17 First St.  Mar 18, '89
Rensselaer Polytech Institute. 
Troy, N.Y.

Theodore Cooper, C.E.
35 Broadway, New York
My dear Mr. Cooper:
When you first wrote to me about the Schenectedy bridge I wrote to Prof. Brown
of Union coll. and did not hear from him until today.  He sent me what appears
to be some kind of composition or thesis of a student which I have copied (except
a few lines) - blanks are found for some distances.  I did not know how much
you would use if any so sent you all of it nearly though some of it is worthless.
I think what he says about the bridge washed away explains that clause in the 
contract about "the bridge to be at site of bridge [?]" and also explains
the sentence you quoted to me about an earlier bridge perhaps.
The data I sent before were from the contract (original) and should take
precedence over any thing in this enclosure if they conflict I think.
Hoping that this may be of use I am
Yours sincerely,
Palmer C. Ricketts
Landreth a Civil Eng. at Selen - said hw would look up all he could for me
and I'll send any thing on if its of use - and not to late when it comes.
P.C.R.