[Killaly to Raasloff, 20 Jun 1854]

SIR,-I am to apologise for not having answered you former letter, but since my absence I have been so wholly engrossed with our Annual Report that I really have not had one moment.

I now beg to acknowledge it and yours of the 14th. I have directed the rope to be sent you.

With regard to the further examination of the Coteau Rapids, you speak of, nothing will be done, if anything doubtful is left.

The object is such that if it cannot be carried out thoroughly, nothing is done, but as we have spoken of, the object is if possible to accomplish a Channel suitable for a vessel drawing 10 feet to pass down in safety, for such, less breadth than 200 feet of a moderate straight course would not be considered ample, and now that the River is about to be opened to our American friends, the importance of it is becoming greater; should, however, it be found impracticable to obtain such, it will then be fixed positively what can be effected with certainty.

I need hardly point out to you how indispensably necessary it is that you should establish safe and permanent marks of reference at head of each rapids, with the view, not only of shewing, during the course of operations, how the levels at the heads may be affected by our operations, but which will serve also as permanent standards, by which the trade will be governed as to what depth they can carry down at the respective levels of the river, in high, middling or low water.

I would again merely repeat our desire that the duty you are now engaged in should be done most thoroughly.

Return to Home Port

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