with William Lyles and Company to furnish "what rum might be necessary for the use of the hands employed by the company on the river" at the rate of two shillings per gallon.[1] For the winter 1786–7 the manager was directed to retain such a force as was deemed necessary at a monthly wage (from November 12 to April 12) of thirty-two shillings for common laborers, and forty shillings for "prime hands, with the usual ration except spirits, and with such reasonable allowance of spirits as the manager may from time to time think proper. . ."[2]
At a meeting of the directors January 3, 1787, the financial crisis was faced sternly. The funds were quite exhausted and work would have to be suspended unless the delinquent stockholders immediately advanced the assessment long overdue. It was determined to warn delinquents that unless advances were made within the next five months the legal recourse of reselling subscribed stock at auction would be
