[Sec]retaries of Treasury, War & State Navy Department 15. May 1800 The Secretary of the Navy has corresponded with the Commissioners of Washington, on the Subject of the pavement, or foot way, to be made under the direction of the heads of Departments. — But the Subject seems to be little understood in that quarter, that no useful information has been obtained from them — as will appear by the Papers herewith — There are great quantities and variety of Stone within 3 miles of the city on navigation — There is one kind, broad, thin and with joints so even, that they will require little or [224] no hammering — These Stone can be delive[red] along the Street to be paved at 8/4 - 10/ or at mo[st] p. perch — upon an average the Stone will [not] exceed 6 Inches in thickness, so that one perch of S[tone] will pave 16½ feet in length, and 3 feet in width[.] 2 Perch will pave 16½ feet, and of sufficient wi[dth] for the foot way — The cost of the Stone will [not] exceed four Dollars for 16½ feet in length — a[ll] other expenses, will hardly amount to as mu[ch] more. — If this calculation be tolera[bly] accurate, and it is probably [undecipherable] high enough, t[he] Street between the Presidents House and the Ca[pitol] being less than 500 Perches, will not cost 4000 D[ollars.] But if the cost should be 50 P^r Cent more, it w[ould] be cheaper than brick, and probably cheaper th[an] a pebble pavement — The Stone will always [be] worth its cost, and there will be nothing lost b[ut] the Labour — a foot way of Pebble and Sa[nd] would be disagreeable to walk upon — would fr[eeze,] [and] would not be dry in bad weather. — Believing therefore that a way made of the kin[d] of Stone contemplated, will not only be better, cheaper than any other — and as the work ought [to be] begun, the Secretary of the Navy has the honor t[o submit] for consideration a Draft of a Letter to the Commission[ers of] Washington. —