Commandant Thomas Dornin Letter 16 December 1856
Commandants Office
Navy Yard Gosport
December 16th 1856
Sir,
Referring to the Bureaus letter of the 2nd instant enclosing a copy of Mr. John Bonsal’s letter relative to the reservations due on his contract of Oct 18, 1852, the subject has been delayed until the return of the Civil Engineer from the Pensacola Yard by whom, having submitted the subject to him, I am informed that the facts set forth in Mr. Bonsal's letter are correct. By reference to the correspondence between this office and the Bureau in letters dated 14th June 1853 from the Commandant and June 16th from the Bureau in correspondence of the delay in obtaining timber for the Cellar floor the masonry was not then carried up higher than the first story. Mr. Bonsal was prepared to deliver the slate at the proper time, but was directed not to do so, as they would be liable to damage. He was then not called upon for slate until the latter part of 1854, and too late to provide it from the north, when the slate delivered under Contract with Cyrus Gault was used for no 14.
In view of these circumstances and that the slate is not now required my opinion is that Mr. Bonsall should be allowed the reservations claimed by him for lime and sea meant delivered by him viz. 1853.
Reservation
June 7th 450 casts lime @ $1.57 706.50 141.30
Sept 20th 300 lbs Cement @ $1.29 387.00 77.40
$218.70
The funds for materials procured in 1852 - 3 having long since been expanded or having been carried back into the Treasury. I would beg leave to suggest that as this material was used in the Magazine walls and building 14th. The reservation of $77.40 be paid from the “Repairs” at “Magazine” and $141.30 be paid from building 14 which being in excess a further appropriation has been asked and this reservation was included in the monthly returns of that object from this office.
I am Sir
Very Respectfully,
your obedient servant,
Thomas A. Dornin
Commandant
Comm Joseph Smith
Chief of the Bureau of Yards & Docks
Washington
Fort Norfolk Documents
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Source of Information
National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks
Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk
July 3 1855 - April 29 1857
Box No. 160, Entry 5