Leander Ransom Letter to Richard Howe Regarding Dam on Tuscarawas River

              [corresponds to page 1 of Leander Ransom Letter to Richard Howe Regarding Dam on Tuscarawas River] 
Akron 7th of March 1838 
Leander Ransom Esq. 
Dear Sir 
I have just discovered that I did not leave the 
survey of the ground for a dam across the Tuscarawas below Lock No. 5 near 
Massillon with you when I was at Columbus.  You spoke to me about it while 
there but I left and forgot to leave it.  I will enclose it, supposing you 
may wish to make some arrangements about it, while your Board is 
in session.  [mark] 
I am well satisfied, that if we introduce water into the canal 
on this level (which I have no doubt will be necessary of structure) that the cheapest 
and most Durable Method of doing it, will be to make a side cut up the 
River to a suitable point where the dam will not be more than three 
or four feet High.  the expenses of keeping up [inserted] such a dam would be far 
less, than to sustain one at the point where Mr. Duncan wishes to have 
it Built of the heighth of 8.30 ft. and such additional heighth as 
we may raise the Navarre Level to, in addition [in addition crossed out] 
The repair that the different superintendant has been engaged at 
during the winter has progressed very well and has been thus, C. Hawkins 
party has been removing 2 Large ships which Nearly shut the canal 
[word crossed out] above the 5 Mile Lock near [illegible], Ira Hawkins's party [illegible] embank 
ments in different places [and symbol] preparing timber to repair yellow [illegible] [and symbol] Furnace 
run dam [and symbol] Bridges.  John Howe's Party raising embankment 
below Lock No. 21 to guard against Highwater in River [and symbol] protectin 
=g sides of canal between quard Lock on summit Level [and symbol] Lake P. 
Molene [and symbol] Wm. Nieighbour parties raising embkt on Navarre Level 
with a View to raising the water in the canal [and] on that Level Wm. 
Moffetts party has been engaged in cutting off and repair 
=ing the Towing path Bank Back [from the canal crossed out] to give more 
[two words crossed out] width to canal [and symbol] with a view to remove the tim 
ber from Bottom of canal at the first Bridge below Newcastle 
Lock.  also preparing timber to rebuild Sugar creek Bridge