[Maillefert & Raasloff to Begly, 66 Sep 1854]

Sir,-We have the honor most respectfully to inform you that by prosecuting our survey with the utmost diligence we have now reached the lower portion of the Cascades Rapids, after having carefully examined both the present Steamboat Channel at Split Rock and the supposed Southern Channel under Buisson Point; we may state now, in anticipation of the Report which we shall have the honor of laying before the Department of Public Works, at the close of our operations, that an improvement of the River between Lakes St. Francis and St. Louis, essentially by means of removing the obstructions to navigation, appears to us practicable, though connected with great difficulties and requiring considerable labor; we do not, however, expect to be able at the close of this year's operations to pronounce in favor of one certain Channel through the Coteau and Cascades Rapids, but shall most likely propose to leave this question open to be decided upon by the result of future operations. We have also the satisfaction to state that although we have not entirely avoided serious accidents, our arrangements have, however, proved efficient in preventing any of them from resulting in loss of life or in serious damage to the material employed. We have not yet received the powder from the Ordnance Department, and have thus been very much delayed in commencing our experimental blasting operations; we are, however, now informed that it is ready for shipping, and shall, as soon as it shall have been received, proceed to divide our party, one portion thereof to be employed at the experimental blastings, the other at an examination of the River from Prescott downwards; this latter operation would be very much facilitated and promoted if we could have a good map of the shore line to refer to, and we beg therefore to express the wish that the Department would be pleased to furnish us with such map or maps, or copies thereof, of that portion of the River, as it may possess.

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