Provision is made in the contracts, that no hydraulic masonry shall be laid up between the 15th of October and the 1st of April ; but the weather continuing mild, the importance of forwarding this part of the work, as far as possible, with safety, induced an extension of the date of suspension to the 8th of November aforesaid. It will be observed there is a much larger quantity of excavation or open cutting performed, than of any other description of work. This was owing, in a measure, to the pressure of the times, which brought forward a great number of laborers seeking employment and to meet this emergency, permission was given to proceed with this descrip- ;

many of these people as practicable might be employed, tion of labor, in order that as rather than confine the contractors to the more important mechanical operations, on which only a few, comparatively, could be engaged. The contractors have been urged to procure as much of the stone for the erection of the culverts, to be prepared during the winter, as practicable, in order that no delay may occur in their construction at the opening of the next season. That part of the work requiring no mortar, such as stone wall for foundation and protection, rock excavation, tunnelling, and earth embankment, will progress during the winter months without abatement.

The first and second divisions, which are included in the contracts made, embrace a line of aqueduct of 21 miles in length, and the Commissioners were only waiting for the possession of the land, then just adjudicated to them, extending to Harlem river, to put under contract so much of the third and fourth divisions, as should carry the aqueduct over that river.