But in addition to the duty of furnishing an opinion of the feasibility and mode of constructing the tunnel, and of the propriety of opening this line of railway communication with the West, the commission was instituted to carry on and superintend a most important and difficult public work, involving the expenditure of several million dollars. Yet each of the gentlemen composing the board was engaged in other duties requiring substantially their whole time and attention. Under these circumstances their personal observance of the progress of the work could not be given to a degree satisfactory to the public, or essential to the interests of the State, and the responsibility of the operations came to devolve upon the engineer at the works, and the chairman of the commissioners in Boston. These irksome labors were discharged with diligent faithfulness, and as the event has proved with a physical suffering to one of them that has called forth a general expression of regret and sorrow. By chapter 214 of the Acts of 1863, the governor is authorized to draw his warrant on the treasurer for such sums as may be required, from time to time, by the commissioners, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of law for the completion of the tunnel and railroad. The commissioners under this enactment have made monthly requisitions upon the governor, transmitting at the same time vouchers for the expenses of the preceding month; and upon this information and requisition the warrants have been drawn. By the 293 chapter of the Acts of 1866, a general supervision of the work is vested in the governor and council, with power to "correct abuses, remedy defects, and impose and enforce requirements in such manner as the interests of the Commonwealth shall, in their judgment, require." As the commissioners exercise a delegated power, there would have been a manifest propriety in requiring of them, from time to time, a report upon the progress of the work, and of their own doings even under the Act 1863, so that the governor might have been more fully provided with information touching the necessity of the requisitions. But under the Act of 1866, it appears essential that the commissioners should report monthly to the governor and council the general plan of operations pursued, the progress of the work, and the manner and extent of their own superintendence of the same.