ALBERT GALLATIN.
Treasury Department, March 9th, 1813.
Sir: You will herewith receive the plot of the road as laid by the Commissioners from the 21st mile to Uniontown.
I approve of having a stone bridge across Little Youghiogheny, and the measures necessary to secure masons should be adopted, but the site cannot be fixed until you have examined whether any alterations in the course be practicable. In that respect I beg leave to refer you to my former letters. As soon as your examination of the ground has taken place, and the alterations you may have found practicable shall have been received and approved, public notice may be given inviting proposals to contract for completing the road as far as Big Yioughiogheny river; an additional appropriation of $140,000 having been made by Congress. You will therefore perceive that in every point of view your examination of the ground is the first object to attend to.
I have the honor to be, respectfully, sir,
Your obt. servant,
ALBERT GALLATIN.
D. Shriver, jr., Cumberland, Md.
Treasury Department, April 17th, 1813.
Sir: Your letter of the 3d inst. has been duly received. The principal object in finally fixing the course of the road is its permanency and durability without the necessity of perpetual and expensive repairs. To select, therefore, the best ground which that mountainous country will afford, avoiding, as far as practicable, cutting along the side of steep and long hills, always exposed to be washed away, appears to be one of first importance. The other considerations, subordinate to the selection of the best ground, but to be also attended to, are, the expense of making the road, the shortness of the distance and the accommodation (by intersecting lateral roads) of important settlements not on the line of the road.