instant, tie undersien
cd beiog appointed committee carry into effect the
object OF said resolution, 10 discharge the du
W assigned to them: having examined the work done
and in progress upon the line Of canal from the basin
Georgetown 10 Seneca Creek, your committee be Y
leave 10 submit The following report:
The basin at Rock Creek prosecuted under the nme-
date direction Of the Chief Engnser) though yet
hnlshed, Is advancing rapidly the nature Of the
work will admit The pier, q mole, is executed upon
plan which combines the essential requisites: strength
and durability both the exterior and interior walls
well-built, and Of good materials.
The three Locks and BRIGGS in GEORGETOWN, now
nearly finished, give evidence Of the skill OF those
employed in their construction; the materials appear 10
be OF good quality, and put together in workman
like manner; every part OF the work through George
town is executed in manner highly satisfactory 10
your committee except the dry wall between Locks
Nos. and g. and small portion Of dry wall next above
Lock No 4: these, your committee believe, ought not
tn hon