Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-17
TUESDAY, JULY II. 1852.
CcoNMuNIcArED.J


n, Ea;tor-Your correspondent "Not Dl-
reetorn seems to regret that disposition exists
10 find fault with the management OF the Aie,an-
,Iria Canal. aud I as deeply regret that there
should be any cause Of complaint. de tells US
,h:t the management of that work has been en-.
trusted to men Of great intelligence. who are well
informed upon that particular subject, anu are
dsenlv interested both in the Canal and IN the
Town. and he has no doubt but that they Will
.dopt such measures rs will be best calculated to
promote the object we all have so much at heart;
and he adds, that they have not had sufflcient
time to look about them in their new ONCE. IL
will. however, be recollected, that hve OF the
seven Directors have been in office since the "a
nal Board was FIRST organized, and, It appears 70
me, have had ample time to mature their plans
most cheerfully admit the Directors TO oe men
Of wealth and responsibility and inteingehce'
h., This does not prove the fact of their being
well informed upon the subject OF Canalling -
Your correspondent tells Us that the comparative
merit, of bricks and stone, both for cheapness
and durability have been tested both in this coun-
try and in England. am not disguised to make
VOYAGE to England, to see what has been done
there-but will ask your correspondent to inform
me ON what Canal, in this country, bricks have
been used for building aqueducts and culsertsF
II Is certain that none have been used for such
nurposes on either the Chesapeake and Ohio. or
Chssapeake and Delaware, Canals-and am
inE,rmed that on the whole line OF the Pennsyi'
yania Canal they were introduced on but one Oc-
casion, and then they proved entirely unht
for the purpose, and the consequence was tney
had 10 be taken down IN q very short Tune anu
stone arches substituted for them; which Is pref
ty conclusive evidence that brick arches nave not
answered for aqueducts In this country. IL your
..E., tho frns fs.a a a
the brick buildings in our own town thai hsv"
s,oo,l for 20 wears, he will find that In damp ST.
tua,;ons. where the bricks are exposed to both
wet and frrst. they generally show evidence Of
deesy.-No such thing appears in walls built OF
the Falls stone. The masonry OF our aqueduct
AT Four Mile Run will be exposed to moisture
both from below and above, when the Canal is
filled with water, and never will have an oppor-
tunity of getting dry; and the action OF the frost
man these ct walis will cause an early dilapl-
ds,;oo of the whole fabric, II orieka are used. /
wonId also take this opportunity OF caii'ns saA
attention Of your correspondent anu the STOCK
holders generally TO the last annual report OF tne
BOARD Of Directors, by which 1t appears tnat the
excavation and embankment at -Four Mile kun
have cost s2a cents per cubic yard, exclusive Of
the EXPENSE of the Railroad and It's aPpendages,
and the houses, furniture and tools, which, it
taken into the account, will swell the cost to at
least 90 cents the cubic yard. | am informed,
and believe it to be fact, that the whole work
could have been let out By contract to RESPONSE
HE men. at the time it was commenced, for IL
cent. Der yard. If that is correct, need not
comment further upon the facts or the conclusions
which must result from the statement.
Mr.. Editor. it is not my habit or disposition to
find fault without cause; but we are now strain
;no everv nerve to raise the necessary funds to
complete an all-important work; and think 1t
to be the duty Of every good citizen to endea-
yor to correct abuses where any exist, and strive
to remedy evils where they can be cured. It is
under this persuasion the public has heretofore
heard, aud may again hear, from
A STOCKHOLDER.
L,L, "a 1890