WASHINGTON, _December 27, 1832_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I beg leave to call the attention of Congress to the accompanying
reports--one from the engineer selected under the act of the 14th July
last to take charge of the survey of the bridge across the Potomac which
that act authorized the President to cause to be erected, and showing,
after a careful survey, the propriety of applying a part of the sum
appropriated to the repairing the old bridge; the other showing the
considerations which, in the opinion of the same engineer and that of
General Gratiot, should determine the choice between a superstructure of
wood and of iron on the same foundation of granite.
Concurring in the reasons stated by these officers for the preference of
the superstructure of wood, I have adopted it accordingly, and propose
to take the measures necessary for the execution of the work.
Previously, however, to inviting contracts for this purpose I deem it
advisable to submit the subject to Congress, in order that the necessary
appropriations may be supplied.