Elmore County Letter - Letter approving the contract to build a bridge across the river at Wetumpka ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ This file was contributed by: Jim Wilson August 6, 2014 This is a letter approving the contract to build a bridge across the river at Wetumpka. Although there is no genealogical info in the letter, it is important historically. Ithiel Town was a famous architect who designed and patented a new bridge design in 1820. After building several examples in North Carolina, he licensed others to build bridges in his design and amassed a considerable fortune. The letter below is apparently in reference to building the second bridge at Wetumpka. The letter was acquired by me at auction and is currently in my possession. Further information on Ithiel Town and his bridges can be found on Wikipedia and also at http://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu/people/P000032 Letter to: Seth Shine Esqr. Tuscaloosa, Alabama (1st page) I Ithiel Town, Architect & Bridge Engineer of the City & State of New York, do hereby authorize and empower Seth Shine of Cheraw, South Carolina, to sign my name with his own to a Contract for the erection of a Bridge, on my principle over the Coosa River at Wetumpka, and to make any such alterations or additions thereto, hereafter as may be necessary for a proper execution & completion of said Bridge in all respects; or also to take stock therein & to do all & every thing that properly belongs to the business, the same as I myself could do if present; and I also hereby sanctify all such acts with the President & Directors of the Wetumpka Bridge Company, as the s__ thing may hear entered into in my name, either signed with his own or with his name & that of any other person, to such Contract, so made either on the 22nd of November 1834 or afterwards. Witness my hand & seal this 17th day of January 1835. (Signed ) Ithiel Town. Witness: David Higgins To the President & Directors of the Wetumpka Bridge Co. State of Alabama. (2nd page) State of New York City of New York Be it known that on the day & date hereof, before me David Higgins Public Notary in & for the State of New York duly commissioned & sworn, dwelling in the City of New York. Personally appeared the within named Ithiel Town and acknowledged the within Power of Attorney by him subscribed to be his free act & deed. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Notorial Seal of Office at the City of New York this 17th January A. D. 1835. (Signed) David Higgins Pub. Not. (3rd page) New York. 17th Janry 1835 Seth Shing Esq. Dear Sir, I returned here only a few days ago, I found your letter enclosing a Contract for the Wetumpka Bridge & was in doubt whether you really meant that that I should send the power of Attorney to you, or to the President & Directors at Wetumpka, but I have finally thought it better to send it to you. I am every day expecting to receive a letter from you stating particularly as to the Tuscaloosa Bridge & its property & __ ___ it was possible. I think some of going to your neighborhood early this spring for as the field for building(?) there is now open wide, I think we should ___ all we possibly can in getting hold of all the good contracts possible. I wish to visit N. Orleans & shall probably go up the river to Madison, Indianapolis as I return, & I hear that there is a great field in Louisiana for bridging Contracts. Please answer this & state where you will be in March & April & if you ___ what routs I had better take. Also, where young Nicholas & his father now are & such other information as may occur to you. Wm. Dod called on me an evening ago & stated that he would write the next day that you might be here possibly this Spring. Respectfully Sir your obt. Servt. (signed) Ithiel Town