to base a proper call for bids, and legally no funds out of which to pay for the advertisements for proposals. I have no doubt that the wisest course is to use the piers of the present Aqueduct Bridge, for which an alternate provision is made in the act. It is, however, owned by one corporation and leased to another for a long term of years. The lessee offers to sell for the price named in the act, but the lessor refuses to sell. The United States acquired some interest in the old bridge, whose effect and extent must be determined judicially, if ever settled, by an advance of $300,000 to the corporation of Alexandria in 1837, which sum was expended in completing the canal and bridge. Bids for the construction of an entirely new bridge have been called for, but the result is not yet reported to me. If no bid is accepted, it is my opinion that such additional legislation should be had as to authorize a judicial condemnation of the present Aqueduct Bridge, the claims to the amount of compensation awarded to be settled as may be provided, and the old piers to be used for the construction of the free bridge. In this way the equitable rights of the government and of all parties in interest can be protected, and the actually needless construction of new piers for a free bridge be avoided. The subject, however, requires a more extended consideration than can be given at this time, and the attention of Congress will probably be invited to it in a special communication. COWPENS MONUMENT. By the joint resolution of Congress approved May 26, 1880, the duty devolved upon the Secretary of War to cause to be made a bronze statue of General Daniel Morgan, the commander of the American forces at the battle of Cowpens, South Carolina, and to cause the same to be delivered, through the governor of that State, to the Cowpens Centennial Committee, in time to be placed in position upon the memorial column before the 17th day of January, 1881, the centennial anniversary of the battle. With the approval of the President, my predecessor selected Mr. J. Q. A. Ward, of New York City, as the artist to execute the statue, and a contract was entered into with him for the sum named in the law, $20,000. October 26, 1880, Mr. William A. Courtenay, the chairman of the Centennial Committee, advised Mr. Ward of the inability of the committee to complete the arrangements for unveiling the statue on January 17, 1881. To give the artist ample time to review his work carefully, the time for completion and delivery of the statue was extended until March 8, 1881. The statue was finished in bronze February 17, 1881, and, after inspection and acceptance, was shipped to Spartanburg, South Carolina. The chairman of the Cowpens Centennial Committee and the governor of South Carolina have certified that the statue was received in perfect order, and that the terms of the contract were fully complied with. MONUMENT AT YORKTOWN. The final report of the commission of artists selected by my predecessor to recommend a suitable design for the monument directed by the act approved June 7, 1880, to be erected at Yorktown, was received by me March 14, 1881, and at once submitted to the select committee of senators and members of the House of Representatives. The model was not received from the artists until May 26, and information of its arrival was on the same day given the committee. The select committee, on June 30, 1881, notified me of their approval and adoption of the design submitted, and immediate directions were given to proceed with its construction, so far as could be done within the short time remaining before the 19th day of October, 1881, the time fixed for the national celebration at Yorktown. The site was selected by the joint committee of Congress July 7, 1881. It was not possible to proceed further by October 19, 1881, than the laying of the corner-stone, and this had to be done without awaiting the approval of the title to the site selected. The corner-stone having been laid, as a part of the celebration, further work of construction has been suspended, awaiting the approval of the title to the land occupied and its cession by the State of Virginia. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, |