SCHUYLKILL PERMANENT BRIDGE. 69 



" We would be ungrateful if we did not here express our 

 obligations to those members of the committee ; who by their 

 personal attention and counsel, wherever it was necessary, 

 contributed, in a principal degi-ee, to the final success of our 

 undertaking ; which had all along been attended with great 

 risque ; and inconceivable difficulties. But from them, and 

 from our own discoveries, which were accidental, Ave derived 

 much assistance. The variety of schemes suggested by those 

 who occasionally gave their advice and opinion, though 

 gratefully attended to by us, were of no manner of service. 

 We mentionthis merely to shew, how little capable of judg- 

 ing are those, who only partially attend to such subjects ; 

 and are not practically engaged therein. In case of failure, 

 our having attended to eveiy thing of this kind which have 

 seemed to be of any use, would have been a great consolation 

 to us." 



The expence of erecting the eastern dam is detailed ; and 

 amounts to S 9491 38 cents. 

 (Signed) SAMUEL ROBINSON.f 



Smith'' s or furnace cinders were very useful in stopping ground leaks ; 

 but a sufficient quantity could not be procured. 



After all these were carefully used, in every way, the common loam or 

 earth, free from roots, stones, or foreign matter, was preferred ; and found 

 perfectly competent. That under the vegetable mould, was the best. 



•}• The eastern dam narrowly escaped being rendered abortive, and the 

 project stifled in its infancy. A most important beam, running longitudi- 

 nally (like a main girder, in a large building) and on which depended many 

 smaller ties, ramifying from it, was designedly, and wickedly, sawed near- 

 ly through, with a fine saw, on a Saturday night, at a time of swift water, to 

 expose the dam to the dangers of the next day of intermission from work. 

 It was luckily discovered early the next morning, in time to guard against 

 the ruinous consequences. No discovery was ever made of the perpetra- 

 tor. It was known but to a few, and kept secret (among other reasons) to 

 preclude alarms in the stockholders ; whose apprehensions were suflicient- 

 ly alive from causes arising from common circumstances. Where advances 

 of money are required, by voluntary payments, no unnecessary terrors 

 need be raised. Some thought the first l«ss would be^the best, and suffer- 



