139 A^ IWIVI 003 A69 F 158 .8 .P7 U5 Copy 1 CALLENDER IRVINE. RELATIVE TO THE s PUBLIC BUILDIAXiS O.V THE SCHUYLlClLJ: 'vcrompanying a letter iVom the Secretary of War, re- , ceived the l5th of February, 1805. SiiperinteiK^anfs Office, PhiladdpJiia, \ Mh February, 1 80 j. S SIR, I have ihe honor to enclose you an estimate of the probable expense of finishing the South building on the Banks of Schuylkill, on a tiimilar plan with the North building, a ground plot of which accompanies the estimate ; but if this build- ing is to be occupied merely as a store house, a less sum will complete it than what is stated in the estimate, as plastering may, in the latter case, be dispensed with. I have examined the buildings on Schuylkill as particularly as the inclemency of the season will permit, and find that some alterations and ad- ditions will be indispensably requisite, in order to secure the public property, and buildings supposed to be already finished. The roofs of the east and west buildings, both of which contain great quan- tities of valuable property, are very leaky, so much so as to endanger the property contained in them, and must ultimately injure the buildings them- selves unless repaired. The amount required for th'.s purpose is embraced in the estimate — Mr. Jackson, who furnished the enclosed estimate, is ofo[)inion that the roofs leaking is in consequence of the heavy balustrades on them, and that it may be prevented without taking off the shingles. In order to prevent the water which falls from the buildings in time of heavy rains, sinking im- mediately down the cellar walls, in consequence of which the cellars that contain the salt petre, sul- phur, 8^c. are rendered damp, it will be necessary to ])ave round the buildings, and make gutters to carry the water entirely off the lot ; it will also be necessary to make gutters round the walls that form the shot beds, that are evidently receiving in- [urvfrom the water sinkinfi; down them. The south side of the wall enclosing the ma- gazine ought to be raised five or six feet, it is not now sufticiently higli to prevent ill disposed boys, or men, from climbing over, and the magazine from its low situation near the river, is rendered so damp as to make it necessary to open it every fine day, in order to prevent tlie powder receiving in- jury. There are a number of frame buildings novv^ occupied by the labourers at the arsenal, originally built for the accommodation of those who super- intended, as well as those who worked at the pub- lic buildings, which ought, in my opinion, to be removed ; they are so situated that if they were to take fire, (to which I conceive them extremely lia- ble) all the public property on the Schuylkill would be endangered. A shed to protect from the weather, cannon, particularly those mounted, is much wanted— the materials in those frame buddings I have just stat- V ^^,^ 5 cd ought to be removed, might be appropriated for this purpose, but this is not included in the esti- mate forwarded, nor is the raising the wall round the magazine, but I conceive them both necessary. It is absolutely necessary that the building should be enclosed by a fence or wall^ otherwise cannon shot, and such property as is not usually secured by lock, are liable to be injured or carried away by ill disposed persons. The stone foundation to the fence I contem- plate erecting round the lot is indispensable, from the ground being raised so much higher than it was in its natural state, the frost would Vv^ork out any thing made from wood, or even stone, unless the work is sunk at least two feet below the origi- nal foundation. I hope to furnish you with the inventory oi property on hand in a few days ; it would have accompanied this, but Mr. Ingles rendered his ac- count, stating merely the balance his books called for, I have returned him his papers to have an ac- count of the stores particularly stated he has been counting. The nitre, sulphur, lead, he. stored in the cellars at the arsenal fill them entirely, but there is room sufficient in the stores now built to contain all the property at present on hand. I am. Sir, with great respect, your most obedient servant, CALLENDEU IRVINE. General Henry Dearborn, Secretary of IVar, ESTIMATE ron COMPLEl ING THE SOUTH WING OF THE ARSENAL, THE BANK RIVER SCHUYLKILL. Ii?ennj3|)li)ania» Accuiiipaiiyiiif;- u letter fVoni the SccreUiry of Wan received the 15th of February, 1805. AN ESriMA TE for fnishiug the south 7viiio- of the arsenal en the banks of Schuylkill^ near Philadelphia : levelinq-, pnvi.'n^^y graveling, and regulating the zvhole lot ; erecting a fence round the same, and repairing the stores already kiiilt. THE SOUTH WING. This building is now ready for the i^round floor, and on a careful exam- ination, I find a quantity of the car- penters' •work is partly prepared. There is on hand some stuff, and sundry materials which will be of use, but in such a deranged state, that their positive value cannot be at this time justly ascertained; how- ever, taking all these things into consideration, I am of opinion that 14,786 dollars, will finish this build- ing in a manner similar to the north wing. Plaistering the first and se- cond story, and paving round the building - . - - 14,786 PAVING, GRAVELING, REGULA- TING THE LOT, &c. 834 feet curb stone, from road to west side of west buildinff ... 417 834 feet gutters, 1 foot wide, from ditto to ditto - 122 1392'feet gutters, 2 feet wide, west side of west building, to arsenal - - - 407 83 700 feet gutters, 4 feet wide, from the breast works down to the river - - 410 50 360 feet gutters, 1.^ foot wide on each side of the road leading down to the river 79 20 150 feet gutters, 2 feet wide, from east building to great road - - - - 43 56 1042 feet pavement, round three buildings, 5 feet wide 382 24 214 feet of pavement, 6] feet wide, from east corner of north building, to great road - - - 102 96 1908 feet of capping, for walls 1,441 Suppose for regulating the ground, graveling the roads "&c. - -' - 1,000 4,406 34 8 LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 003 169 139 4 ERECTING A FENCE ROUND THE WHOLE LOT. 850 feet of a stone wall, on an average 7 feet high, by 26 inches at the founcla- tion, and 18 inches at the top, for the supporting the shelving banks - - ],308 Digging the foundation for the wall - . . 50 850 feet of capping for this wall, of cedar plank - 442 2252 feet of a substantial post and rail fence of white oak, boarded upright, and the tops of the boards pointed, with a large gateway at the wharf, including all ma- terials - - , 1,020 -^ 2,820 REPAIRING THE STORES ALREA- DY BUILT. Repairs for the north wing, viz. Steps to go down to the cellar, painting the portico, and two iron doors for the fire proof room in the west wing Repairing the roofs of the east and west wings, which leak exceedingly - 800 104 60 904 60 Dollars, 22,916 94 Philadelphia, 4th Feb. 1805. Gen. Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War. Conservation Resource;* Lig-Free® Type I Ph 8.5, Buffered