[Maillefert & Raasloff to Killaly, 5 Jun 1854]

SlR,-I beg respectfully to inform you that we commenced operations the 2nd instant, with the material at present in hand. Our outfit is not yet entirely completed, but will be so in a week or two, when the iron barge now building at Montreal shall have been received. The lateness of the season this year and the scarcity of labour have exercised their delaying influence upon our preparations as upon almost all the other works of public improvement; but we trust that with activity and energy we shall be able, at least in a measure, to make up for the time thus lost without any neglect of ours. The want of ropes will, however, soon be felt seriously; and having gone to a very considerable outlay (more than £1000) for the iron barge and for boats of different kinds, which were absolutely necessary, and of which none could be furnished by the Board, it would at once exhaust the amount allowed for the survey if we were also to purchase and furnish the considerable quantity of rope which will be wanted for carrying out the work without further delay and interruption, and I beg respectfully to express the hope that the Department will, in consideration of circumstances, grant us the rope for which we applied in our letter of 20th May last. There will necessarily be a great many expenses to be incurred during the operations, as suggested by experience as well as by peculiar circumstances; and it appears to me very desirable that as great a portion as possible of the whole amount allowed should remain available for the operations proper, the pay of assistants and men, transportation of material and men from one point to another, purchase of powder and other material specially required and adapted for this novel and peculiar work. I have commenced, according to your suggestion, to place water marks in different. parts of the Rapids, and intend to run levels in all directions, with a view of determining the slope of the surface of the water in the river in and above the Rapids. This information will be valuable for the proper discussion of the different plans for the improvement which may be suggested hereafter.

Return to Home Port

This volume was digitized from the collections of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston