Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-14

that u will least be necessary where the river i'm
T"gts on the hanks in the farms Of the Governor
ana Dr. Treat, which he supposes Cannot cost less
nan twelve thousand dollars, which sum is included
~ The estimates Ion finishing this section.
LIE annexed tables will shew, that
there was reported last year, TO have
been expended on the canal, between 4
the old locks and the western mouth
OF Tuckshoc creek, Ss8 GIG 81
1here has been expended on thi, Sec
ton, IA addition TO what was reported
r, sIyear, 10000 TO
There will he wanted 10 fence and gra.
vel The loving path OF this seciun, to
finish the dam, and for valuation Of
land, $4,000 90
Making aggregate sum for the
cost OF nine mica aud fiily-six
chains Of canal, Of SI47,4sO 81
Or, an average sum per mile, of Sl5,2co 90
Seven u''les and 50 chains OF this being
The uain line OF the canal, and one
nile I3 Chains being The length Of The
ieede, above the guard lock, as re-
ported Iasi year
There reported last wear 10 have
been expended, between Wickhaai's
bridge aud Maidrns Adyentdre, s455i3 4I
There has been expended on this Sec
iion, IN addition 10 what was reported
.,, last year. So eo5,77o a5
sectdn, tofence and gravel ITO tow
ing path, and for damages Of land, 85 coo 90
Making an aggregate, for compiet-
'ss 10 miles aud So / chains Of
cana', OF S339,3I8 CT
IT, Cr an average sum, per mile, Of SCI 800 40
The dam which Ellis the old canal at
the lower arch, rs so gone 30 decay,
that II must be renewed next sum-
mer, since patching and mcndius will
do no longer. II is difficult TO eliminate
its cost with precision, because Of ito
crooked direction and various height
al different places but, il is thought
unsafe 10 put % al less than IN 0nO nm
as 81 10 important, that this section or the canal
should he brought into operation soon as possible
ahd the Work at beaserdam, and the dams across
James river, cannot be attempted Until the spring or
sumner, when the creek ID not liable TO f,eo9en
ireshes, and the river shall fall 10 low water mark
ana become warm enough for tho hands employed
20 go into is respectfully suggested to the Iee;s-
'auio, 'hst 1t may be proper TO instruct the James
river company, To reserve AZ much H,osey as will
.eIse iof ms purpose, IN case there should be a
pI 1920 VI othc'ency IN INC appropriations for this
an! The mountain section.
" WIN he seen on reference to the amount cxpe nd.
on on Inc section TO Tuckaioe, that the sum repo,t
{" .'' year. az necessary TO flush il, independent of
gfaveihnR aud fencing, Tor which no esiin,aie was
maue; VIII not be materially deficient. On that I'm
ever rom W,ckliam's Bridge TO Maiden's Adyen.
,u,s, much larger sum is required than then
deemed necessary. The estimates have eener,lly |
proved adequate 10 those items Of expenditure which
were ascerfaned but u has been found necessary
70 resort to many expcdiens which were anticipated;
and Vt was thought, that good economy required The
syle tban was intended.
in addition to this the estimates for damages TO
anu were too low, IN consequence of The assessments
since Tue last report being higher than those made
beiore, which furnished the standard for our subse
que8t estimates and il will he necessary TO grayei
al least as Tar rs the highest coal mines and TO
nearly me whole OF tile towing path ; IL being EouaJ
that gates across The canal will not answer sha,,,
pose thai was expected.
The Commissioner, soliciious that the lie.
gislaiure should be fully informed in relation
TO the expenditure Of money upon the work
done under his management aud that whate-
yer errors be may have computed, should be
discovered and made known, attended the
Engineers and Commissioners who were re
quired by The la0 Of the last session 10 exam
Inc his york through The line Of his opera
tons and afforded all the aid in his power in
The Investigation ofthe objects, TO which their
attention was directed. 1t rests with them TO
approve or condemn. For his own part, as
regards the prices that have been paid, he
Considers IL duty he owes to the Lpgisla.
lure, as well as TO himself to express his be-
iief, that the whole profit mad. by contractors
since he has been in Office, would not make
an average OF five per cent. upon the actual
cost that there is no instance Of extravagapt
profits and he is sorry to add, that large
proportion of those who have taken contracts
under him, many ofthem hard working eco
nomical men, have gone away from the work,
as poor as rfley came TO il.
In the alteration Of contracts, he did but ex
erclse sound discretion, which he conceived
himself cioathed with in some few cases.
where the contractors could not accomplish
their jobs at the contract prices. in conse-
quence of unseen difficulties rather than in
sttute suits against them make them pay
their own money III they had sDy) to the
company, as the price Of their nscalcuiions.
and thereby excite alarm through the Iioe, and
intimidste others who might be disposed to
make contracts.
IL he has committed errors in overcoming
the numerous difficulties which have present
ed themselves, ha Is consoed with the refee.
ton, that the faculties Of his mind and the
energies Of his body, have been diligently EN-.
pleyst N endeavoriDg to guard against them.