Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-03

"A.
july, 1885, for its completion, it seems to mo
reasonable that you should extend the time e..
conclusion of the work as much at leaS,
beyond the 4th July, 1885, as hath elanseS
since the first offers were put before Won
I'd. AS one of the Board which assented 70
the specified retention of 20 per cent. non
all payments earned by the contractors | thinE
was wrong. The subject was new to me-
supposed the Engineer made that condition as =
thing Of settled custom in such cases, and gave
il no consideration. Since that time observed
that the United States in the advertisement 70
oarding the Potomac Bridge, conditioned 70
retain 10 per cent; which | am told is their
practice in public works. Reflection upon this
subject resulted in thus understanding it:-Iftbe
contractor performs work in one year to tho
amount of 500, 900, upon which he clears 500
600. Ca thing not to be eapected JelecelI
then if you stop twenty per cent, or S2O,0Oo
YOU do not leave him one cent to cover his own
labor and expenses Of living. But if he does
not gain $4,000, then whatever his gain is def,
cient of that sum, with all his years labor and
expenses Of living, you take from his capital
thereby LAYING the ground for his failprs
10 prosecute the work duly, and put il in the dis
erection Of your Engineer, in case of disability
thus created by you, to declare the contract
void, probably to the ruin OF the CONTRACTOR
Should the strength OF his resources enable him
to sustain such heavy pressure, to 20 on with
the work, and to finish it in two years, the re-
suit of retaining 90 per cent. would, under The
most favorable aspect of the subject, place him
as your creditor to a heavy amount, about $40
| 600. including as part thereof, his own labor
and charges Of living, perhaps for family. two
entire wears; besides which, the interest of 500
| OOO earned and retained Tor the first years
work is clear loss TO him OF 5 200. The with.
drawal of Mr. Bartgy from the contract OF John
Martneau and himself with you, is fully accom-.
| ted for by that specification, ifhe was not def.
Gent in capital. do not state these matters for
| the contractor now TO make any stipulation IN
on place them before your notice in the be-
| lief that YOU will as men of business, give them
fair consideration; and, as regards the aen.
ton Of 20 per cent, that If the work shall beprC.
secuted with fairness and due industry youwiI
shew towards the contractors spirit Of liberal
confidence; thereby contributing, SO Ear as DC
per attention TO the interest of the COMPANY
| permits you, to their successful performance Of
| the great work in question. My earnest desire
to see this work in progress being well known %
you, will. | trust, be satisfactory excuse Tor
nv representations regarding il. The season
for work this year is rapidly passing away-he
time necessary for preparation ""ill, with be-
best eXertionS used, leave very ShOr. DeriJG for
profitable labor; which will be noSr 12"iouS
disadvantage to the contractor &C - pcs
| 7
cd opinion; but do apprehenG tina il ill be
nearly, If not quite impossible to inch Dcorc
the summer of 1886 what you purpCsed C 5e
done by the 9TH July 1885. I:. lie 9@Tol 90.
vises me that he will, upon notice from nc, i'm.
| mediately set out hither. The 1esd, o. volr
decision, if our offer be accepted, shall b. duly
forwarded TO him. remain, Respectfully, Gea.
temer, your obedient servant,
For William LIE Baron and sell,
JOSEPH MANDEVIL:.r,
Late on Tuesday evening heard by mere
! accident, that Mr.. Martineau was in town; ret
Mr. Mason had called Board at nine the layt
morning, TO giUe the contract TO Mr.. MdrtneQu.
his associate was not mentioned the info"na-
ton was given to another in conversation with.
! in nv hearing. Whether this call Of a Board
about twenty -four hours before the orderly meet
inc. was of the Presidents own will, or by con.
| sultation with other members could not fail 10
see in it the intent to give the contract &C Mr
| Martineau, as if no other offer was know Of
have never doubted such was the linen, aid
that Martineau g. Stewart, who had been Insuc-
cessful offerers before were then drawn cut or
the purpose of eluding the expected offe: rom
| LIE Baron and myself. If fit was so or not those
who deal as cunning men-and had seen en-.
ough of cunning at that Board--have no light
! to complain of suspicion as 10 meeting. StaId
at home the 18th, and gave my offer into he
| hand of Mr.. Mason at that called Board Had
not been committed to LIE Baron, feeling OF
contempt for such proceeding as | saw would
have caused me to avoid all further intercourse
with the Board upon that subject The result
was-the contract was awarded TO Martinear
& Stewart; the former not a reputed practical
man, and known, by his correspondence with
the Board, as without adequate means. The
latter, Mr.. Stewart professed no knowledge OF
the work to be done, ana known, TO part OF the
Board, as Of very limited capital. This prefer
ance was given to that offer, if it was really al
offer unsought, which cannot well believe, 70
the offer ollie Baron, whose talents, contracts
executed, and general character as workman
place him at the head Of his professoni whose
standing in society is equal to the best man al
the Board; and to myself as his company, whom
| the former Board, good or not good, considered
as sufficient surety for Mr. Martineau, who ha'
no means. No other remark OF mine Is necCS
sary. You can Judge the prudence ana llc
motive Of the preference given. did hereo,
fore say that the members of the late Boar
could not expect Martineau q Stewart 10 per
form the contract upon their own means tIaI-
they got forward at all, it must be by advance
from the Board, contrary to positive condilloI<
giving all profit, if any, to the contractors; u.
risk of loss, by failure, resting upon u.s. D an5
heard that money has been so advanced %i'J
~, bo, lo-r