Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-09-05

ed TO Mr.. MafFct
WILkEsnARRE, August IS, 1916.
Bonrd Of Canal Commissioners.
IIox GENTLEMEN During the last fall and
winter some gentlemen of this reg ion and other
part of penusylvania--iax payers who feel the
necessity Of economy in the expenditures Of the
public money--with my consent, solicited your
Hon. Board to appoint me to the place of Super
visor of n. B. Canal instead of Mr. Mairt Du-
ring some part of the winter it became necessa'
ry for me to be at Harrisburg on business of my
neighbors and my own, and though did not
personally solicit the appointment of the Board,
still | did permit others 10 do so and was willing
to take the charge. liwas then supposed that
fany change took place il would be much sooner
than was the ease 1t took from December TO
July for the Commissioners to decide upon that
matter. and before notice of the appointment
reached me, had forgotten in the midst OF other
matters, that any such thing was depending and
on receiving your notice was surprised. In this
state of things, having hitherto left the whole
matter to the discretion of others, and feeling no
anxiety about it, deemed that my duty to my
friends required me TO let them direc, it, and
therefore informed them tha, The board of Canal
Commissioners had at last CONCLUDED to make
the appointment they had solicited, and lcir them
| to Judge of the proper to be pursued by
me- 1t was believed by them that the cxpend.
lures along the North Branch (and the public
! improvements general " were large beyond all
that was necessary, and that by taking hold of it
even at SO late day as the first of July, sys-
| TEN of economy might be introduced that would
ultimately be very useful. therefore consent.
ed to take the place. ] had no sooner done so,
than was politely informed that the board bad
determined TO put Mr. MaTrt in business at the
Nan,icoke dam in capacity OF Engineer, but that
| would be required TO enter into all contracts
receive and disburse all monies, With this fact
before me, though could not but think engi.
neer at Nanticoke dam was quite uncallcd for
and totally unnecessary and particularly lla, that
engineer must be Mr.. Maflct, savored strongly
of iavrritsm and Consequent unnecessary ex.
pcndiiure of money Still as should be pretty
likely TO know TO what amount the money wGs
so used in this instance, continued IN charge
This last fact seems at length 10 have alarmed
the board, or Mr.. MafTet, or both, aud the board
by Mr.. Foster. writing from Waynesburg, thru
the Post Office at McVey,own, 7ih August, lsiC
are SO kind 10 inform me that the whole bu
sincss ofdrivins on the work, drawing funds am
paying at Nauiicoke Dam will be done by MIR
Maiict, and at the same time directing me TO Civ,
my whole attention to the Fishing creek aQne
duct, &c. BY this last change, Mr.. MaIIet is
placed in position That gives him absolute an'
entire control of the water which feeds the ca
nal from Nanticoke Dam to Northumberland
more than fifty miles, and which requires the ut
most vigilance of the Supervisor aided by th'
best and most devoted assistance to keep suiii
cient quantity OF water in the canal for navi2a
tion, and Mr.. MafIet can at any moment (or an,
I man can under hiu1 destroy the navigation
efieclually and without any responsibility o
, the possible interference Of the Supervisor &
prevent
Now Gentlemen, as did not accept the plsc
of Supervisor with any expectation of making
profitable 10 myself in pecuniary point of view
: but with the hope that some money might b
+ saved TO the public by strict economy, as yo
: have seen fit to place Mr. Maflet in charge @
" the most important portion Of the work aion
the line, where, if at any point money may
wasted on favorites, and most effeetuaiiy con
g cealed and finally have made him independen
a of me aGy other Supervisor, thereby frustra
}. ing completely and entirely the only object
e had in accepting the place, viz Economy OF tn
public money Fer with all might be able