42 A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



*' We think it proper to give a short description of this pier 

 (the greater proportion whereof is invisible) that its structure 

 may be known ; and its embarrassing, expensive and tedious 

 progress may be accounted for. We confine ourselves to the 

 masonry — a description of the dam will be hereafter presented 

 that it may be of service to others who may have occasion to 

 use such auxiliaries, in aquatic structures. The plan of the 

 dam, and instructions for its establishment, do much honor to 

 Mr. Weston who furnished them. Mr. RobiJison our super- 

 intendant, has great merit in faithfully executing this plan. 

 But many dangerous casualties and unforeseen embarrass- 

 ments baffled all previous arrangements ; and required the im- 

 mediate and unceasing efforts of the committee and the work- 

 men to combat them. The members of the Board, and others 

 of our fellow citizens, who voluntarily assisted us in endea- 

 vours to evacuate the dam of the obstructions which prevented 

 our totally baring the rock, have our thanks for their exer- 

 tions. These have afforded conviction that the plan we adopted 

 for the foundation, was indispensable. The result has unde- 

 niably proved its efficacy, competency and permanence ; and 

 leaves no doubt of its being in contact with the rock ; which 

 though somewhat irregular, rises at the interior circumference 

 of our dam and forms in the middle a tolerably regular cavity, 

 well calculated to prevent (if the weight on it were not suff.- 

 citnt) any injury to, or movement of the foundation." 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PIER. 



" Not being able to arrive nearer to the rock than three feet 

 six inches, without the most imminent danger of ruin, and 

 failure in our object, it was deemed (after every effort to eva- 

 cuate the dam had been tried) most adviseable, and dictated 

 by evident neccesity to lay a rough foundation, before the 

 masonry of cut stone commenced, about eight feet below the 

 common bed of the river. This foundation was accordingly 



