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Letter from Jacob Fry and William Gooding to David Leavitt Concerning an Advanced Payment on a Contract

Canal Office
Lockport Sepr. 15-1845

David Leavitt Esqr.

Dear Sir,

We are informed by Mr. Hardy the contractor for Sections No. 195, 196 and 197, (the Steam boat Channel & basin at La Salle,) that he desires to draw upon you at ninety days for Twenty Five Hundred Dollars to aid in the purchase of goods for the use of his work. We hereby certify that he has a good force upon his job at present and probably has already done enough to entitle him to this amount of money and before the first estimate will greatly increase the amount. We have therefore no hesitation in saying that it would be perfectly safe to advance him this sum, (or accept the above specified draft,) and that with his authority to have the money retained from his estimate it would unquestionably be promptly met.

Verytruly yours,

Jacob Fry
Wm Gooding