_Sir_: Your communication in behalf of the citizens of Cumberland, remonstrating against the erection of bridges of wooden superstructures over Wills creek, &c., addressed to me under date of 6th instant, is received. The measure to which the citizens of Cumberland object, grows, of necessity, out of existing circumstances; and the bridges will have to be built in the manner and of the materials named in the instruction of the department to the superintendent of the road, or the new location to turn Wills hill must be abandoned. The people of Cumberland are doubtless aware that estimates were submitted to Congress last fall for funds sufficient to put up the structures in conformity with the law of Maryland, to which you refer; and it is hoped that they are also aware that these funds were reduced more than one-half in amount, and that the act appropriating the residue imposes the task of completing all the repairs on the whole road east of the Ohio, with the sum rendered available by it. You will perceive, sir, that there was no other course left to the department than to change the plan and system of repairs. The bridges which it is proposed to construct will, with care, last at least forty years. Very respectfully, &c., C. GRATIOT, Brig. Gen. and Chief Engineer. B. S. Pigman, Esq., Cumberland, Md. * * * * * EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ANNAPOLIS, September 10, 1834. _Sir_: By an act of the General Assembly, passed at December session, 1832, (of which, at your request, an authenticated copy was transmitted to you on the 29th day of March, 1833), the consent of this State was given to a change of the location of a part of the Cumberland or National Road within our limits, upon certain conditions; among which, "that a good and substantial stone bridge shall be made over the mill-race in the town of Cumberland, and over Wills creek at the place of crossing, and that substantial stone bridges or culverts shall be made wherever the same may respectively be necessary along the line of said road." By the same act, John Hoye and Meshach Frost, Esqrs., and the superintendent for the time being of the said road, appointed by the President of the United States, were appointed commissioners "to report the said National Road, when finished and repaired within the limits of this State, to the Governor and Council." A communication has been received from John Hoye, Esq., in which he states that "the War Department has now directed and contracted to have all the bridges on said new location built of wood."