Box 1, Folder 5: Diaries 1827-1828

1971] The Journals of Increase Allen Lapham 203

panied [p. 21] by thunder, lightning rain & hail. Thus it appears that twice this month we have had hail storms accompanied by lightning which seams to favor the opinion lately published that hail is caused by highly Elect[r]ical states of the atmosphere in the "region of the clouds."

Sunday April 27. Not much occurred I stayed in my room all day reading the book I got yesterday principally.

April 28. I worked a little on the canal this forenoon; in the afternoon; I received a letter from Pazzi and stayed in my room nearly all the time. [p. 22] William brought in an Ofrum triphilum in flower.

Tuesday April 29, 1828. I worked on the canal most of the time today; and we laid out the curve at the lower end of the canal.

April 30. Mr. Thomas H. Tailor⁵³ gave us a few days since a small lizard which he seed was taken on the Knobs where it climbs trees with agility and activity.

Lacerta. Colour various and beautiful, red, green, black, white, and yellow; two r[o]wes of long traverse spots extend along the sides of the back; they are black & white; beneath yellowish beneath [p. 23] each cheek a spot of green; sides of a lighter colure than the back spotted with black; feet formed for climbing five toes; toes long, slender, tipped with a sharp claw turned downwards. Hinder legs large; tail long cylindrical tapering nearly to a point; scaly; scales with a ridge runing through the middle and projecting backwards like a spine, and give the animal the appearance of being lines, more conspicuous on the tail, scales on the head with the ridge; mouth wide sett with minute teeth; tongue fleshy; nostrils small, oval, and opening backwards. [p. 24] Breadth of body in widest place, 9/10 inch. Length of tail, 4 inch. Length of body, 2 inch. Length of head, 1 inch. Total length, 7 inch.

We preserve the animal in whiskey. [Note at bottom: Deposited in the Western Museum Cincinnati, O.]⁷⁵

In the forenoon I done some business on the canal and in the Afternoon I; "Darius" and William [Lapham] went into the woods south west with Mr. Victor's [Audubon's] gun and killed 4 birds one of them was a black bird ( [blank in MSS.] ) and one the "yellow shanks snipe" (Scolopax flavipes). The two others were small blue birds. We found three new plants in flower viz Actoce americanan. [p. 25] a alba Chelidonium majus, & Diamorpha pusilla, Nut. [Nutall]⁴² We saw 4 ducks but could not kill any.

May 1, 1828. Thursday. I went up the line of the canal this morning to get the time lists from the different bosses and spent the afternoon in copying them into our rolls.

204 The Filson Club History Quarterly [Vol. 45

May 2. I was all the forenoon employed in Mr. Henry's room copying his reports est[i]mate order &c. In the afternoon I was at work on the canal when we were not interrupted by rain.

May 3. Darius & myself went to Louisville this forenoon to deliver my meteorological [p. 26] table to the printer, and to do other little arents. Mr. Goodwin, Secretary, will subscribe for Silliman's Journal and Mr. Penn's Clerk thinks that Mr. Penn will also subscribe. In the afternoon there was nothing to do on the canal and I spent my time in my room. We borrowed of Mr. Goodwin while we were at Louisville the "Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society."

Sunday May 4. A very hot day thermometer above 90°. I stayed in my room nearly all day. We found out the name today of a small plant which grows very plentifully on the commons about here, it is Thlaspi Bursapastoris. [p. 27] It is one of the plants mentioned as commencing to flower on the 7th of March in this journal.

Pazzi has left his master at Newark and gone to Cincinnati where he is engaged with another printer.

Monday May 5. In the forenoon Darius and myself went and staked out the curve on the south side of the Canal at the request of Mr. Henry. In the afternoon I went up the canal with Mr. Henry & Mr. N. Berthoud Esqr. When we got to where the turnpike crosses the Canal there came up a storm and by the time we were in the highest Shanti the wind began to blow [p. 28] from S.W. with such violence as to nearly blow it over; this blast continued but a few minutes but it was sufficiently strong to take up by the Roots several sycamore’s.

Tuesday May 6. This morning I went to Louisville and lent to Mr. Goodwin Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains; and formed an acquaintance with Mr. Penn, who will subscribe for the Journal. In the afternoon I was at work on the canal with Mr. Henry Engr.

May 7. In the forenoon there was nothing to do on the canal: in the afternoon [p. 29] I went to Louisville on business for the canal.

Thursday May 8. In the forenoon I collected the time lists from the different Bosses on the canal. In the afternoon I commenced work on a plan of the Bridge f[o]r Mr. Sayre⁷⁶ who arrived here a few days ago.

Capt. Basal Hall⁵⁹ is said to be at Louisville!

May 9. We finished our reports in a hurry this morning in order that the board might meet before dinner today this is to give Mr. Berthoud leisure [p. 30] to wait on Capt. Hall who is to dine with him today.

After finishing the reports I went to Louisville to present Fathers bill for making patterns for Iron Gates.

1971] The Journals of Increase Allen Lapham 205

Saturday May 10. There was no work to be done on the canal today: Darius & myself intended to go to Knob Creek but the steam Boat belonging to the Canal Company did not arrive until almost night and as there was much appearance of rain we did not go. Darius wrote to David Thomas. I wrote to Mr. Alfred Barrett a few days ago. [p. 31]

Sunday May 11. It rained in the night and during the day towards Evening the wind changed from S.E. to S.W. when it commenced to thunder & lighting with heavy rain. High wind all day. In consequence of the above state of the weather I stayed in my room all this day reading the Archaeologia Americana, or Transaction of the American Antiquarian Society vol. 1, 1820, Worcester Mass.

Father wrote a letter today to Mr. Henry, Engr. concerning the patterns.

May 12. The was no work to do on the [p. 32] canal today. We went into the woods in the afternoon and found two or three new plants.

Tuesday May 13. In the forenoon I worked on a plan of a lock. In the afternoon I done a little work on the canal and then went to Louisville to see Father start for Ohio; where he is to get into some kind of business or other on the canal, if possible. He will also get some hands for the canal if he can; for which they pay him one dollar for [p. 33] each man. Mr. Goodwin let Mr. Basal Hall have my last No. of Silliman's Journal which he had not seen before.

May 14. Basal Hall left here for St Louis this day. I went to Louisville after Dinner to get a paper for Mr. Henry. In the forenoon I worked on the canal. Mr. Henry gave ma a piece of very fine white clay from Green river Ky.

May 15. I promise to pay to I. A. Lapham identically the sum of no dollars and sense! Peter Nomoney Esqr. [p. 34] I worked on the canal nearly all the time today. Canvass White⁷⁷ the celebrated Engineer together with several others of the stock holders arrived from Philadelphia.

May 16. I was in Mr. Henry's room all the forenoon; In the afternoon I was in My Own room. Mr. White is likely to blow up the Boiler Iron gate.⁶⁷

May 17. Saturday. Not Much occurred. I worked part of the time on a plan of a Lock of 8 feet lift. [p. 35]

18th May. Sunday. I stayed in my room nearly all day.

19, May 1828. Mr. C White Mr. Henry & Myself commenced taking levels on the Earth and rock today, to ascertain the quantity of each remaining to be excavated which be found to be of Earth [blank in MMS.] cubic yards and {blank in MSS.] cubic yds. of Rock.

206 The Filson Club History Quarterly [Vol. 45

20th May 1828. We completed the levels commenced yesterday about Noon; after dinner Mr. Henry Went to Louisville & I commenced Darwing a plan of the Locks and bridge for Mr. C. White.

May 21. I completed the above plan about noon. [p. 36] and then went to Louisville to Present it to Mr. White which Mr. Henry Did for me. I sold a plan belonging to the Directors, for $5.00, and I am now to draw another for them.

May 22. I got the time lists from the different bosses and fixed the rolls before Dinner; at Noon Mr. Henry brought in an old plan of the wo[o]den gate and a map of the upper end of the canal which I was requested to copy them within 2 hours for Mr. White.

May 23 Thursday. Mr. White left here for Ohio [p. 37] this morning. After doing the writing in the office in the forenoon I worked on the canal the rest of the day.

May 24 Saturday. Mr. White wants a table of the number of cubic yards in this canal for different Heights & I commenced working on it this morning. Darius wrote to J Dougless⁷⁸ of Indianapolis & to Father. I wrote to Pazzi.

May 25 Sunday. I stayed in my room all day this day.

May 26. I worked on the canal with Mr. Deteste today. [p. 38]

May 27. Tuesday. I worked on the canal in the afternoon; the rest of the day was spent in calculating the table of Excavation. Mr. Henry has a cousin here who is on his way to the Fever river Lead Mines and who agrees to send a box of specimens of minerals to Mr. Henry for Me.

May 28. I worked on my table & watched the Steam boat Triton.

May 29. I went up the canal to get the time lists &c.

Darius went to knob creek [p.39] with a Mr. Henry, Goodwin & Mr. Huit,⁷⁹ from Philadelphia, he got very few specimens, one a callcareous micrustation on the surface of the rock.

Friday May 30. After copying the reports on the forenoon I went to Louisville to present them to the board. I had an interview with Capt. Basal Hall R.N.F.R.S. while I was there he showed me the Cammera Lucida and explained the mode of using it &c.⁸⁰ He said he was very much pleased with my article in Silliman’s Journal particularly the Geological part. [p. 40] He left Louisville this afternoon for up the River in the Steam boat Clinton.

The river is now so high that the Contractors find it necessary to build Dams at each end of the canal. Datura Stramonium commenced flowering.

1971] The Journals of Increase Allen Lapham 207

Saturday May 31. I worked on the canal at the Bridge this forenoon; in the afternoon I worked on the table.

Sunday June 1, 1828. In consequence of the high water in the river I had some leveling to do today. I spent the rest of the time in my room writing canal memorandums or wondering about [p. 41] the fields in search of the cow.

Numerous curiosities are found as the work on the canal descends into the blue alluvial earth in the canal. [Remainder of this paragraph was later crossed out.] A brick bat having all the appearance of a modern brick was found near the rock accompanied by a piece of flat cast Iron [note above: A mistake] about one inch thick and three inches by four. This Iron had been partially melted. Mr. Henry thinks they were left there by that ancient people who built the numerous mounds in the western country! The fact on which he founds his opinion is this; that it requires more science and skill in the art of making brick then that of making iron, and that [p.42] our present aborigines do not understand the art of making brick.

There were also found near the surface of the rock in the blue earth part of three human skulls near the same were the bones of two dogs (Canus) several deer's bones. Three or four Indian instruments of bone and a stone axe broken, & what appeared to be the up part of the skull of some animal unknown to me. The scull bone or nut cracker of the perch and if not now extinct it is not very frequent. There were two found. They have the general contour of the upper part of a large bull frog's head (Rana) at the place where the eyes should be there are horns projecting about 1/2 inch, but probably were much longer as they have the appearance of having been broken off, the under surface which would correspond [p. 43] to the roof of the mouth, is indented with numerous small holes about 1/8 of an inch in diameter, in one of these bones those cavities were filled with small beads which have a small hole in one end and goes about half through, the beads are cylindrical the bone is solid, it has a seam through the middle Longitudinally the seam is straight on the front part but on the top it is beautifully serrated. Probably the bone of some animal which the Indians had worked into an ornament. (D. L.) These last were found a small distance above the angle near Shippingsport; the brick & Iron were found directly under where the turnpike bridge crosses the canal. [p. 44]

Monday June 2, 1828. I worked on the table of excavation nearly all the time today.

The river is now 20 feet deep in the guard lock and rising.

June 3. I finished the table this morning and Mr. Henry started it off to Mr. White. In the afternoon I went to Louisville with Darius.