^Q A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



These extracts are calculated to give a general idea 

 of the difficulties, unavoidable expence, and magnitude 

 of these all essential parts of the undertaking. A de- 

 tailed and accurate description would extend to a great- 

 er length, than is contemplated in this communication ; 

 though drafts and notes, for the purpose, are preserved. 



EXTRACTS. 



Schuylkill Permanent Bridge^ Nov. 17, 1801. 

 " Gentlemen of the Building Committee, 

 *' In compliance with your directions of the 13th October, I 

 now lay before you a statement of the expence incurred in 

 erecting the (eastern) coffer dam. At the same time I beg 

 your indulgence while I point out some of the difficulties 



with which we had to combat. When Mr. L ," [the first 



mason and superintendant, who misled the committee into an 

 inefficient plan of the dam] " was consulted with respect to this 

 dam, he could give us no useful information, or assistance. 

 But in this case, as upon all other occasions of difficulties, we 

 found great assistance from the acting members of the Build- 

 ing Committee. We explained to them our objections to 

 raising the dam, on the proposed plan, of the three rows of 

 piling, which were contemplated. We wished to throw off 

 one, as there was not sufficient hold at the botto?n^ to resist the 

 great pressure of such a puddle ; we were afraid of its burst- 

 ing outward. A member of the committee, [the president] 

 proposed forming, at the bottom of the river, around the 

 sides of the dam, a barrier of common building stone and 

 sand, which when raised nearly to low water mark, he 

 thought would be of great service. The plan was approved 

 of and executed, and we found it to answer the pui-pose com- 

 pletely ; not only of keeping the dam in its place, while we 

 proceeded in finishing it j but was of great use, throughout 



