Means. But, the consideration of a memorial which would require the whole subject to be sifted to the very bottom, was, of itself, sufficient to occupy a committee during the whole session of congress. The committee of Ways and Means was charged with the revenue and finances of the country, and could not give it that attention which it required. He therefore suggested to the gentleman from South Carolina, whether he ought not, in justice to others as well as to himself, to move the reference of the memorial to a select committee. Mr. McDuffie replied, that to do so would not be to comply with the order of proceeding in the House, inasmuch as the subject appropriately belongs to the committee on Finance. Mr. Cambreleng, thereupon, moved that the memorial be referred to a select committee. would cease to operate? If, while the present incum-lated to this subject, to the committee of Ways and bent occupied the Presidential chair, the Bank question must of necessity have a political aspect, was it to be supposed, that two years hence, when there were two or more gentlemen, candidates for that situation, the discussion of it would be any more disinterested? No! cried Mr. McD., it is the imperfection of man that presents the difficulty; and until that shall cease, the gentleman from Georgia will never get out of it. The President and Directors of the mother Bank had been governed, not by political or party motives, in presenting this memorial, but by the obligation under which they lay, no tonly to the stockholders, but to the Government of the United States. What would be the effect of refusing to renew the charter, or to act upon the subject, till two years, or till a single year before its expiration? Could the gentleman from Georgia have reflected upon the consequences? That Bank had given Mr. COULTER, of Pennsylvania, said that he had not a credit of $50,000,000 to the people of the United been so fortunate as the gentleman from Georgia, [Mr. States. What did he suppose must be the effect of Wayne] inasmuch as he had not heard that such a mesuddenly withdrawing that credit? Its effect, not only morial was this day to be presented to the House, and to the individuals to whom the credit had been given, the only reason he felt any particular interest, as to the but to all others connected with them? It would be disposition of it was, that many of the petitioners residnothing short of utter desolation. Whether the chartered within the State from which he came. He had the were to be granted or refused, the House was bound in same interest in the general subject with other citizens every view of the subject to act upon it now, and to of the country. What was the subject before the House? act definitely. A period of four years was not more A petition had been presented from a number of highly than was indispensably requisite to wind up the con- respectable citizens on a subject vitally interesting to the cerns of such an institution. If the consideration of the nation. Had they not a right to address this House? Had subject at this time was necessarily attended with any they approached it with an address upon a light and embarrassment, he should regret it; but still he must frivolous subject? A subject improper to occupy the hold the great leading interests of the country to be par- attention of the legislative body? No. It was a subject amount to all political and party considerations. If it which claimed the attention not only of that House, but was in the power of gentlemen to discard all such feel- of the whole Union. A subject which must undergo the ings in considering the great question to which this me- action of the Legislature, at some period not far distant. morial referred he earnestly hoped that it might be And how was it proposed to treat these citizens? If he done. had not misunderstood the gentleman from Georgia, that Mr. Cambreleng, of New York, said that he heartily gentleman had proposed that these citizens, together joined in the wish just expressed by the gentleman from with the subject on which they petitioned, should be South Carolina, (Mr. McDuffie,) that the subject contemptuously thrown under the table, and that on the might be approached without any thing like political ground that it was a subject not fit at this time, to occuexcitement: but that gentleman and himself must live py the attention of the representatives of the United far beyond the ordinary length of man's life, if they ever What were the reasons advanced in support of lived to see that question separated from party consi- this position? Why, that the subject of the petition parderations. If his recollection did not very much de- took of a party character, or, that the presentation of the ceive him, that gentleman, in the beginning of the ses-petition was connected with certain other political movesion, had expressly said that the Bank question would sleep in his committee throughout the residue of the session. Here Mr. McDuffie interposed, and said that the gentleman had entirely misunderstood him-that he had never made any such assertion. Mr. Cambreleng said he stood corrected. He concurred with the gentleman, that the subject ought to be met; but he hoped that in considering it, the House would deliberate long, and reflect maturely. They would thoroughly examine the great question, whether any Bank in the country could have the power to issue a currency from all its branches in every part of the Country-payable nowhere. States. ments in the country? This might be a good reason with the gentleman from Georgia, as he very possibly was in the secrets of the party that had met at Baltimore; but He stood on that floor as a as for himself he was not. representative of the people-prepared to act on the subjects which in that capacity might be brought before him. He was governed by no such considerations-he knew of no connexion of the memorial with any party or other proceedings at Baltimore. All he knew was that the petitioners resided in the state of Pennsylvania; that they had a right to present the memorial, and had acted properly in doing so, and a mere allegation that the paper was connected with political movements at Baltimore, formed no reason why he should not exercise Here Mr. McDuffie was about to interpose, when the responsibility which had been committed to him. It Mr. Cambreleng said he was not going to enter into the had been said that the Bank question always would be merits of the general question; but had arisen for the connected with the politics of the country. If that was purpose of suggesting to the gentlemen from Georgia, true, it was an objection that would apply equally at all (Mr Wayne,) not to move to lay this memorial on the times. But such was not his view of the subject. He table. He was for himself willing and ready to meet hoped that the great experiment of à representative the subject. He wished also to make an appeal to the government had not so completely failed, that a Legislagentleman from South Carolina, (Mr. McDuffie,) whe- tive Assembly could not pronounce upon a great subther he would persist in his motion to refer the memo- ject, connected with the interests of the country, withrial to the committee of Ways and Means, seeing that if out being governed by predilections for men, and by it should go to a select committee that gentlemen feelings of mere party politics. The moment he should would occupy in such committee the same station he be compelled to believe that, he should conclude that held in the standing committee to which he belonged, the great republican experiment had failed; for it was and whether he would not consent that the subject of re- the same to him whether a despot on the throne domichartering the Bank, should go to a select committee, neered over the country, or some demagogue who issued as it had heretofore done. He had joined with that his proclamations, from a committee room, or elsewhere, gentleman in referring so much of the message as re-controlled public opinion, and ruled the country. If it might afterwards receive the judgment of the House, unprejudiced and fair expressed. great questions of national policy were to be settled on might not be committed to a nurse who would be sure to the paltry politics of the day, or by a mere preference strangle it. He did not wish to see this memorial stranfor individuals, the people ought to know it. It was be- gled. He wished it to go to a committee where it would cause he believed that the House was capable of decid-receive the consideration which it merited, in order that ing such a question as this of the Bank, on purely national principles, that he believed that the present memorial ought to receive the action of that House.He should not enter upon any considerations which touched the merits of the question, he would only say, in general, that the paper before the House was a respectful petition on a subject every way fit for the action of the House, and ought to receive its action. Were gentlemen to be deterred from the consideration of the memorial, by such reasons as had been offered by the gentleman from Georgia? He hoped that every man who felt in his own bosom higher and nobler principles of action than that gentlemen had alluded to, would not be deterred from the discharge of his duty; that the man who stood there as a Representative of the people, and felt that he was worthy so to stand, would act in such a manner as to show that he was above the reach of such motives. Let him suppose that this house was to be wrested from the course of duty and patriotism, and perverted and debased into a mere party machine, what, he asked, would be the most direct mode of accomplishing such an end? He knew of none more directly calculated to effect it than that which had been now pursued by the gentleman from Georgia. If any gentleman on that floor choose to become the trumpeter to blow the rally of party, he might perhaps, succeed in carrying a portion of the House with him; yet he must still believe that House capable, in spite of all such efforts, of deciding national questions on national principles. He had no idea that the gentleman from Georgia intended to rally a party; but whatever were the gentleman's intentions, such alone could be the effect of his remarks; nor could he have devised a fitter mode to effect such an object. He had no doubt the gentleman really felt all the boding fears he had expressed, but he could not but consider them as entirely premature. As to the committee to which the memorial might be sent, it was to him a matter of no very great consequence. The only difference between sending it to a select committee, and sending it to the committee of Ways and Means, is this-that in the committee of Ways and Means, he had the utmost confidence, but he might not feel quite as much in a select committee. Mr. APPLETON said that the subject-matter of the pe tition was one of the deepest interest to the community. It was most intimately connected with the commercial interest, but not exclusively so. Every class and every section of the country were interested in the question whether the charter of the Bank of the United States should be renewed. He thonght that the importance of the interest involved made it proper that the petition should be referred to a select committee, who would give to the subject their undivided attention. The ap. propriate duties of the committee of Ways and Means had reference to the finances of the country, which were certainly connected to a certain degree with this institution-but, in his opinion, its bearing on the general prosperity was a matter of greater and paramount interest. Its relation to a sound currency involved, perhaps, the most important question in our whole internal policy. He supposed there was no doubt that, whether referred to the committee of Ways and Means, or to a select committee, according to all the principles usually adopted in the appointment of committees, a report would be made in favor of renewing the charter. But it was of the utmost importance that a careful and thorough examination should be had, whether some modifications of the existing charter should not be made on its renewal; and what should be the terms and conditions. He believed it to be susceptible of improvement, and hoped a committee would be appointed who would examine the subject thoroughly, uninfluenced, if possible, by party considerations, which certainly ought not to be connected with this subject. The debate was further continued, by short speeches, from the following gentlemen:-Messrs. Archer and Mercer, of Virginia; Ingersoll, of Connecticut; Carson, of N. Carolina; Wilde, of Georgia; Mitchell, of S. Caro lina; Root, of New York; Dearborn, of Massachusetts; Cambreleng, of New York; C. C. Johnson, of Virginia; Howard, of Maryland; Foster, of Georgia; Jenifer, of Maryland; Huntington, of Connecticut; Wayne, of Georgia; Sutherland, of Pennsylvania; Carson, of N. Caro lina; Elsworth, of Connecticut; Hoffman, of New York, Before the debate arrived at this stage, the usual hour of adjournment had arrived, and a motion was made, and negatived, to adjourn. The main question was then put (Mr. Davis having withdrawn his motion to refer the memorial to a committee of the whole on the state of the Union) upon the reference of the memorial to the committee of Ways and Means, and decided by yeas and nays. So the memorial was referred to the committtee of PORT OF PHILADELPHIA, 1831. He saw no reason why the subject should not take the same course which it had hitherto done. The committee of Ways and means was raised expressly to consider questions connected with the revenue; and he asked whether this subject did not naturally connect itself with the duties of such a committee? None could doubt it. From the days of Alexander Hamilton until that day, they had been closely connected-so closely that, to use the eloquent expression of the gentleman from South Carolina, the one might be called the body and the other the soul. Why should not the memorial go to the committee of Ways and Means? It belonged to that committee by the rules of the House, and it had always been referred to them as a preparatory step. Why should it not be now? He could see no valid reason. It had, to be sure, been objected that that committee had already expressed an opinion on the general subject. Very true; and that was the very reason why Launched, he wished to send it there. It was parliamentary to refer subjects to committees whose views were favourable, and should not a great question, on which the wisest statesmen of the country had bestowed their thoughts, and expressed their opinion, go to a committee whose views were in its favor, when matters of the most trival moment were subject to that rule. The object in that very proper parliamentary rule was that a measure proposed might be presented in the most favorable manner -that it might, so to speak, have a fair chance; and, in the language of the books on parliamentary law, that it New tonnage, 3,206 396 3,602 Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F. GED. DES, No. 9 Library Street. Philadelphia; where, and at the PUBLICATION OFFICE, IN FRANKLIN PLACE. second door back of the Post Office,(front room) subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price FIVE DOLLARS per ani, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance. REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. IX.-NO. 3. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 21, 1832. NO. 212. COLUMBIA AND PHILADELPHIA RAIL-ROAD. the 59th section; ending at a point directly south of the REPORT OF JOHN BARBER, SUPERINTENDENT. To the Canal Commissioners: Warren tavern, in Chester county. And the third division is that which extends from the foot of the inclined plane westerly on the side of the Schuylkill river, following in part the line of the old Union canal, and terGENTLEMEN: Since my report made to the board on minating at the corner of Broad and Vine streets, in the 4th December of the preceding, all the work which Ph ladelphia; embracing a distance of three miles twenwas then under contract upon the Columbia and Phila-ty-four chains. Making the whole distance now under adelphia rail-way has been completed. These contracts contract, for road formation, forty-one miles nine and embraced the road formation, mechanical and inciden- a half chains; and which, when added to that part altal work upon twenty and a half miles of rail-way, ex-ready completed, gives the whole extent of the Columtending eastward from the head of the plane at Columbia and Philadelphia rail-way, from the out-let locks at bia, and twenty miles extending westward from the the basin in Columbia, to its termination aforesaid, eighSchuylkill river. The above forty and a half miles ty-one and about a half miles, or 81 523.1000. were authorized by the act of 24th March, 1828, and put under contract in January 1829, and comprises that part of the line, upon a portion of which, the construction of the railing is now contracted for. Abstract No. 1, will show that the amount of moneys disbursed upon this portion of the line, during the present year, has been $60,508 65; of which sum $10,554 96 was paid on balances and retained per centage due on final estimates, for work done prior to the date of my last report. The new contracts entered into for excavation and embankments have been prosecuted with great energy; and a large amount of the heavy work is executed. Section No. 30, extending through the gap of the Mine ridge, at the highest point of which, there is a cutting of thirty-seven feet, is the only one which presents any formidable difficulties, and is the only section not now in the hands of the original contractors; this section having been re-let under proposals received on the 2d September last. The greatest obstacle presented in Having, in my various reports to the board, given the prosecution of this work, is the quicksands which them an exhibit in detail, of the several works connect-appear within a few feet of the surface throughout its ed with these divisions of the rail-way, it remains necessary only, at this time, to show the aggregate amount of moneys expended on the same. The whole amount of moneys paid upon this part of the work, for preparing the road bed, and for all other matters, is three hundred thirty-seven thousand, seven hundred sixty three dollars, four cents; and the amount settled and in progress of settlement, at the accountant department, is correspondent with that sum. The disbursements, under their several heads, will, however, more satisfactorily appear in abstract No. 2, annexed to this report. A quantity of rubble stone has been excavated, and remains upon different sections of the road; arrange ments have been made with the contractors for laying down the rails, to use all that is fit for the purpose, of that material, in filling in the trenches and stoning the horse path. It will be estimated to them at a fair valuation, and the commonwealth will receive a credit therefor in the settlement of these contracts. The contracts for new work, authorized by the act of 21st March last, were principally signed in the month of May. The allotments were made under the immediate superintendence of the canal board, on proposals received on the 11th and 18th of May, at Downingtown and Columbia. In June, the line was put into active operation, and the first estimates were paid in the early part of July. The contracts above referred to, embrace the graduation, mechanical and incidental work upon those portions of the line not heretofore authorized; and which are comprised within the following limits, to wit: First, the inclined plane section, commencing at the canal basin in Columbia, and extending to the head of the plane, a distance of one mile twenty-seven and a half chains. The next in order is termed the middle division, commencing at the western end of section No. 22, north of the village of Paradise, in Lancaster county, extending a distance of thirty-six miles thirty-eight chains to, and including VOL. IX. On whole extent. But the contractors feel confident they will be enabled to overcome these difficulties, and complete their contract in due season-They have about one hundred men employed at the present time. The inclined plane section at Columbia, has also progressed with vigour. The excavation in the deepest part is thirty-three feet, and is estimated to contain 67,000 cubic yards; the removal of nearly one half of which, by the next estimate day, will have been effected. the division east of the Schuylkill, a large force has also been employed-and only for a large amount of rock which has appeared at two points upon the line, this portion of the road formation might have now been completed. It is fully expected however, that it will be finished by the first of January. The masonry of the culverts is in a forward state, on twenty-four, some of which are of large span and great length; final estimates have been settled, and the payments of the next estimates will reduce to few in number, all that are now in operation. Of the larger bridges, that across the Pequea creek will in a few weeks be completed-the masonry is finished and the superstructure raised. This is a beautiful work, and reflects much credit upon the contractors. The bridges over east and west Brandywine and Valley creeks, are not so far advanced, although a considerable amount of the masonry has been executed; the winter months will be employed in gathering the material, and a vigorous prosecution of these structures may be expected in the spring. I regret that I cannot report so favourably upon the work done at the bridge across the Schuylkill; operations under this contract however, are being prosecuted at the present time with great energy. A coffer dam has been sunk within a few days at the foundation of one of the piers, and sufficient stone of a superior quality got out, to raise the masonry to high water mark; a steam engine is ready on the spot, to be used in pumping out the water, as soon as the coffer dam shall be secured this contract; and the same observation as regards the other portions of the line upon the same plan, may be made. Both the contracts on this division can be com Every contract upon the line, excepting a few of those recently entered into under the letting of the 3d instant, is now in active operation, and the work rapidly going on. and made tight-and the contractors are determined upon working night and day until the masonry of this pier is so far advanced as to be out of the reach of high water of the spring freshets. In fact, this work is now go-pleted by the first of May. ing on under favourable circumstances, more so than might have been expected, from the lateness of the season in which it was commenced; and setting aside unforseen obstacles, I feel confident the superstructure, of the bridge will be placed upon the piers by the If an appropriation should be made by the legislature first of November of the next year; and that it will be at their coming session, which would warrant putting entirely finished and made passable in a short time af- the residue of the railing under contract next spring, the terwards. And although some difficulty was experi- whole of the line can be finished with double tracks, enced in getting this important structure under con- engines and every other fixture, in the most permanent tract, yet am I satisfied under all the circumstances, that manner, ready to go into full operation in two years the commonwealth have lost nothing by the delay. 1 from the present time. A large portion of the line howhave just had an intimation from the engineer attendant ever, yielding a very considerable revenue, will be in on that work, that if the weather should prove at all fa operation in the early part of the next summer. And vourable, two more of the coffer dams will immediately although it would doubtless be an object of great importance with the board to have this line of the public works completed at the earliest possible period, in order that it might yield to the state an interest somewhat proportionable to the monies expended, yet there are other considerations which in my view ought not to be overlooked--time ought to be allowed for the construction of these works, sufficient to have them executed in a permanent and substantial manner. be sunk. Thirty-two and a half miles of single track-way of the railing is now under contract, as follows: twenty miles on the eastern and twelve and a half miles on the western end. The first ten miles commencing at the corner of Broad and Vine streets, has been let to a company under the plan of a continuous line of stone sills, plated with flat iron bars. A distance of nearly two miles of the sills are embedded, upon which the contractors are now fixing the iron plating. This operation, together with stoning the horse-path, will be completed in a few days: a temporary wooden railing, intersecting the permanent track, at the foot of the plane, is also in progress of construction, which, when completed, will greatly facilitate the work; in giving the contractors an opportunity of more readily transporting on rail-way cars, along the line, the heavy material of which the rail-way is composed. The seven miles of this contract, west of the Schuylkill, can be finished by the first of May, and that portion on the eastern side, by the first of June-which, for the latter, would be as early as prudence would dictate, that the permanent railing should be laid on embankments which have so recently been constructed. About 6,000 lineal feet of stone sills are now at the landings ready to be hauled out-calculated to lay down 3,000 feet more of the track, and arrangements have been made with the company for the delivery, as long as the weather will permit, of 600 feet per day. The other ten miles of the eastern division was also originally let to one company, under the Liverpool and Manchester plan, of using stone blocks and iron edge rails. The contract for this work, was, for a time, prosecuted with spirit, and a considerable amount of material was collected upon the line-but the contractors having, about the 1st of October, withdrawn their for ces, it was declared abandoned and re-let again on the 28th of that month, in two separate parcels of five miles each. The work is now rapidly advancing, and it is confidently expected this ten miles will be completed by the first of May. At which time it may be expected that a continuous line from the west side of the Schuyl kill to the Paoli tavern, a distance of seventeen miles of single track-way, will be entirely completed. As regards the twelve and a half miles of single track railing, which was put under contract on the 18th May, on the western division, the first contractors completely failed in procuring stone of a quality suitable for its construction, under the stone sill plan. These contracts were declared abandoned, and on the 11th July the work was let under the block and edge rail plan. The first 6 miles from the plane, was again declared abandoned, and re-let on the 25th October. The other six miles commencing at the Conestoga bridge and progressing towards Columbia, has gone on vigorously; materials have been deposited on the ground sufficent for laying down about three miles of the single track; and the iron edge rails, none of which description has yet arrived, is only wanting to complete a large portion of board, dated at Northumberland on the 25th June last, Under authority contained in a resolution of the I entered into contract with two responsible shipping houses in Philadelphia, for furnishing from England, agreeably to the specifications and patterns of the en-. rails and flat bars, with the necessary fixtures for laying gineer, the requisite quantity of malleable iron edge down the same, on so much of the single track-way as is now under contract. Orders for this iron went out to Liverpool by the first packet which sailed, and arrangements for the manufacture have been made under very favorable circumstances. One hundred and seventy-five tons of the flat bars have within a few days arrived, and further shipments are shortly expected. The contracts entered into for these materials will amount to one hundred twenty thousand dollars. And as the contractors in their agreement have stipulated to purchase the iron at cash prices in England, it will be fair to consider so much of the specific appropriation to this division, in addition to what has already been paid on other contracts, as expended, inasmuch as the whole amount of the iron will have to be paid on its arrival here. By reference to abstract No. 3, annexed to this report, it will be seen that of the specific appropriation to this line, there has been drawn from the treasury by me two hundred twenty-four thousand dollars; and that the amount settled and in progress of settlement at the accountant department, is two hundred ten thousand seven hundred and four dollars twenty-three cents. Leaving a balance in my hands, deducting six thousand thirty-six dollars and two cents, paid to engineers and nine dollars seventy cents, applicable to the payments others on account, of seven thousand two hundred fiftyon estimates which in a few days will be due. All of which is most respectfully submitted. JNO. BARBER, Superintendent. Columbia and Philadelphia rail-way office, } Columbia, Nov. 25th, 1831. ABSTRACT, No. 1. Amount drawn from the treasury on old work, inci 1 dental and engineering expenses, and disbursed during Under the following heads, to wit: On sections, $18,456 07 The third to bridges, and the fourth to the rail way su perstructure. The graduation and masonry upon the whole of the middle division have been prosecuted with vigour. That portion of the road formation from Schuylkill river to Broad and Vine streets, is expected to be finished about the latter part of next month. This would have been accomplished at an earlier period, but a greater quantity of rock appeared in the deep cuttings than was anticipated. The most important culverts upon the line will be constructed before the season for masonry closes. By the last return there were twenty-eight completed; of the remaining twenty, such as were in progress will be finally estimated before the end of this month. Of the five principal bridges, the one oyer Pequea creek, will soon be finished: the masonry of those over Brandywine and Valley creeks, is considerably advanced. The contractors are collecting materials and prepa$60,508 65 ring a coffer dam for one of the wiers of Schuylkill bridge. The lateness of the season when this work was re-let to the present contractors, will only enable them to be in readiness to prosecute it with vigour in the spring. The following abstract exhibits the amount of money drawn from the treasury, and disbursed upon contracts on the old line of rail-way, since its commencement. Amount drawn from the treasury, and appropriated to payment of contracts on old line of rail-way, Paid as follows. $170,909 55 Road formation, The contract for laying a single track with granite sills, upon ten miles west from Philadelphia, has not progressed with that rapidity which was desi $337,763 C4 red. The transportation of such heavy materials can only be effected when the roads are in good order; when we shall have received the iron bars for completing that portion of the road already prepared for it, the work will then go on with greater facility. The same difficulty exists in prosecuting the contracts upon the remaining twenty-two miles; we expect, however, in the course of this winter to have the whole of the materials in readiness, so that when the edge rails arrive, there will be nothing wanting to complete the present contracts. In referring to the tabular statement of the cost of the work, it will exhibit a greater amount than has been estimated in former reports. This is caused by substi tuting in every case (where materials were convenient for the purpose,) stone arches instead of wooden $224,000 00 bridges, and by increasing the embankments and dimi nishing the size of the bridges, where wooden superstructures were necessary. We have also incurred considerable expense by enlarging our former curves, and rendering the line as straight as practicable. Laying rails, Fencing, Engineering, Expenses, 636 16 $210,704 23 Temporary and other re 6,036 02 7,259 75 $224,000 00 ceipts not yet settled, Balance due commonwealth in my hands for future disbursements, REPORT OF JOHN WILSON, ENGINEER. Philadelphia, Nov. 11, 1831. SIR-In compliance with the requisition of the secretary to the canal commissioners, that I should furnish you with such details from the engineer department, as would enable you in your annual report, to give a full and satisfactory exhibit of the work upon the Columbia and Philadelphia rail-road, I herewith transmit you a table of all the work now under contract upon the line, from returns made up to November 1st. This document is divided into four compartments. The first exhibits the length of each section of road formation, and the amount expended for excavations and embankments, with the probable cost of the unfinished work. The second is appropriated to the culverts. Having thus given you all the information required of me, I trust you will be enabled to present to the board a full and satisfactory report. I remain very respectfully yours, DEAR SIR-In answer to your communication of the 3d inst. I will thank you to lay before the board the following, for their information. In the present state of the contracts for completing the superstructure of the rail-road, it is difficult to form an accurate estimate of what would be the entire cost of completing the line between Philadelphia and Columbia, with double tracks. The deficiency of materials, particularly stone suitable for blocks, on both the eastern and western divisions of the road, has enhanced the cost of construction considerably beyond what will be incurred on other portions of the line; I except, however, the present contract prices for laying ways with granite sills: they are lower than would be again offered for any future contract, as no such material can be obtained within any reasonable distance of the railway, westward of the limit of Robinson, Carr & Co's. contract. The next item involved in the calculation of an estimate, is the cost of the iron. We are hourly ex |