The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-04-12
Hon A. &. Donor, Senate.
BUErAu oF TvPuGRAPHIcAL Enc
w shIn,Inn March 81 lS0l

BUEEAu of T"PpGRAPHICAL ENG
Washington, March 25, 1854.
SIR: In reference To the letter from the Hon.
A. d ,dge of the 18Th inst, the following re-
port is submitted.
Contracts hav. been entered into, by the
agent john G Floyd the part of the U
and Ro,ert Swan, James Fenlon, and Waller
>. Biyth of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvana.
The general sipuaions of The contracts are,
that the parties of the second part, are 10 make
and clear "u, channels in the Mississippi, river at
he Lower cham and the English chain of the
Des Monies Rapids, and at the Rock Island
Rapids, OF two hundred feet in width. and four
feet deep at low water and specially "to re.
move at least one thou sand five hundred cubic
yards of stone per month, unless pr vented by
the weather and river
But IS these stipulations will be better under
stood by the contracts themselves, copies Of
them are hereto appended.
The price to BE- paid is 1856 per cubic yard.
The quantity Of stone removed, while the work
was under the chargr o, Lieut.. (now Col. Lee,
as stated in his report of October 1889, was up
wards of 1000 tons, or about $50 cubic yards.
The whole amour, expended by Col. Lee, on
all accounts boats, machinery, labor, &c was
about $1,000 dollars. averaging the whole OF
thus expenditure upon the quantity of stone
removed it will make the cost per cubic yard
about $685. This cost would however, have
been much reduced if the work had been con-
tinusd. as the outfit Of boats, machinery &C.
would have served for future operations.
Respectfully Sir, Your obi Servant,
IIABERT, Col Corps 7. E.
Hon. Jefferson Davis, Sec'y Of war.
Know all men by these presents: that thi.
agreement made and entered into this thirteenth
day of February 1854 by and between Rober
Swan, James FenIon, and Walter S. Blyth o.
the City Of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania of the frs
part, and John e. Floyd, agent Of the United
States of the second part, Wtnessc,h:
That in consideration Of the payments herein
after provided and stipulated to be made, the
said parties Of the Il st part hereby sipulate
agree, and bind themselves. their heirs, execu
tors, &c to the United States, to make ano
clear out channel in the Mississippi river a,
the lower chain, and the English chain of the
Drs Moines Rapids, oftwo hundred feet in
width, and Of four feet deep at low water, said
work to be estimated and determined exclusvely
by the agent or agents of the United States FOL
said work, and his and their determination 10 be
final, both regards the quantity of stone re.
m wed, and the completing of the said channel
The stone when removed, TO be placed where
directed by said agent or agents, but should i,
be necessary TO place any Of said stone in dams
| the agent of the United States shall have the
power to fix the value Of the additional work
The first parties hereby agree, faithfully to exc
cute said work, and prosecute the same to COM
pietion with due diligence, and to the best ad-
| vantage, and as may be required and directed by
said agent or agents. They further agree to
commence said work as soon hereafter as the
weather and the condition of the river shall
permit, hereby agreeing to remove at least one
thousand FIVE hundred cubic yards of stone pei
month, unless prevented by the weather anC
River.
In consideration Of which, and for all the
| work hereby Contracted for, the said John &
Floyd as agent for the United States, agree:
and binds the United States 10 pay to the sale
parties of the first part or their legal represen
tatives, five dollars and eighty FIVE cents fo
each cubic yard Of stone removed from sale
channel; :ae quantity to be estimated and pait
for monthly as near as practicable, as the worl
progresses: Provided, that in NJ instance shall
the payment made, exceed eighty per centuu
OF the value Of the work actually completed a
the date of said payment, until the close o
each working season, when payments in full
| including all balances which may have beer
previously retained as guarantees for the fulfill
| ment Of this contract shall be made by tn,
| agent agents Of the United States. Ii il
| hereby agreed and understood that if the par
ties of the first shall at any time fail or refus,
to complete the work as here n contracted to b,
done, that then the twenty per cent, here b,
contracted to be retained by the agent or agents
shall be forever forfeited to the United States
and the first parties hereby agree TO abandon
all claim thereto.
| Witness the hands and seals Of the parties
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence Of
L
A. b. FONTA1N.
JOHN G. FLOYD, TLs1
| u. S. Agent.
ROBERT SWAN, r.. 81
JAMES FENLON. IL 81
WALTER S. BLYTH IL. s.
Approved
J. E. JOHNSTON. Supt w. r. improvement,