to be in danger, the wheels will find sufficient resistance from the posts, and the body of the carriage from the rails, to prevent its being thrown off the side road.

The plan that appears to give all the requisites for these guard-fences and posts, is to set posts about three and a half feet in the ground, charred or burnt on the surface to a coal, to guard against rot, distant seven feet from centre to centre, of five by eight inches square, surmounted by a rail of four by eight inches square, secured on the tops of the posts, at a height of four feet above ground, by a mortise and tenon pinned together; care being taken not to mortise through the rail to admit the weather, and thus hasten its decay; and the whole to be so much inclined outwards, that the hubs of the wheels will not injure the posts and rails. To effect this object, it will require, for that part of the road extending from Cumberland to the boundary line between Maryland and Pennsylvania, a length of 2,540 running rods of fencing on the whole distance of 34 miles in Maryland, which will cost at the rate of $2 59 per rod

For that part of the road between the Maryland line and the summit of Laurel hill, there will be required at length of

$6,578 60

And from thence to Monongahela

And from thence to Hillsborough

And from thence to Washington

And from thence to Alexandria

1,995 rods

Which will cost at the rate of $1 25 per rod, on an average of the whole distance of 81 miles, through the more expensive mountain district, as in Maryland and the more thickly settled parts of Fayette and Washington counties, making for the whole

For that part of the road between Alexandria, or the boundary line between Pennsylvania and Virginia, and Wheeling, there will be required a length of 440 rods of fencing, which will cost, on an average, at the rate of $2 33 per rod, making for the whole in Virginia To have this work done will require the superintendence of individuals on the different parts of the road. It may be estimated that thirty days' services of the four road commissioners, at their present rate of compensation, would effec:tually and faithfully accomplish the object, making 120 days' service at the rate of $4 per day Should the superintending engineer, who made the late repairs, be required to give his attention to the erection of this fencing, an additional sum will be necessary to cover his travelling expenses to and from the road-say three journeys, out and back, of 327 miles, between his present duties and Wheeling; making in all 1,962 miles at 10 cents per mile

For contingencies

Making a total expense of

9,887 50

1,025 20

480 00

196 20

404 24

$18,571 74

for erecting guard-fences on all parts of this road, 132 miles in length, needing such protection.

The more dangerous parts of the road would have been guarded by such a fence when the road was under repair, but, after applying the funds appropriated to the more important parts, and finding the amount available not sufficient to bring to a close the necessary bridge structure over Dunlap's creek, the whole of the fencing remains to this day unattended to; and in this condition was received by the commissioners of the several States through which it passes, under a condition imposed by the act making the last appropriation, that it should be received before any part of that appropriation was applied.

These commissioners have been unable to do any part of this fencing, from the amount of tolls collected being too limited to keep the face of the road in the order they could wish. During the past year the tolls collected amounted

The whole of which has been applied to the repair of the road, with the exception of a portion the commissioners in each State were compelled to apply to finishing the toll-houses and erecting the gates.

For the erection of these toll-houses and gates, I caused proposals to be invited through the public prints, and turned over to the commissioners the sum bid for their completion.

The building progressed during the period of the great fluctuation in prices of material and workmanship, and resulted in the inability of the commissioners to have them completed for the sum provided them from the appropriation; they, in consequence, had to take the tolls of the road to perfect this part of the work, to the following amounts: In Maryland, where one toll-house remains unfinished In Pennsylvania, (on account of five toll-houses, of which the sum of $250 is now due and pledged by the road commissioners from the tolls).

And in Virginia, on account of one toll-house

$175 00

1,103 26 150 00

$1,428 26

$20,000.00

Which, if added to the sum necessary to put up the guardfences, gives a total of that could be very advantageously applied to promote the public welfare and interest of a large portion of the people of the country. All of which is respectfully submitted by

RICHARD DELAFIELD,

Captain of Engineers.

Brig. Gen. CHARLES GRATIOT,

Chief Engineer.

2d Session.

War Dept.

PERSONS EMPLOYED, &c., INDIAN DEPARTMENT-1837.

LETTER

PROM

THE SECRETARY OF WAR,

Transmitting a statement of the Names of all Persons employed in the Indian Department during the year 1837, Compensation, &c.

JANUARY 30, 1838.

Read, and laid upon the table.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
January 29, 1838.

SIR In compliance with one of the requirements of the 13th section of the act of 30th June, 1834, organizing the Indian department, I have the honor herewith to transmit a communication from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, accompanied by a statement of all persons employed in that branch of the public service during the year 1837.

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

Hon. JAMES K. POLK,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

J. R. POINSETT.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Office Indian Affairs, January 29, 1838.

SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit a statement, in duplicate, containing the names, dates of appointment, and pay of all persons at any time employed in the service of the Indian department during the year 1837, in compliance with one of the requirements of the 13th section of the act of 30th June, 1834, entitled "An act to provide for the organization of the department of Indian affairs."

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
C. A. HARRIS,

Hon. J. R. POINSETT,

Secretary of War.

Commissioner.