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I thought I'd put this up here so that anyone with a connection or any further
information could contact me. I'm trying to findout who Nicholas' parents were.
This article is from the Watertown Daily times.
(please excuse typos)
-----------------------------
Friday Jan. 7, 1955
Black River Harbor Work Began in 1837
Government Appropriations for Dredging Operations Near Dexter Not a New Policy
By MARION H. EVANS
Dexter, Jan.7--Letters in the possession of Miss Leila Savage of Dexter, dated over one
hundred years ago, indicate that the current interest in government appropriations for
dredging and harbor work in the Black river bay section is not a new topic.
The letters written to Nicholas Casler, give information concerning the piers which were
built along the north and south side of Black river near the Dexter marsh. The stone piers
were designed to prevent sediment from accumulating in the channel and hampering
navigation. The pier remains are sill visible during periods of low water.
Nicholas Casler, a great grandfather of Miss Savage and Fred J. Casler of Dexter, lived in
Limerick for many years. It would appear from the letters that he was an overseer on the
pier job and later a custondian of government supplies and equipment.
The date for the beginning of the project is uncertain, but the oldest documents in Miss
Savage's collection are dated 1838. J. E. Johnstn, agent for the United States,
certified that Nicholas casler had performed the services from Oct. 12. 1837 to February,
1838, at $17 per month, for which he was paid $79.33.
Pier construction evidently was completed by 1840, but timber from the project and
machinery were on hand for a longer time. In March, 1840, Johnston wrote to Mr. Casler,
"It will be necessary to take such measures for the preservation of the timeber in
the pond as the amount of money on hand will warrant." He closed his letter, "I
have no doubt that there will be an appropriation for our work. It is on the list
presented to congress by the secretary of war. No approriation, however, is to be expected
until the end of the session."
A letter to Mr. Casler dated May, 20, 1842, from Capt. A. Canfield of the topographical
engineers, reveals the status of supplies at that time. He wrote, "I find by the
inventory of Mr. Johnston that the amount of crib timber left by him was 111,040 feet. But
I cannot ascertain what other articles, tools etc. have been sold and what are now in your
charge. ---- I wish you therefore, to make out as soon as you can, a list of all the
articles on hand and to count carefully all the timber and to state the quantity and
condition at this time and to state as far as you can, how the losses have occurred. State
also, all you know repecting any of the property that has been loaned, borrowed or sold
and not paid for."
J.W. Judson, another U.S. agent, wrote a letter from Oswego in January, 1844, explaining
how he made an error in accounting and overpaid Mr. Casler $10. According to this record,,
Casler received $5 a month salary, presumably for careaker duties, and $1 per day for
extra services in measuring, securing and preserving timeber and for soundings. The letter
is concluded, "The prospects of an appropriation for harbors and rivers looks
brighter than ever this session. If you have followed the proceedings of congress, you
will have perceived that the weestern members are in the majority and are determined to
take care of themselves. In doing so, I hope they will not forget us."
Mr. Judson wrote again in November, 1844, that Colonel Abut, chief topographical engineer,
had authorized a small additional expenditure for the purpose of closing up the pass
through the south pier. Casler's proposal to do the work by contract was accepted. The
letter discussed provisions for navigation during the work, and stated "It will be
absolutely necessary to give the piers a fair trial if they would ever have a harbor at
Dexter."
Another letter of Dec. 23, 1844, inquires if Mr. Casler was able to complete the work of
closing the breach in the south pier, scheduled for Dec. 13 to 15. Mr. Judson feared that
a snow storm on that weekend might have prevented the work and asked to be ntified when it
was finished, so that he might inspect it.
Dredging a channel was a problem, then, as now. Aletter from Washington, D. C. , Dec. 18,
1845, from Major Turnbull of the topographical engineers, authorized Casler to sell to
Freeman and Company of Dexter, "government pine timber in the lumber yard at the
mouth of the river for $25 per thousand feet, cash." He stated in conclusion, It is
not the intention of the bureau to sacrifice this timber, but to use it at other works and
to expend it's value in dredging a channel through the bar at the mouth of Black
river, should a dredge be authorized for Lake Ontario."
Apparently there as no further works on the piers and the government equipment was being
disposed of by 1847. J. W. Judson, signing himself as superintendent of harbors, Lake
Ontario, wrote from Oswego on July 12, asking Casler to let Mr. Hooker have one of the
pile drivers. In a post script he said, "Please let me know what there is at Dexter
belongint ot the United States, it's condition and if saleable."