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Document 24 –

Letter from William Gooding to G.W. Green Concerning the Canal’s Completion

February 9, 1848

Document 24 Click for larger image

Transcription                                          Canal Office                                          Lockport Feb. 9–1848 Mr. G. W. Green,                    Dear Sir,                                 The weather continues most delightful and now is the time to get the bal. of the materials which we require to finish up. Mr. Talcott has written you about some matters, but I am getting uneasy about Lock 14 and if, from present indications, you do not feel entirely certain that Hardy will have the timber all on the ground within ten days say to Grubb that he may have the job as his own proposal on condition that he will have the timber there and the quoins finished and in their places in three weeks from the time the notice is re- -ceived. Tell him that there is no time to be lost about the gates of the said Lock and he must work fast.     In fact I desire you to push every thing and if you are a good boy and do well perhaps there will be reduction of your pay. Seriously I think that you will find enough to do to occupy all your time.       I wish you would see, too, about the bridges on Secs. 148 & 154 and inform me how matters stand in relation to them. See Frost and say to him that every thing depends upon his finishing his work just as soon as practicable. I see nothing now to prevent opening the Canal by the first of April if he can be out of the way by the middle of March, so that we can fill up the gaps, take out bars &c. by that time. I say again push, push                                                       Truly Yours                                                                      Wm Gooding

George W. Green was the supervising engineer for the Western Division and he was based at Ottawa. William Gooding, located at Lockport, was the chief engineer for the entire project. Edward B. Talcott was Gooding’s main assistant. Hardy, Grubb, and Frost were contractors. Lock 14 was located at La Salle. Reference to Isaac Hardy also is found in document 17, document 18, and document 34.

By early February 1848 the push was on to see the job done. Legislation passed in 1843 stipulated that if the canal were not functioning within three years from the date the $1,600,000 loan had been fully subscribed to, then all canal property would revert from the trustees to the state. The loan had been fully engaged by May 27, 1845. May 27, 1848 then was the deadline date. The trustees had no desire to suffer the indignity of failing in their duty to the loan’s subscribers.

What specifically did William Gooding want G.W. Green to do?

What is a quoin?

What was the purpose of a lock?

Why was William Gooding pressing urgency?

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