cient quantity of excellent stone for the proposed new work at that place. (See my reports for 1822 and 1827.) In respect to the navigation of the Red and the Arkansas rivers, and other means of communication with the proposed new posts, I have to observe, that the navigation of the Red river cannot be relied on until the great raft in that river is removed; which I apprehend cannot be accomplished without a much greater expense of time and money than has been latterly estimated. When the raft is removed, or when a canal is formed parallel to such part of the raft as cannot be removed, the Red river will then afford a safe navigation for small steamboats to Fort Towson, and, as it is believed, to the point to be fortified, for at least three or four months in the year, say from January to May or June. The navigation of the Arkansas river may be relied on for small steamboats during the same period of time, as high up, certainly, as Fort Gibson; and for nearly the same time, as high up that river as the proposed site of the new fort. For the present, and until the Red river is rendered navigable, I am of the opinion that the troops at Fort Towson, as well as those that may be stationed at the proposed new post on that river, should be supplied by the way of the Arkansas river to Fort Smith, and thence by land, about 120 miles, to Fort Towson, over a high section of country, for the most part dry and gravelly, and which will admit of as good a road as any part of Virginia or Maryland, for the same distance southwest or northwest of Washington city. A depot at Fort Gibson, or at the proposed new fort up the Arkansas river, with a road from thence to the new fort on Red river, would probably be the most certain and economical mode of supplying the last-mentioned post. All of which is submitted with due respect. EDMUND P. GAINES, Major General U. S. Army, commanding. To Major General A. MACOMB, HEADQUARTERS, WESTERN DIVISION.-A true copy: W. POTTER, A. D. C. AB. Ground plan of the Military Posts proposed by Major General Gaines to be erected on the Western frontier, for defence against Indians. A.-The outwork; a wall 16 feet above ground, 4 feet thick at bottom, gradually reduced to 2 feet at top, enclosing an area of 460 feet square. B.-Barracks; 444 feet long by 60 feet wide, 4 stories, 50 feet high. The basement story 16 feet; 2d story 13 feet; 3d story 11 feet; 4th story 10 feet. C.-Passage 12 feet wide, extending from one end of the barracks to the other, through the middle of the building. D.-Passage 12 feet wide, intersecting the barracks and other buildings at right angles. Barrack rooms 24 feet by 24; stables 24 feet by 48; powder magazine 30 feet by 36 feet. E. The flank defences to be two martello towers, at opposite angles, 4 stories high, corresponding in height with the barrack building, 30 feet diameter. Note 1st. The basement story walls of the towers to be 4 feet thick; 2d story 34 feet; 3d story 3 feet; 4th story 2 feet. 2d. The roof to be of thick sheet-lead, and not more than two degrees ascent. 3d. The basement story to have no outside doors or windows, but to have loop-holes large enough to admit air and light. 4th. The whole of the shutters of doors and windows to be secured against fire, by being covered outside with sheet iron. 5th. Passage-way of the barrack building to be covered with a stone arch. AB-Continued. Estimate of the cost of construction of a single fortified camp, as exhibited on the annexed plan, devised by General Gaines for the defence of the Western boundary of the United States. 1,780 feet long, 18 feet high, 3 feet thick 4,369 perches, at $2 50 per perch 1,780 feet lineal of hammered stone coping, at $2 per foot 2 large gates, at $200 each $10,922 50 3,560 00 400 00 $14,882 50 TWO TOWERS AT ANGLES. Masonry, &c. 1st story, 204 feet, 18 feet high, 4 feet thick, 2d story, 210 feet, 13 feet high, 34 feet thick, 3d story, 216 feet, 11 feet high, 3 feet thick, 4th story, 220 feet, 10 feet high, 24 feet thick, or 1,676 perches, at $2 50 per perch 230 feet lineal of hammered stone cornice, at $3 140 square yards of brick paving on basement story, at 25 cents per yard 1,043 square yards of rough plastering on inner walls, at 25 cents per yard Carpenters' work, &c. 54 squares of joist and rough flooring on three floors, at $6 per square 8 stairways, at $20 each 90 00 ESTIMATE AB-Continued. TWO TOWERS AT ANGLES.-Carpenters' work, &c.—Continued. 230 feet lineal of copper gutter, at 30 cents per foot 200 feet lineal copper down spout, at 60 cents per foot $69 00 120 00 90 00 18 squares of roof framing and sheathing, at $5 2 lightning rods, at $20 each BARRACKS. Masonry, &c. 1st story outer walls, 924 feet long, 18 feet high, 34 feet thick, 2d story outer walls, 928 feet long, 13 feet high, 3 feet thick, 3d story outer walls, 932 feet long, 11 feet high, 24 feet thick, 4th story outer walls, 936 feet long, 113 feet high, 2 feet thick, Interior passage walls, 888 X 18 X 3 Interior for arch walls, 28 cross walls, 4 cross walls, 128 X 24 X 11 Inside passage walls, 792 X 32 X 11 Extra for turning arches in passages Hammered stone work, window-sills, caps and jambs, 222 windows, at $25 each Do. do. 4 large doors, at $75 each 920 feet lineal of hammered stone cornice, at $2 25 per foot 1,780 square yards of brick paving on basement story, at 25 cents per yard 1,325 00 2,070 00 445 00 Plastering. 6,986 square yards rough plastering on walls of lower story, at 25 cents per yard Carpenters' work, &c. 665 squares of joist and flooring on 2d, 3d, and 4th floors, at $8 per square 141 squares of rough joist and flooring on pillars in 1st story, at $6 per square 256 squares of roof framing and sheathing, at $5 per square 256 squares of lead covering on roof, at $3 222 window-frames, sashes, and shutters, at $14 128 inner door-frames, architraves, &c., at $10 each 222 window-casings and architraves, at $4 12 flights of stairs, at $120 11,140 feet of plain base, at 124 cents per foot Walls 264 x 13 x 26,864 feet 312 perches, at $2 50 per perch 780 00 270 feet lineal of hammered stone cornice, at $1 50 per foot 405 00 120 feet of hammered stone caps, sills, and jambs for doors and windows, at $1 120 00 |