The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-06-15
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
No. XVI.

TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
No XVI.
The committee have also reported, that I" 11460
aausket Stocts are estimated at IS cents each the
greatest portion Of sDhich only 10, some 49, {,
.feS0 II Gents 5000 pistol stocks are estimated
at II cents each, sphich COST 81 ana a ezv cents
each.'
In relation to the difference between the oriri.
nal cost OF the musket and pistol stocks, and the
prices OF those articles, estimated in the state
meht OF stock OH hand, when the subsequent ex-
pences or those articles were added have to
remark, that the observations which made above
respecting the cost of The iron on hand, will e.
quaily apply to the musket and pistol stocks: But
,he committee, in stating that the musket stocks
hau cost 10, some nineteen, and e4v t.renty- one
GEMS eaeh, have made another wful ATTEMPT
10 deceive. AS in their representation ofthe orr
shsi cost OF the iron SO in their representation
OF the original cost the musket & pistol stocks
their report is false, as the documents in the Au
ditor's office will prove. have said that the at
tempt was suiyal, because they must have exa-
mined the documents relative to the rausket
STOCKS, to have ascertained that some of them
were purchased at Is, some at 10, and few at
u cents each, and the same documents prove,
that several purchases of musket stocks were
made within the commonwealt at 25 cents each
o That thousands had been purchased al Phiiadel-
PIMA, for our arnlory, at IS cents each, exclusive
OF the additional exPences incurred in their trans
portation from thence to tue armory The same
documents also shew that eight cents each was
not the highest price given for pistol stocks, and
that o. cents was given for cutting them out of
the walnut plank alter it was purchased, although
the committee have stated that 81 cents was the
iuii cost OF each pistol stock.
the report further states" Your committee
beg leave TO select few instances, to show the
incorrectness OF the estimate made 1855 well
ded barrels are charged at 139 cents each in the
last annual report, they were estimated ut III
cents 2219 pistol barrels in different situations,
as stated 10 DC on hand, which are estimated from
~ TO 81 per cent. more, than the report of last
year" I viii here observe, that the COMMITTEES
were frequently informed of the circumstances
which caused the musket and pistol barrels to
cost more IN the year 1908, than in the preceding
year 1t was frequently mentioned TO them, that
having enlarged the proof charge of our barrels,
1t was necessary to give them additional thick
ness, to enable them 10 bear that charge; which
required more iron than was formerly used for
that purpose, and that the price of that article
was somewhat higher, to which was added a
small difference in the price of the labor employ
ed on barrels. But because the barrels had cost
% cents more in 1908 than in 1907, which is the
difference between the 139 and the ia cents
Does that SheS0 the incer1 Of the estimate
MADE =" Surely they might have known without
being told) that neither the price of labor, nor of
materials, is stationary, but that they and fall
according To circumstances. The committee
were also informed, that the pistol barrels were
formerly made of the sound and substantial parts
OF refused lnusket barrels, on which account the
pistol barrels cost considerably less than if they
mad peen welded for The purpose but the de- |
mand tor arms for the cavalry, induced the exc.
curve To direct the making Of greater number
OF pistols, than we could procure barrels for in
tnat way, ana we were unuer the necessity of ha- |
wing them welded for the purpose, which caused
them to cost considerably more than when they
we're made of the parts OF musket barrels. The /,
committee may have found AN interest in the ma
KING OF false statements but interest could |
have accrued to the officers Of that institution by
adopting such course.
J1e port further states" Your committee
are therefore induced to believe, that the conpo.
ent parts and materials OH hand, are estimated at
least % per cent. more than they are really
WORTH
Here then we see that the committee, instead |
OF hndng from an examination of documents, |
whether or not the component parts and materials
had really cost what had reported, hypotheti- |
caiiy state that they " induced 10 believe" that
the component parts and materials on hand are !
estimated al least Is per cent more Than .hey are
really worth. And accordingly, they nave, at !
random, estimated them at % per cent. less than |
their actual cost, in order 20 throw The balance |
OF their cost OH tAc muskets. They might with c |
quail prOPrIcty, have estimated them at so per ct.
or at any ouIer rates US at 2j, less than their cost
winch was an arbitrary and unjust valuation.
The report proceeds thus Your committee |
have not included in the foregoing estimate OF
disbursements, Tor the mandatory of arms, the |
expense necessary to keep the machinery in re. |
palr' which amounts TO S 1000 per annum---lfl
ulat should be deemed aproper charge, anu your |,
committee are correct in estimating tie materials
end component parts at Is per cent less than tie
statement Go the officers, then the account would |
stand thus
Nett sum oi disbursements as above
stated, = $50 600 Is
One fourth OF the estimate of mate.
rails aud component pars, 1Ig25
EAPeuce Of keeping the machinery
ia repair, 5000
171,123 SIS
-
Wh'c5 brings each musket made, 20 the sum