The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-11-14

AshHllle some mlSapprehensl0nS ot the es-
Inmates on which were based contracts for
the work in progress toward Columbia-so
far obscuring, | think, the subject that
possibly some may still be under the inn.
preston that the estimates were extrava-
giant, and the contracts entered into by
the Board equally so i, may be well TO state
that pains were taken to give all the ele-
ments on which the estimates were based
Chat in so doing we might per chance
disseminate, as was desirable, useful infor-
nation TO those interested in the subject
and especially to such as should in the fur
Their prosecution of the works compete for
contracts y that those estimates have stood
the ordeal OF critical analysis Of competent
Engineers, practically conyersant with
their profession } and what is most mate
rial, experience in the progress of the work
has fully satisfied me that they are not as
liberal as they should have been and were
intended to be; for much fear the con.
tractors will scarcely iii any case be more
than unidentified for their actual expenses,
to say nothing of what they are Justly en-
titled to-some compensation at least be-
yond their expenses.
The contract prices on the Hamburg
Rail Road having been cited Il suppose as
a Just criterlon,) | will merely state that
it is demonstrate that yard for yard, and
in every way that they can be compared
(tor the two structures are as dissimilar as
a ship and house, it has cost more than
the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston
Rail Road so far. The latter at any rate
does not exceed the cost of the former,
$1,000 per mile, graded as it IS for double
track (the former being graded to width
of but 3 feet for single track, and gen.
orally nearly coincident with the natural
surtace) while the l.. c. and c. r. X.
moreover IN its direction from Orange
burgh and across the Congaree River hes
transverse to the intervening ridges and
yallieS; including an expensive yiaduct
and much Missionary: Of the latter Of which
there is none on the Hamburg Rail Road.
1t is to be assumed therefore that so far as
the cost Of construction Of the l.. c. and
c. r. r. thus far may be Judged By com
parlson with that of the Hamburg Rail
Road land | add with that of any other
Rail Road ever built it viii not be dis.
paraged on the score Of cheapness and
economy and ultimate efficiency. Refer
ing to the last Annual Report for informa.
ton on the progress and condition of that
portion of il now under contract, | will
merely repeat that it is very practicable to
complete and put IN profitable use the whole
of it to Columbia within the next ensuing
year-and, as stated in my first Annual
Report, vigorous operations be perserver-
cd in | am sangulne in the belief they will
enable us to triumph over every obstacle,
and early as the year 1916, to celebrate
the entire completion Of this stupendous
enterprizc'-connecilng the Southern At
lantic sea board with the West without
reference to a Lexington, Louisville, or
any other place, but rather to whichever
may be its most eligible point on the Ohio
or the Mississippi river.
1t remains for me to add few words on
the much talked of expenditures of the En-
gineer Department. Unquestionably they
have been very large; but by no means
disproportlonate to our greatly extended
operations, beyond any similar which have
elsewhere been attempted in the same linn
/ tied period of time. For instance, in the
short space of the first six months prior TO
the lst Annual Meeting, two years since,
pvacfi cra tio,o by mr., , ~ ,,,,,, =,
mental surveys, were required, to deter
nine not only the practicablity of the
whole project, but the relative merits Of
various routes, which in their total modi-
fications amounted in the aggregate to
quite minute surveys for about 1000 miles
in extent This, Of course, required a
large force and an outlay for instruments
/ when the demand for them generally was
very great and their price proportlonaby
great,) beyond our future wants. A rigid
investigation, however, by committee Of
/ the Stockholders, attested the industry of
/ the several brigadcs, and the economy with
which the affairs Of the department have
been administered up to that time and ST.
llLlul testimony - pil ICLOiu nun IOlliIllt-
/ tees Of Directors, who from time to time
have, in the usual vigilance Of the Board,
been appointed with a similar design. In
fact am bound to state, that in no instance
has there been any one employed whose
services could adyantageousIy have been
dispensed with; that the greatest amount
Of duty compatible with its due discharge,
has uniformly been assigned to each; that
a compensation, pecuniarlIy, none has re-
ceiycd equivalent to the value Of services
rendered and lastly, that each and all
who have been employed in the service
have done their duty, to the entire salts
faction of the Chief Engineer, land | think
] am fully authorized to add, TO that Of our
late lamented President and of the, Board
Of Directors and that they may well be,
as they are, content TO be judged by their
tOorks, rather than any other testimonial
Of merit.
Appreciated, however, as all now in the
service Of the Company are, personally
and professionally, and reluctant as | am
to dissolve with either, even temporarily,
a connection such as has existed-a reor-
ganlzation of the Engineer Department,
on scale proportlonate to reduced ope-
a