W. C. DANIELL, Esq. Commissioner under the General Government for improving Savannah harbor, &e. SIR: I take this opportunity to inform you that, after mature reflection, I have concluded to decline entering into a contract to remove the bstructions in Savannah river, principally because the dams were not also assigned to me; the latter being a more tangible subject, susceptible of a pretty accurate calculation of its cost, would therefore confer safety on the contract, which, for the amount proposed, would authorize, encountering some risk in the other part, viz: removing the wrecks, &c. that, owing to the indefinite terms proposed, necessarily attaches to it. I am, sir, very respectfully, New York, August 23, 1827. To WM. C. DANIELL, Esq. Your obedient servant, JOHN MARTINEAU. Commissioner, charged with superintending the appropriation by the General Government for improving Savannah Harbor, by removing obstructions in Savannah river, and erecting a dam between Hutchinson's and Argyle and Hutchinson's and Fig islands. SIR: Having examined the obstructions in the river, usually denominated "The Wrecks," and the accumulations in their vicinity, I have formed an estimate of the probable expense of accomplishing the contemplated improvement. In conformity to the decision I have made, I will propose to remove the foregoing obstructions, as required by advertisement, for fifteen thousand dollars, in the time required. I am, with high respect, Savannah, May 24, 1827 Your obedient servant, J. MARTINEAU. SAVANNAH, May 25, 1827. DEAR SIR: As there is some contingency that may place the river contrast in other hands, in which event I shall claim compensation for services, the estimate that I put on services, is $ 500. I submit the matter, however, to your discretion, as to the amount that would be proper. Of course, if the contract (including all that is to be done) should be awarded to me, the would at once, extinguish this claim. If, from any circumstances whateve you would desire to communicate with me during my absence, please dieet to Amsterdam, Montgomery county, New York; such will afford me particular pleasure, and receive prompt attention. I am, very respectfully, WM. DANIELL, Esq. JOHN MARTINEAU. SAVANNAH, May 10th, 1830. MY DEAR SIR: In reply to your inquiry, as to my knowledge of the fact, whether the depth of water in the river "Savannah" has been increased by the operation of the dredging machine, under your direction, and also, as to the effect of damming up the water course between Fig and Hutchinson Islands, may have had in promoting such increase of water in the main channel of the river. Not willing to rely on my own observations, in relation to your inquiry, I have called on our Harbor Master, Jonathan Cooper, who, previous to his appointment to that office, was a packet master, for twenty years, in the trade between Charleston and this city; I enclose herein his testimony on the subject, which gives an increase of one foot of water as the result of the operations under your direction. At this moment I have no vessel in port to my address, but on the 25th April, ultimo, three ships to my address, passed at the same time, over the wrecks. The precise periods of their passing over the wrecks, was at least one hour previous to high water; their names and draught of water are as follows: Ship Julian, of Duxbury, Smith master, 13 feet 4 inches; ship Tamerlane, of Wiscasset, Johnson, master, 13 feet 9 inches; ship Minerva, of New York, Hussey, master, 13 feet 9 inches. The wind at South, being unfavorable to high tides. These vessels, before the commencement of your operations, would have required Spring tides at high water, to have passed without grounding. I have called on the following ship masters now in port for information as to the facts now under inquiry; namely: Robert Harding, ship Olive Branch, of Boston; C. Varnum, ship Georgia, of Savannah; both of whom having been in this trade, between Savannah and Liverpool, for fifteen years past. On the 28th April, ultimo, the ship Georgia come over the wrecks, drawing 13 feet 6 inches water, two and one half hours before the period of high water; the ship Olive Branch, drawing 14 10 inches (fourteen feet ten inches). on the 20th April, ultimo, came over and anchored at town one hour before the period of high water, and what is remarkable, this was at a period of neap tides. The British ship Cabotia, of Liverpool, came up on the 7th instant, drawing 13 feet 9 inches, and anchored at town, one and one half hours before high water. Captains Harding and Varnum are unanimous in their opinion, that no draught of that, like their vessels, above named, could formerly be brought over the wrecks, at least by one foot. You will remark that the three first cases that I have cited, as above detailed, are vessels outward bound; the three last are inward bound; it must be observed that, in all tide rivers, a greater draught of water can come in than can be generally carried out. I find the Pilots of our port are adverse to allowing that the depth of water is greater now than formerly; but their testimony must be taken with many grains of allowance for the infiuence of self interest. By the regulations of the Board of pilotage they are entitled to the sum of six dollars for dropping each ship from town over the wrecks, so that they may there complete loading; now, could the river be so much deepened as to admit vessels of the largest burthen to load entirely at town, they would be totally de prived of this increase of their income, which they now receive over and above the total amount of the pilotage from Savannah to sea: they are thus pecuniarily interested in keeping up the belief that there is no increase of water in our river, notwithstanding every testimony on the contrary that can be adduced I regret that you have called on me at a period when none of those ship masters, generally to my consignment, are in port; but I can. here bear testimony to their constant assurances to me of an increase of at least one foot of water more now over the wrecks, than formerly. To obtain such testimony it must be had when they are in port; awaiting their return, I can add no more on the subject. In relation to my own knowledge, I beg leave to add, that I have had a mark on the steps of the public dock, at the wharf opposite my counting room, which stands as a perpetual gauge, and I have noticed an increase of wat at all periods of tide, whether neaps or spring tides, of eight to twelve inches, higher now than previous to the commencement of the operations under your direction. I ascribe this rise, mainly, to the dam between Fig and Hutchinson Islands, because I have found latterly, as that barrier became more elevated and complete, that this rise was more decided and evident. I have resided here, as the consignee of ships, for the last twenty-five years, and have cleared at the custom house at least 25 to 30 ships per annum, of the largest class, and there is no improvement around us, that has been so desirable to have terminated with success as the deepening of our river, and I am happy to add that, as far as you have progressed, it has realized that hope; it may happen that your excavations may in the course of 8 or 10 years be filled up again and require the same operations to be repeated, but this apprehension cannot remove the fact of the present benefit of your labors being in existence at this period of time. Yours, respectfully, WM. DANIELL, Esq. WILLIAM GASTON. SAVANNAH, May 10th, 1830. The undersigned, Harbor Master of the Port of Savannah, hereby gives his testimony, that, since the working of the dredging machine on that part of the river of Savannah called the wrecks, under the direction of W. C. Daniell, Esq. the depth of water has been increased full one foot at all periods of the tides; vessels now pass drawing 14 to 15 feet water, before the highest period of flood tide, by one hour. A fact unknown before in the navigation of this river. JONATHAN COOPER, Harber Master. 1st Session. B. H. REEVES, G. O. SIBLEY, AND THOMAS MATHER. MAY 26, 1830. Read, and committed to the Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. Mr. WHITTLESEY, from the Committee of Claims, to which was referred the claim of B. H. Reeves, G. O. Sibley, and Thomas Mather, made the following REPORT: The Committee on Claims, to which was referred the claim of B. H. Reeves, G. C. Sibley, and Thomas Mather, report: That the Secretary of War addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Committeee of Ways and Means, accompanied by an account of the persons above named, on which there is said to be due $1,504 54, for which he requested an appropriation to be made. The chariman of that committee presented the account and the letter mentioned, to the House, and they were referred to this committee. The claimants were appointed by the President commissioners to lay out a road from the Western frontiers of Missouri to the confines of Mexico, under an act passed on the 3d of March, 1825. By the act $20,000 were appropriated to extinguish the Indian title to the land, or to purchase the right of way over which the road was to pass; and $10,000 for marking and constructing said road. Copies of the instructions, marked 1 and 2, are filed herewith, and made a part of this report. It appears that the instructions given to the commissioners by the Secretary of War were specific, positive, and definite, as to their duty, and as to the disbursement of the money. They were told that each expenditure must be kept within its appropriate object, and in no event exceeded; and that the expenditures must be arranged under their appropriate heads. The commissioners were informed that they would be entitled to receive $3 per day, when negotiating treaties, and $5 per day, when employed in laying out and making the road; and that, when they were acting in the two fold capacities, and were engaged in the two fold duties assigned to them, that they would be entitled to $8 per day, besides their expenses; but that they would be entitled to the per diem compensation mentioned, when discharging the separate duties. In the account presented, B. H. Reeves has charged for his personal services $3,600, G. C. Sibley $5,352, and Thos. Mather $2,360; but they do not state the number of days by either or all of them employed in this business; nor do they discriminate as to the services performed in one or the other capacity. It does not appear from the account that they arranged the expenditures under their appropriate heads, at the time they were made; but after the services were performed, and the expenses incurred, they have attempted to make a distribution, and have placed under the head of expenses for Indian negotiations $12,827 10, and for making the road, $18,677 44. They say they found it impracticable to keep the expenses separate, and to present the accounts as they were directed by the instructions. The purchase of the Indian rights fell short of the expense contemplated, while the construction of the road far exceeded it. Whether they are justified in diverting the fund from an object for which it was not wanted, and expending it for another object, the committee will not at present decide; but before they will recommend an appropriation to cover the expenses said to have been incurred over and above the appropriation, they require the vouchers of their account to be presented, and a particular statement of the number of days each was employed in the service, discriminating as to the particular service performed. The following resolution is submitted: Resolved, That the claimants are not entitled to relief, for the reasons assigned in this report, No. 1. Secretary of War to Messrs. Reeves, Sibley, and Menard, Commissioners, &c. &c. DEPARTMENT OF WAR, 16th March, 1825. GENTLEMEN: You are appointed, by the President of the United States, Commissioners, to carry into effect the objects contemplated by the act of Congress, authorizing the President to cause a road to be marked out from the Western frontier of Missouri to the confines of Mexico; a copy of which act is herewith enclosed for your information and government. Your commissions will be forwarded to you so soon as they are prepared by the Department of State. Two preliminary steps are required to be taken before you can proceed, definitively, to mark the road. First, the consent of the Indian tribes is to be procured: and second, an agreement is to be entered into between the United States and the Mexican Government for continuing the road from the boundary line of the United States to the frontier of New Mexico. Measures have been taken to confirm the latter, the result of which, it is hoped, will be ascertained in time, and if so, will be communicated to you on your arrival at the boundary line of the United States, so as to render any delay on your part unnecessary. But should any delay take place, you will proceed no further in the survey and marking the road than to the boundary line of the United States, until you are informed of the result of the agreement with Mexico. Your first step will be to enter into negotiations with the intervening Indian tribes, for their consent to the establishment and use of the road. For this object, as you will see by the act, twenty thousand dollars are appro priated. The method of assembling the tribes with a view to get their cosent, is left to your discretion; as is also the mode of compensation which you may adopt to obtain it. But in no case is the sum appropriated for this object to be exceeded. Your compensation as Commissioners in this branch of your service will be three dollars per day for each Commissioner, whilst actually engaged in holding the treaties, and five dollars per day for a Secretary, whom you are authorized to appoint; which compensa |