PHILADELPHIA, January 17, 1792

.....I adress to you the inclosed statement of work intended with a summary of the expenses it will incur, from which you will easily conceive the motives of my inquietude particularly when you will observe.... at an hour so near when the work must be renewed, & from the foregoing considerations it is of the greatest importance not to engage in it but with powerful means.

Everything yet remains to be done for establishing a regular mode of proceeding- no adequate means of supply provided - no materials engaged proportional to the work to be effected, no measures taken to procure the necessary number of men to employ, the neiborhood of the city offering no kind of resources at least none to be depended on.

Assistance wanted must therefore come from a distance, the season already far advanced, the demand for such hands as might be procured, will increase in proportion as the winter passing will afford them employment at home, materials will be dearer when an indispensable necessity for them is known, & provisions more difficult to obtain - no time then being to be lost and a necessity of seeking additional funds to those at disposal - these are the considerations which lead me to demand your particular attention to the enclosed statement of work and estimates of expences, and sollicite your concurence to the expedient of a loan, which is offered from Holland - provided that one of more states of the Commissioners or any competent individuals or company, will be sponsors - this would at once secure a sufficient supply to engage with vigor, in the work intended for the year & continue the plan of operations with security to the end of the year 1796.

from the first moment I engaged in the business of hte city I have considered this as the only mode of supplying the demands for so great an undertaking which could give certainty to the plan.

when (submitting my opinion to you on the subject) I endeavored to extend the limits of the city beyond what had first been contemplated thereby to enlarge the public property therein, my object was not to secure an adequate supply from a sale of lots, which I ever view and reman confident will prove insufficient - but to obtain greater means of facilitating a loan on mortgage of part of the propety. lots may be morgaged in such situations as will never inerfere with the settlement of the city but rather determine it where most essential.

the difficulty now is how to bring the States of virginnia or maryland (or either of them) into the measure and obviate the doubts of procuring other security to the satisfaction of the loaner of the gross sum required - other expedients may be devised such as is proposed in the estimates, to secure at least sufficent supply for the years operations - until a meeting of the assembly of those states shall afford the means of effecting the loan; if assurance can be given that such loan will take place, on such assuance money may be obtained in advance - it is scarcely to be feared that difficulties should arise on the part of the States as the progress of the work will then afford them a stronger security, I cannot even imagine those States would have reejected the proposition at their last session had some pains been taken to demonstrate the benefit which must result - at any rate I am fully persuaded much good would have resulted from the attempt _____ would not even a competition of the advantages which my be made to lenders have insured them a small benefit without disbursement or any momentary inconvenience to the treasury by opening this adventurous spirit of the friends to the establishment and exciting associations to be formed on speculations tending to advance the object.

I must acknowledge that from the conviction of the propriety of adequate funds being established to secure a regular supply I rested satisfied that some exertions would have been made that way in the course of last season, your opinion having agreed with the foregoing idea -- I hoped the commissionaires would have been active in devising some mode at least to effect a momentary loan, their inattention to this doubtless proceeded from a misconception of the magnitude of the objects to pursue or as I observed on a former occasion from a depreciation of the improvements being carried on the grand scale I propose - their ideas that the means afforded by a sale of lots would be more than adequate to the objects prevented them from considering that any expedient for procuring money on loan is preferable to a sale under a present inconveniency, considering the different interest which may lead to depreciate them, this being too evident to need an further observation I only add that the greater progress is made in improvement the more will be enhanced the value of the public proptety greatly beyond the sum expended - a longer time being given to difuse proper knowledge of the undertaking in this and other countrys, much good will result from evincing to the world that the means of effecting the plan depend not on the mere uncertainlty of temporary supply from the sale of lots.

An inexhautible resource will be secured by postponing any large sales until the value is so enhanced as to render them adequate to supply new demands & gradually disengage the mortgaged property. This will not hinder the seculations of frindly individuals, or prevent purchases being made, an annel sale of few lots (however limitied in number) taking place will fullly answer the purpose of sepculators in the success of the establishment as in adition of public lots sold may be admitted some of the propreitors' lots, to increase the sale to such a number as the purchaser may desire.

This mode of proceeding by mutual sale would be doulby expedient and advantageous, by more effectually interesting the prorietors to raise the value of publick property thereby fixing a standart for the value of theirs, and by offering an opportunity of selling to advantage would induce those having large tracts to dispose of part of their property and enable them to improve such as they chose to reserve.

far from being injurious, a small sale of publick lots and the deareness of them will prove the most effectual means of defeating speculation unfriendly to the object, all sales at publick auction ought to be heigh as from this price estimations will be make of the remaining property, and a limited sale is the surest mode to raise the value by creating a competition, the object of a sale must not be so much to engage in the interest a greater number of individuals as to prompt and insure the settlements of those parts of the city which from the combination of the plan are best calculated to reflect a reciprocity & equality of advantages over the whole extent therefore the propriety of determining a plan of sale should be first duly considered

the best mode of engaging the interest of speculators to a spedy improvement will be a partial Sale of specially binding the purchaser to improve in a limited time on part of his purchase - and as an inducement offering the lots on the following terms - viz-

on a stipulated number of lots purchased give one to be built upon in a certain time to be commenced in a time specified, for the price of the remainder let it be at the lowest price of the latest publick sale in the nearest place of such purchase, leaving any further advantages that may be required to be determined by the importance of the establishment.

in case of a foreign nation agreeing to build a hotel for their minister - it would be proper to determine the situation and extent by the magnitude of the plan of construction intended - since in consequence of some overtures I ventured to make the ministers and residents here on that subject, the idea has been pleasing and some of them have already engaged to solicit the concurrence of their courts and I conceive that ground being given to them free would prove so advantageous to the enterprise that I cannot but wish you will soon determine on the mode most proper for enabling those gentlemen to apply officially to their respective courts, as an early acquiessance on their would most powerfully give confidence to foreigner desirous of purchasing and this together with a loan to be effected and proposed would most certainly decide a pursuit of those great engagements I have exerted every means in my power to encourage - but none of which will be commenced by Foreigner or even american associations, unless some shining progress is made in the grand work which the publick has to effect - the continuance of that progress evidently provided for, and the whole machine put in such motion as will convince the friends as well as enemies to its success that it will be accomplished in all parts proper to secure that superiority of advantage which the various local combinations & novelty of distribution is intended to procure to the new city over all other now existing-

full confident I am that you wish to see the whole business conducted with the economy which in great works consist more in a judicious employment of time & application of objects than in the little saving - where procuring a plentifulness of means may accelate the motion & being not less sensible that your wish is not confined barely to provide accommodationss for the government but extends to effect the whole establishment in a manner that shall reflect same to the american Empire __ Sir,

I shall close this letter recalling your attention to the enclosed papers requesting you will determine some permanent establishment for conducting the business & that you will direct the measures most expedienct to insure a proper suply

in contemplating this object it will be necessary to comprehend the magnitude of the work intended to reflect that it is not merely this or that object which are most necessary or ought to be undertaken first, but to considere that the objects intended have such relation with each other that they cannot be singly effected without great inconvenience and loss by a double handling of objects which a contraction of operation would make necessary. the reducing of a street being necessary to fill up other places worsing or walling here or there to contrbute to the advancement of the next, & so on _

to organize a machine so complicated & to insure regular action in all the parts demand coolness and Resolution - & as the means provided are so wholly inadequate, it becomes more interesting to preserve those resources the public property will afford, -

I am with respectful submission your must humble & most obedient servant, P.C. L'Enfant

Philadelphia, Januay 17, 1792

OPERATIONS Intended for the ensuing season in the FEDERAL CITY to which is added an estimate of the expenditure of one year proces & number of hands necessary.

17th a wheelwright shop must also be established to accomodate a proper number of hands - this and the carpenters are included in the return of number at the canal - for which there will be immediate and constant employment . proper sades for mixing & tempering mortar storing lime & c bin immediately wanted at each place where building is intended.

there will also [be] wanted shades for brickmakers & to protect the bricks from injury of weather shops also will be necessay for carpenter, & stone cutters employed in particular work & for other various purposes which must be spedely erected & will require a vast quantity of scantling plank & boards. a yard of which must be established to supply the constant demand for those articles.

The quantity of lumber that will be wanted is not possible to be stated at this early stage of the business but the magnitude of the objects that will employ that article & the immediate occasion there will be for it, in primary operations, require that contract should be formed to procure an immediate supply of any quantity as can be obtained -

to purchase so much of the wood as remain now standing within the limits of the ciy on the best terms the proprietors will agree to part with is very necessary - for though very little of that wood is poper for construction yet most of the straight trees will answer various purposes & being properly explored = firewood for burning brick, for cooking & other purposes will be secured, with every facility of preserving shades here & there were useful or ornamental. Should the proprietors be willing to part with the whole it would be econmic to purchase it - as it must be noticed that unless this is done, in all parts where work is carried on there will be constant occasion for logs-probs-levers & c.- and as often as this happens the impossibility of restraineng for cutting down the nearest trees answerable to immediate object will give occasion for captious proprietors to complain without possibility of giving them redress.

the experience of a few months in a work so extensive which will become more and more complicated too powerfuly evincing an impossibility of effecting it in strugling thro much difficulties as will constantly disappoint the best purposes while perseverance in the pursuit disregarding the little vexations of unjudicious will expose the undertaken -

it is necessary to place under the authority of one single director all those employed in the execution, to leave him the appointment or removal of them as he being answerable for the propriety of execution must be judge of their capacity and is the only one to whom they can with any propriety be subordinate - the exercise of any prepondering authority being in this repect to be restrained by the consideration that the good of the object to accomplish is only to be procured by trusting to the attention of one head who having a constant pursuit and the connection of those objects with the whole the plan to effect. P.C. L'Enfant

Estimate of the expence for men provisions & materials necessary for conducting the Operations in the federal city for the year 1792

36 Carpenters & 4 Foremen

36 Mason & 4 Foremen

23 Brickmakers & 2 Foremen

18 Stone cutters & 2 Foremen

4 Smiths & 1 Foremen

13 Foremen @ 24 pr mo. 3744

117 Mechanics ---- @12 --- 16848

10 teams of 4 oxen each and 29 teams of 3 horses each @30 ---- 14040

39 drivers at 10 Dolls -- 2 Masters at --- 20 ----- 5160

10 pit sawers ------- 10----1200

19 boatmen at 8 dolls 1 Master at ---- 15-----2004

17 overseers of the Labourers at 20------4080

1 Commissary at 30

2 assistants at ---------- 20 --------------- 840--------8124

849 Labourers at 7 --------------- 71316

Total of work----------------------119232

Subsistence for 1070 men @ 45 dolls yr ------48150

forage for 39 teams @ 30 dolls. mo. ----------14040

Materials Total of Subsistce--------------------62190

30,00 prch rough stone part contractd. 60 c -----18000

6000 pine logs for canal & warves @ 3 dolls.-------------18000

2000 hhds. Lime each 10 bushel @ 5 dolls.----1000----------46000

purchase of wood for various purposes------3000

boards, scantlings & c -------10000

for bellows anvils vices tools for Smiths and Iron steel grindstoness nails spikes etc---1000

cranes Gins screws capsins takles blocks cordage tools & instruments to be used at teh quarries and at the bridge wharfs --1200

2 buildings - for the quarry rent 10 yres ----66 2/3

for the quarry purchased of Mr. Brent-----6000

for cabins and houses erecting & to be erected--- 1000

Amount brout over for transporting the workmen oxen horses from the place they are engaged---2000

for 1 years provision for 50 familees of mechanics at 50 dollss----2500

to which families lots are to be given on consitions of building in certain time

furniture and utensils of cooking for people--100

provision for further supply of tools & impliments --2000

provisions for do. materials 5000

General provisions for contingencies----- 36811 1/3

Total Dolls 300000

In the above estimates no provision is made for the compensation, & subsistance of the following persons who ought to be placed on a permanent and fixed establishmnent - viz

1 Director General

2 assistant directors or Intendants, 1 Draftsman

1 Surveyor of he City - 1assistant surveyor

1 head carpenter - 1 head mason

as these two last must be men of eminence in their profession & the persons contemplated are in full employment in a large City a sufficient inducement must be presented them - The Commissioners being appointed in virtue of a law of Congress no reference is made to any provision for their compensation or immediate Officers, and the permanent lines being on the same principle that may also with propreity be charged to the United States-

Amount of funds estabished for erecting the Federal City

a Grant of Virginia ---- 130000

a Grant of Maryland-----70000

To this fund a Loan must be sought for 1,000,0000

this provision will be sufficient for 4 years Operations and the effect of this expenditure will enhance the Value of Lots to such degree that a more considerable Sale may commence for paying the interest and providing for future expence securing a sufficiency for commencing instalments to redeem the principal -- No account is made of any proceeds of Sales prior to that period as the claims of individuals for their land taken for publick use will much exceed any probably amo- of such Sales-

The preceeding Estimate of men provisions & Material is calculated from the nearest statement that can be made from the magnitude of the various important objects to engage in & pursue with activity and equal degree of dispatch and the price founde on the best data I could obtain - this statement cannot properly be reduced consistent with the importance of the work as it may here be noted that there is a necessity as well as an advantage in commencing each of the Objects at once - however as method and Sistem are absolutely necessary to be established in every branch of Employment - considering that the whole number of men wanted cannot be collected so soon as desired, in adition a wish to diminish as possible the necessary demand for other funds than those obtained - these considerations have induced to cconfine the requisitions for the present year to the smallest possible numbers as in the follog. Estimates leaving the increase of Numbers to be regulated by the state of funds as no inconveniency will result from increasing gradually a smaller to a greater number

Reduced Estimate

27 Carpenters including 3 foremen

18 Masons --- 2 foremen

18 Stone cutters --- 2 foremen

23 Bricklayers--- 2 forement

4 Smiths ---- 1 foreman

90 Mechanicks

20 Boatmen including 1 Master

20 Team Drivers & 1 Master

1 Commissary --- 2 deputies

7 Overseers of the Laboureres

360 Labourers

[total labor cost] 53244

10 teams of Oxen 4 each

10 teams horse

forage & provinder for 20 teams

Subsistence for 511 men

total subsistent 36949

NB

This is calculated from beef at 7 Dolls

Pork at 12 - flour at 4 - corn at 2 1/2

Spirit at 50c agalln and proported by the follog allownace

1lb beef or pork 1 lb flour 1/2 lb corn meal 1/2 pint spirit per day &

2 os. each chocolate sugar butter 4 oz Soap 1 lb Rice per week

[I have not copied the list of materials needed for