Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-13
!. :. stockholders i. tie Alsraad. ia cana'.


tlneau NTH the Canal Board, of which was
DUCT sr This offer to the Board last elected,
memrS;cb Ne and Mr. Stewart obtained con-
by WIT .Sat thew were manifestly incompetent to,
trac' ' hos lost us one complete year of pro-
wnl1A and considerable money too, shall no.
gS;n the place that suits 1t. limpute no blame
u0e he two new members of that Board; they
s,s ~ not, believe, the previous facts regard
kne AR Martineau's various offers, which
ING Nc truly represented to you. Proceeding as
anaa''msed to you, | had prepared statement
g,r your view, on Tuesday last, of the different
81 ussrs of VIM. LIE Baron and his companies for
y "a Aoueduct. The unprecedented scene you
ssbed last Monday caused me to suspend pub
seation until have examined the records of
no Board; when doubt not to fully satisfy you
mai Mr.. Mason has grossly misrepresented my
conduct and my motives in regard TO VIM. LIE
parons offers. will not unless obliged in self
aeence interrupt the, proper business OF our
0syt meeting with my personal concerns
sooving that our interests, then to be consider
Al require cool deliberation If Mr.. Snow
ssa,s columns remain open to me, will not
,ose sight of my accuser, until you fully know
,Sbeber. and for what, deserve your censure;
~ if he deserves either, your farther conf
dence in your affairs.
now take leave to say, that if our Canal is
aver TO be finished, better plans of work will be
tho highest estimate ever named for that impor-
,,nt object will, it is now evident fall far short
lifts completion. The utterly useless expendi-
,are of money on the Railway project has ceas-
od INT whenever the accounts of the Engineer
Ssnartment may be examined, | believe it will
Sa tound the most expensive account, for the
work done under its guidance, that ever was
syhihited If the days work system is to be
nreferred still, to contract work, then expert
Io1~
ortbe work at Four Mile Greek, which consisted
ofremoyal of earth from the bank, before Mr..
Roach contracted for it, could be fairly meaSur-
Cd and set off against the actual cost thereof l
am convinced that it would show that we never
got for one days pay, two-thirds, if more than
esne.halfof one days work The steady sup
norter of Mr.. Mason, while thought he deserv-
"a il, supposing my confidence safely placed, /
told him, without reserve, what was said by
others and also whatever seemed to me to affect
the progress and the cost of our Canal. Early
in 1888. informed him that some persons
thought we did not intend to contract for the
Aoueduct; that our Engineers desired to ma
mage that work He told me it was not so; that
he had conversed with Mr.. Fairfax about it,
who disayowed, upon his honor any desire of
the kind This might be the case at that time;
although had held doubt on the subject, after
hearing Mr. Fairfax's opinion ofcontracts, it
satisfied me my doubt was not well founded.
But how does that part of our business now
stand2 We are left to guess by what we hear
Of that. Who does manage it? How came it
10 be so? Are the duties of that employment
within the limits stipulated and covered by sa-
larry? Are the Engineers to have extra pay for
itl Is it their interest to exert all possible en-
deavors to expedite the completion of the Canal?
Doth not their interests point TO the contrary2 /
doubt not their honor; their integrity may be
spotless3 they may use all possible exertion of
talents and industry but is it wise policy TO
place the principles Of any one, even as Engi-
neer at variance with his interest Can any
Engineer, however great his ability, indus
Try and integrity may be, attend to contracts
lOr all kinds of materials to be used, pro-
baby without a competent knowledge of their
quality; employ agents TO purchase timber at
distant places; obtain freights hither upon the
best terms; receive inspect cut, dress and fiji it
10 It's place of use by hireing workmen, up
on as good terms for US as if it was done by
contractor, who practically knows all parts OF
such business, and whose interest requires
proficiency and despatch in all the different
Branches of the labor necessary. Our Boards
and our Engineers may have dreamed all this
could be done. Those of you who are pracil-
cal men will think with me- that no Engineer in
the country can cope with contractor who
money or good credit, will purchase his mate
nals in the best markets, considering cost of
transportation, equally suitable for his Golfer
Jams, on better terms than any Engineer: for
ne knows the vaRe of money to him better; his
saarp-sighted interest will defend him against
ne deceptions of contractors for timber (of
winch We had notable example of gum IN
I s Of ,chite oak logs offered TO us at Foiy
Mis Creek,) or other materials; he viii employ
ae'most expert workmen, who wilrgVe him
We most labor for his money; which is his true
source of profit. Such a contractor as this
would, after faithfully performing his contract
100 make fair profit to himself and yet save
% Us as much more as has proSt would amount
=, oetwixt the cost of days work and his con-
aacI II composed. Contractors for materials,
VINO know the difference between bargaining
va. w,h Engineers and contractors for work, will
~ Sn Us differently: so may Engineers, who love to
Seep power and patronage in hand, if nothing
s %Ore attaches to it. But appeal to the prac-
S0di workmen among you TO confirm or com
s ssu,n what here state Many ofyou are prac-
ueal men--better informed on this subject than
os member, except one, of all our Boards, and
80 %our Engineers to boot write, for cautions
ss se, TO those of you whose pretensions to know
isuSe are, like my own, but of small account
~ you look 10 New YORK, to Pennsylvania, or