(Letter F.) Washington City April 1st 1836.
Messrs. S F Austin B T. Archer and W. H. Wharton Commissioners of
Texas.
Gentleman
In compliance with your two several letters of Instruction to me dated at
New Orleans January 21st and 22d ulto. I proceeded to New York, and
report the following as the result of my operations.
I found in the City of New York a Steam Boat called the Sandusky which
had been fitted for sea, and was for sale at $20,000. I employed a person
to take her out in the Bay that I might have an opportunity of fair
examination of her engine etc, and on trial discovered serious and insurmountable
objections to her engine, which was double geared, and not calculated to
work with safety in rough weather at sea. I then inquired for others, and
found the Steam Boat "Frank," about one year old of 170 Tons, draws 4 1/2
feet water, price $25,000, and will require an expenditure of about $3,000.
to prepare her for sea service. Her boiler is old, she has but little
furniture, and would not bear more than one nine pounder on her deck. I found
the "American Eagle," about the same size, a little deeper hold, with a new
engine, two years old, little furniture, a fast boat, rather stronger than the
"Frank," but would not bear a heavier armament, price $30,000 will require
about $2,500. to put in order for sea service. I also found the Steam Boat
"Constellation" for sale and can be purchased for $14,000. she is much
larger than either of the others, has large and powerful engine, and a great
deal of furniture, Her boilers were new last July, and good judges tell me
that her engine alone is worth more than the price of the boat. The hulk is
11 years old, but the builder tells me she was built of live oak and cedar at
his yard in 1825, and he believes the timber to be sound. She draws 5 1/2
feet of water, and it would require $10,000 or $12,000 to put her in good
order for sea service. In getting advice on the subject from persons who
are fully competent, I have been advised to purchase her, take out the
furniture and engine, and sell the old hulk, which would probably bring $2,000,
and build a new hulk expressly for sea navigation, and the purposes desired,
and she can then carry 5 eighteen pounders if necessary, It will take about
6 weeks to repair her, using the old hulk, and to build a new one would cost
$18,000 or $20,000, giving a large and complete Steam Ship for 35,000, at
the utmost, capable of carrying 600 passengers, if necessary. And this can
be completed in 60 days. The ship builders in New York have had much
trouble with their workmen recently and it would be better therefore to
build, or repair at Salem in Conn, or some Eastern port. I would be happy
to receive the instruction of the Commissioners in relation to the course I
am to pursue, and give me some discretionary powers on the subject— I
have employed an experienced Captain to aid me in my examinations, and
he has prepared a model for a new hulk, which can be used if thought proper
to build.
The Brig "Chanticleer" is a very superior coppered and copper fastened
vessel, for sale in the City of New York, built for the African Slave trade,
pierced for 14 guns, and can be got ready in 2 weeks, for sea. An
experienced and excellent man can be engaged to take command of her, and she
can be purchased, provisioned and got ready for sea for $20,000.
If the Commissioners should come to conclusion in favor of the
negociacion for the Milam Furtrading and Land Company, I would propose that
it be conditional with them, forthwith to advance the funds necessary to
purchase and fit out the "Chanticleer," and pay the expenses of fitting out the
308 men raised by Col. Macomb, and that I be authorized to send out the
same with all possible despatch— That they also be required to advance the
cash on my drafts of $20,000, and advance the additional sum necessary to
purchase the Steam Boat "Constellation," build a new hulk and fit her out,
with all possible dispatch, and I be authorized to attend to the execution of
the same. The contract can be executed by the Commissioners here, and
delivered me, to be delivered to the applicants of the Company, on their
acceptance of the terms, and Mr. Hall can receive a letter from the
Commissioners, stating their terms.
Allow me to say something in this communication, relative to my
compensation, for my services. In my first letter of instructions, it was left to be
determined on my arrival in Texas. Since that time it has occurred to me
that, it may occasion difficulty, as an express law must necessarily be enacted
for the purpose, and as it was my original suggestion to pursue this course,
and I did not anticipate the serious and unavoidable delays that have taken
place, I would now respectfully request, in order that these difficulties may
be obviated, that it be fixed by the Commissioners at once—
A. J. Yates.