American Watchman

COMMUNICATED

Having observed some exaggerated accounts of the late Freshet in the Brandywine, I was induced to call on all the proprietors for an estimate of their losses. The range of inquiry was from my residence to the tide, a distance of about 5 miles, including all the sinuosities of the stream ; the fall in that distance being 120 feet. The annexed statement will be found as correct as the nature of the investigation would permit.

C. Kirk

C. Kirk 50
J. W. Maltby 100
W. Young & co. 1000
J. & T. Gilpin 15,000
E. I. Dupont 600
J. Shipley 300
V. & C. Duport 300
J. Bringhurst & co. 800
A. M'Call & co. 200
A. Cardon & co. 100
Brandywine Flour Mill dams 1500
J. D. Carter 400
S. Siddall & co. 1000
Total $21,350

PUBLIC BRIDGES.
Chain Bridge at Brandywine 3000
Wooden bridge at C. Kirk's 1500
Do. do. Smith's forge 200
Grand Total $26,050

Much of the loss sustained was in consequence of the soil of the roads being washed into the mill-races; this applies particularly to those whose course ran parallel with the roads. Some time will be required to put all the roads in order; filling them up with small stones will be the best mode of repairing them in order to resist future floods. Several of the establishments are in operation.

I have traced back from authentic record, all the extraordinary freshets in Brandywine from the beginning of the last century. Sept. 3, 1775, was the greatest rise at that period . August 6, 1795, Was two feet higher: August 13, 1795, was about equal to 1775; and November, 1805, about the same: February 21, 1822, about 3 feet higher than 1795, but local causes produced the extra rise at my mills; on the more spreading fiats or bottom land its rise did not exceed 18 or 20 inches above 1795, and three feet and a half above 1775.

CALEB KIRK.

2d mo. 28th 1822.