Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-07
COMMUNICATED, Z


Mr. Editor-The Alexandra Lateral Canal
being Of vital Importance to this town, the great
expense attending the progress Of its construction
AMI final completion. are powerful motives to ex.
cite the unceasing attention OF the Stockholders
and the public generally, az the money necessa.
nv to complete it with the most judicious econo.
nv must be raised bv tax levied on oil classes
located within this corporation. ! shall, there.
fore, presume to offer some remarks to the pub
lie, on the mode now in operation for construct.
ing the Aqueduct near and over the Four Mile
Run.
And, first, the excavation OF the earth neces.
sarv to fill up and form bank across the run, sui.
6cient to form and sustain the Canal and its tow
paths, was commenced on the north side OF the
run by cutting down the adjacent banks OF earth,
and hauling il with horses and carts and discharg.
ing it into the water by backing the carts, which
has the double effect Of filling up and eonsodat.
ing the earth BY the pressure Of the horses and
carts in their alternate rounds: but this cheap.
simple and expeditions mode was superseded BY
a new mode of transportation, and delivery at its
destination. bv the construction Of q railway with
cars propelled by manual labor. This mode Of
transportation and filling is found, by actual OBJ.
seryation, to be Is per cent less than that per.
formed BY the horses and carts, exclusive Of the
great expense of the railway and its cars, and
the necessity of keeping carpenters at work in
constructing. piecing, extending it and its wings.
in its march after the receding banks, as they are
cut down. Tie laborer who propeIs the car
must act like the steersman Of ship; for, it he
devlates from the direct line, the aange, or edge,
Of tine wheel will run over the side Of the rail
track, and, disengaying itself from his control,
will in all probability be precipitated down tie
bank and broke to pieces. That such accidents
do and will happen. is clear. 1t will be absolute.
ly necessary to drill all the laborers before they
can steer the cars with moderate precision. Does
the operator touch the shrine Of Bacchus, the en-
chantment begues his vision and unstrinss bis
nerves-the car becomes the sacrifice-the COM
pany can claim no recompense:-horsesa and carts
are exempt from this; for, if any accident hap.
pens to them, they cease from the work, and the
company is under no obligation to indemnify
them With regard to the materials Of which
the Aqueduct is composed: Does The Stone, like
the brambIe, lift up its humble head ard say
"Make use of mel will stand firm as the pill
lars of Hercules-I will form cheap. unaliena.
Bile support for your work that will resist the at,
tacks Of the elements-I will not act the insid
Gus part Of the Brick. that will absorb and ex.
ude water and faint its neishbor, and finally
ty.hve per cent. cheaper than Brick, and will
be fifty per cent. better" Yet does this seem
Of no avail.
To mention. in conclusion, another topic-one
overseer, the horses, carts and rail cars, re-
ceives two dollars and twenty five cents per day:
another. used to canaIiing, the most efficient
many gets one dollar twelve and half cents pes
day. The wages formerly given to the oserseer
employed in constructing the Washington road,
was 81 90 to Is per day; and the daily payoi
the carpenter employed in experimenting the
construction Of the Four Mile Run Bridge vas
81 so, he finding the necessary tools for that par
pose. The highest price given 10 The town 10
men who work every day, in making, setting ana
burning bricks. is 81 per day, and 81 per night
while the kiln is burning. The highest Pre-. g..
ven in the City Of Washington (where the '"'