Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-17

ro's he may have committed, should be disco
vered and made known, attended tie Enci-
neers and Commissioners who were required b,
the law of the last session Ia examine his work
through the line of his operations, and afforded
all the aid i'll his power in tlis investigation of
the objects. 10 which their attention. was direct>
eu. IL rests WITH them 10 approx e or condemn
FOR las own part, as regards the prices that
nave been paid, Inc considers il ,in,, lac n,y es
10 the Legislature, we'll as to himself 10 ax-
press his belief That the whole proii, made hy
contractors since lac has been liz office would
not make a" average oi five per cent. upon tie
actual cost; that there is no instance, Of extra
VACANT profits; and he is sorry To- add, that !,
large proportion Of those who have taken con-
tracts under liin, many Of them hard " orkino.
economical men, lave gone away fro,u the
wcriS, as pooh as they came To it.
In the alteration OF contracts, lie did bnf ex
crcisc a Sound discretion, winch lie conceived
hunsc!f clothed with, in some few cases where
Tie Contractors could not accomplish their Jobs
at HE contract prices, in consequence of I'M
seen diiHcuites; rather than institute suits
against them; make them pay their own money
ut the, had any to the company, as the price
of their n,scalculaiions, and thereby excite
alarm through the line, and intinitlate others
who might be disposed TO make contracts.
III he has committed errors in overcoming the
numerous difficulties which have presented
themselves, u" IS consoicd with the reflection
That Tie faculties Of his mind and the cncrr;os
OF ms body, have been diligently employed ncI,-
dcavoring 10 guard against them.
Ii is proper Ia inform the Legislature. that il,
contracting viii. captain Thomas NJ Rant,lnl,
for the land through which the canal passI7s N
his farm, the Commissioner secured to tIte
JAMES River Company the use of his uDnor troo-
stone Gnarrics, for the term of I5 wears MS will
appear by the contract III the Second Auditors
office. This was done with view 10 the con-
struction of locks into tide water, whcrcverit
shall be Thought advisable. Those quarrics
are immediately on tire canal
II may be also a proper subject Of enquiry.
whether the expense OF cutting the lateral canal
hp Iuckahoe creek, mentioned III tl.,, repur,
OF last year, i'll be justified by the prosnect OF
obtaining coal, in its neighborlood, Tie min
have not been extensively used, though some
persons are OF opinion, that co.,siLc rlble ca lies
ofcoai exist thcre. The line located was Ave
and a half miles i'm extent; and being on a level
with the line to Peasants Island, and, cJnsc-
quentiy requiring no locks, the expense was cs-
timatcd, by one of our sub-engincers at be-
tween thirty and forty thousand dollars.
III now only remains for your Commissioner
to say, that, 'y the expiration OF the term of his
appointment, the section of canal VI Inch lie has
been engaged on, will be SO near 10 lis accom-
r'IShnehi, thai the ices of both himself and
his engineer VIII no, be required for this ,b ec,
Those ii an engineer cannot be dispensed w:.
but II hc were vested with the powers ~ Com
missioner. ii would be all that is necessary.
lie bcgs leave therefore, to avail himself of .lis
occasion TO offer to Your honorable. briy his
grateful acknowledgements for the caniL,, nee
ou have rcP,sed III him; and his earnest pray
ers for your health and happiness. he cannot,
however, IN justice to his own feelings forbcar
10 bestow upon the young gentleman whom it
las been ms good fortune to select us his engi-
neeer, the tribute of his highest respect, for the
talents. the ZEAL the fidelity, and the unwcared
assiduity, which he has manifested in the dis
charge of all the arduous duties which have
been assigned 10 him. To his country, he owes
IT TO say, that Mr.. Robinson, in The humble
judgment of your Commissioners, is young
man of more than ordinary strength of mind,
and maturity ofjulgment. He looks with car
nest hope 10 the day, when his skill rs an en-
gincer, will secure TO him the confidence of his
native Stale,
With the most profound respect,
Your obcdient servant
RANDOLPH HARRISON,
Commissioner j. s. j. u. c. |
December 9Th, 1921.