In the course of the autumn, contracts were made for the ten sections of the first division which were before unlet, and for 27 sections of the second division, making an aggregate of 53 sections, which, with the dam, were to cost $2,823,691.

A change, too, was made, on the recommendation of the chief engineer, in the position of the dam in the Croton ; a place about 400 feet down the stream being supposed more suitable for the purpose. This change led to another in the structure, lessening

MEMOIR OF THE

materially the mason work of the dam. The contractors availed themselves of the alteration to abandon their contract, and, accordingly, this portion of the work was re-let for

$85,386, a saving over the first contract of $32,169. The difficulties interposed to the progress of the work by the opposition of the landholders on the route, and the alarming stories spread of the lawless disposition and practices of the laborers on the line, form a prominent subject of detail in this report, which

insists,however, and successfully, as it seems to us, that neither drunkenness, nor robberies, nor abuse nor insult of casual visitors, could be traced to these laborers.

Great delays, however, were occasioned by the slow process of appraising the lands, and the slower progress in confirming the awards by the Chancery Court and hence', it ;

frequently happened, that when contractors had erected shanties and other buildings, and brought their teams and materials on the line, they were unable to go to work, because