tom, and consequently exhibit a more uniform straight line than those at Genesee. The timber above water is also beginning to decay.

The appropriation for Sodus bay for the year 1835 was $11,790, and become available in the month of May-the object, to finish the piers, and to plough and dredge out the hard-pan of the channel by machinery. The first has been nearly accomplished, and will be finished this season. The second is in operation as follows: recommencing the work upon the piers, and the construction of the beacon, brought me into the month of June, when, agreeably to my report to the Department, I proceeded to the foundry near West Point, to determine how much steam and other machinery could be constructed at that place, with the amount of funds applicable to that part of the necessary expenditure, and I found that there were not sufficient funds to procure steam and other machinery to commence the dredging, even at so early a day as the ensuing spring of 1836. I therefore proceeded to visit and examine several new working machines in the harbors of Baltimore, in Maryland, and New London, in Connecticut. The dredging machinery that I found at work in Baltimore harbor was efficient, but more expensive than was contemplated. In New London harbor I found the machinery simple and efficient, and comparatively not expensive, and propelled by horse-power; also, that the part of New London harbor which had been dredged by these machines was as hard as the Sodus bay pan. I concluded, therefore, that it would be best to invite the proprietor of these machines, Mr. Holmes, to visit Lake Ontario, to compare the work that was necessary to be done at Sodus bay with the work that had been accomplished by Mr. Holmes at New London.

This request was complied with, and the result, thus far, has been that I have set Mr. Holmes at work in constructing the machines at Sodus bay, and he will commence the cutting and dredging of the hard-pan at Sodus early in the ensuing spring of 1836. The terms upon which this work is to be executed are as follows: For cutting out four hundred thousand cubic feet of pan, not to exceed three cents per cubic foot, delivered to the United States agent in gondolas now constructing for that service. For such balance of cutting as may be found necessary, a less price per cubic foot, as may then be agreed upon, when the work has come down to the loose bed below the pan. It is my opinion, that an additional cutting of four hundred thousand feet below the pan will have accomplished the object thoroughly. Perhaps the motion of the water may so aid in moving the substrata, as to diminish materially the expense of dredging.

The balance of the Sodus bay appropriation not drawn from the Treasury is one thousand dollars; this sum added to the balance that will be in the hands of the agent on 31st December, 1835, will diminish by five thousand dollars the estimated sum for dredging the Sodus channel in the year 1836, which estimate is sent herewith, amounting to $17,600 ; leaving a balance of $12,600 requisite to be appropriated for clearing out obstructions at the entrance of Big Sodus bay in the year 1836.

Of the beacon light at Sodus bay. A structure of stone, of the same form, dimensions and foundation as the beacon at Genessee river, has been commenced at the extremity of the west pier of Sodus in Lake Ontario, and is three-fourths finished. For the same purpose of cementing and settling, as of that at Genessee river, this beacon will also remain open until the spring the temporary light continuing to answer its present purpose.

The balance of this beacon light appropriation, now on hand, will cover the expenses of its completion.

Respectfully submitted.

J. G. SWIFT.

Estimate of funds requisite to remove the obstructions from between the piers at Big Sodus bay for the year 1836.

For the employment of Mr. Holmes and his machinery in cutng out and delivering into United States gondolas 400,000 cubic feet of pan, at 3 cents

For 2 gondolas with folding sides, at $650

For chains and anchors

Fer labor in gondolas and boats

For superintendence and contingencies

- $12,000 00 1,350 00 450 00 1,080 00 2,720 00

Brig. Gen. GRATIOT,

G.

NEWPORT, R. I. December 27, 1834.

Col. Commd't. U. S. Eng'rs, Washington.

Sir: The "Special Board of Engineers," convened by your order of the 19h ult. to take into consideration the subject of improving the Hudson ver, and of devising a plan to overcome the obstructions to the navigation between Waterford and a point below Albany, to be designated by Capt. Talcott, and directed by said order to review two projects which had been suggested: one by a canal, and the other by deepening the bed of the river, ad to give its opinion as to their relative merit and practicability, acmpanied by estimates of cost, present the following

REPORT:

Section 1.-The information touching this subject furnished the Board, exclusive of such as had been collected in personal examinations of the rver, during the autumn of the present year, by Capt. A. Talcott, a member of the Board, is comprised in

Ist.-A report of a Joint Committee of the Legislature of New York, dated March 12th 1818, which includes a report of Mr. Thomas Moore, Engineer, of February 25th 1818, and a report of Mr. Posiah, Beckwith, July 16th, 1817.

21-A letter of Commissioners for improving the navigation of the Hud

son river below Albany, to the Governor of the State, dated March 31s 1818.

3d.-A Report of the Commissioners appointed to report a plan for im proving the navigation of the Hudson river, communicated by the Gover nor, to the Senate and Assembly of the State, on the 1st of March, 1820with which report are connected a report and estimate of Mr. Henry But ler, of February 21st, 1820-a report of Mr. E. C. Genet, on a ship canal accompanied by schedules, from A to H inclusive; schedule E being an esti mate of cost; and a map by Mr. Randal, on a large scale; and much in de tail, of the river from below New Baltimore to Troy.

4th. A report and estimate, without date, of Mr. Dewitt Clinton, U. S Civil Engineer, to Lt. Colonel John J. Abert, Topographical Engineer communicated by the Secretary of War to Congress, on the 30th March, 1832; there being connected with this report a map, on a large scale, of the survey made by Mr. Clinton from below New Baltimore to Waterford.

Section 2.-As to the number and nature of the obstructions, and as to tides, currents, &c. it appears from the above sources of information:

Section 3.-That in 1819, "from the City of Troy to the City of Albany, at the low water mark of last summer, (1819) taken at the ferry at Albany, and upon which the soundings have uniformly been gauged, there are not less than eight shoals over which the depth of water averages from 3 to 4.50 feet."

Section 4.-That from the examination of 1831, (by Mr. Clinton,) to obtain a channel of nine feet deep at low water, and one hundred and fifty feet wide, excavation would be required at thirteen places between Troy and Albany, varying in depth from one to six feet; or in other words, that in thirteen places, the depth of water varied from three to eight feet.

Section 5.-That in 1819, "south of Albany, as far as Castleton, the water in general is shallow, and over five extensive bars varies in its depth from 4.50 feet to 5.60 feet: and that between Castleton and New Baltimore there are more intervals of deep water, and only four bars, over which the water varies from four to seven feet."

Section 6.—That in 1831, it was found the river would require deepening in six places between Albany and Castleton, from 1 to 2.50 feet to obtain nine feet water; and that in no place south of Castleton, was there less depth than nine feet water in the deepest part of the channel.

Section 7.-That it has been ascertained from recent examination, that the shoals and bars are now composed of a mixture of sand, gravel and pebbles, above Albany, and of sand below Albany; and it was stated by Mr. Clinton, that in 1831 all the bars above Albany are gravel, and other heavy soils, while all below Albany are sand, and other lighter deposites. Section 8.-That the mean flow and full of the tides of the river, when not influenced by freshets, is said by Mr. Genet to be

At Troy, 1 foot; at Albany, 2 feet; at New Baltimore, 3.60 feet. And from the registers, kept by Mr. Clinton, in 1831, the mean was

At Troy, 13 inches; at Albany, 25 inches; at Castleton, 20% inches; at New Baltimore, 34 inches.

Section 9.-That the only observations on the velocity of the currents were made during the low stage of water; they giving a variable velocity, between Troy and Albany, of from 0.60 feet to 2.00 per second, according to local circumstances; and between New Baltimore and Albany, of from 0.75 to 1.70 feet per second.

Section 19-And that from New Baltimore to Albany, the distance is about 15 miles, from Albany to Troy about 51 miles, and from Troy to Waterford 4 miles, making the whole distance within which improvements are called for about 241 miles.

Section 11-For more definite and satisfactory information than can be commutated verbally, in relation to the relative positions of the respective shoas, their form and extent; the width and direction of the several parts of the river embarrassed by them; the position, form and magnitude of is, &c. the Board refer to a map, on a scale of 440 yards to one inch, of the portion of the river lying between New Baltimore and Troy, herewith presented.

Section 12.-The attempts at improving the navigation of the Hudson hitherto made, have been of two kinds; and, as the Board believe, of these, two only, namely, 1st. The erection of a low dyke or "jette" above certain of the shoals designed to confine the channel, in low water.

As to this application, we cannot ascertain that any lasting benefit has resaid therefrom: at any rate, as the resulting benefit, if any, is made a matter of question, it must be trifling, and we know that it is inadequate. Applying to the shoals the dredging machine, thereby mechanically reLoving the impediments. This application has certainly afforded temporaadvantage; but a very general impression prevails that the improvement transient, outlasting the period of low water chosen for the application, but scarcely surviving the first flood. The river has, however, in particular places, been greatly benefitted, as it were incidentally, by works not having hat exclusive object. The increased depth along the front of the new docks at Albany being a strong instance.

Section 13.-The Board approach the particular investigation of the ubjects committed to them with great diffidence.

Considering their want of experience in operations of the nature of those how to be examined, and the newness to them of some of these subjects, even as matters of study; considering, on the one hand, the incalculable benefits to result from a successful solution of the difficulties, and on the ther, besides the great immediate loss, the perhaps irremediable mischief hat mistaken and erroneous views on their part may involve; though they hall apply their best faculties to an investigation which their duty does 2ot permit them to avoid, they feel bound to ask, as to their results, not confidence, but caution.

Section 14. We shall first confine ourselves to the subject of canals, as a made of avoiding the river obstructions below Albany: afterwards examining the means of adapting the bed of the river, from Waterford downward, to the purposes of navigation.

CANALS.

Section 15.-In March, 1820, Gov. Clinton presented to the Legislature of the State of New-York, the report of a Board of Commissioners, consisting of himself, Simeon DeWitt, J. V. N. Yates, M. Van Buren, E. C. Genet, George Tibbets and Townsend McCoun: which report embraced the individual project of Mr. E. C. Genet, one of the commissioners, for a st.p canal.

Section 16.-The project of Mr. Genet contemplates a canal 18.7 feet deep below ordinary high water, 35 feet wide at the bottom, 109. feet wide at the top, and having a length of 123 miles. "The course of th canal would be from Greenbush, through the flats and a creek, to the front par of the village of Castleton: thence through meadows and islands to the Sho dack creek, as far as Schermerhorn's store: from thence, in an oblique direc tion, it would reach through an island and a creek, the outlet of Vyvd Hook." The report of Mr. Genet states, that the upper mouth of the canal would be accessible from the Albany docks with 13.30 feet water at low water mark of summer; and the lower mouth with 13.70 feet a the lowest water; there being, however, on a shoal from 2 to 3 miles below the canal, a depth under the same circumstances of 11.80 feet. The re port further states, that the average fall in the ground from Greenbush to the lower outlets does not exceed 1.50 feet: that the high water at Alba ny, and at Schodack, 12 miles below, are on the same level: that the dif ference between high and low water marks at Troy is 1 foot, at Albany 2 feet, and at New Baltimore (1 mile below the lower mouth) 3.60 feet: tha numerous examinations by borings to the depth of 21 feet, show the matter to be excavated, to consist of "coarse sand and loam, except a distance of 1800 yards, about 900 of which is blue, and the remainder yellow clay" that the form of the shores of the neighboring creeks, and the dif ference of levels in the neighboring river, and in the wells in the vicinity, indicate a soil not liable to wash and tenacious of water: that the survey and levelling give the average height of surface along the line of the canal as 1.915 feet below common high tide, leaving 16.785 as the average depth of cutting: that it is proposed to raise an embankment 2 feet above the highest spring freshets along each bank of the canal; the western embankment having sufficient breadth to serve, being gravelled, as a towing path, and to erect a piece of masonry (furnished with a safety gate) of the same height at each end.

Section 17.-Connected with the report, is an estimate of the expense of the canal, drawn up by Mr. John Randal, Jr. Engineer, which places the sum total at $727,715 08: or about $57,000 per mile. It is necessary to observe here, that this estimete relates only to the construction of the canal

proper.

The canal has a depth within itself of more than 18 feet; but to obtain access thereto, with this depth, at the lower end, and to carry the same depth to the docks at Albany, in order to profit of the deep cut for purposes of ship navigation as high as that city, would probably require in the river, extensive dredging, and perhaps structures of considerable extent, calculated to maintain the increased depth: operations, somewhat uncertain as to durable results, and expensive in their nature, but to what degree called for, or to what degree expensive, we have not the data to determine.

Section 18.-From the preceding statement drawn from Mr. Genet's report, there appears to be no serious obstacle, in the nature of the country, so far as can be foreseen, to the construction of the canal. In taking 22 cents per cubic yard, however, as the price of excavation, the estimate has not contemplated any obstructions to the work from water; an obstruction not unlikely in such deep cutting; which, in common prudence, ought to be anticipated, and which, if occurring, would considerably enhance the cost of the canal.