Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-01-03

HD0Vt, NM TOM
have their forces taken from them and removed TO
ansther Part of the line. In the latter part Of The
year. greater uan,h-r Of contractors we're out OF
EMPLOY mcnt. the sicky season no longer constituted
any ohjscton he excessive failure 9th corn crops
nov caused earring 10 be less sought after Than
wheeling jots. and the operations ON the lower level
advancing to completion, under'akers were no lon
ger IN dread Of transfer OF their hands 10 the
lower part Of the line but. on the contrary,
chcsrsd ny the prospect Of an accession OF force
from the crowd Of lsborers about to be discharged
from the company's service.
Ursn the subject Of the upper division Of the canal
II only remains 10 be added, that difficulty Is ar
pretended in the speedy disposition OF the small
remnant OF work still TO let; that the Bearerdam
aqueduct is OF danger the piers being above
The reach Of the winters floods, and that there Is
nothing 10 the character of the residue OF the WORK
already contracted for. TO prevent It's timely esecu
iion with other unfinished portions of the general
line.
Upon the lower division Of the canal, oons,iiu-
ting the principal theatre OF operations, and the
speedy completion OF which was deeply connected
With the Interests OF the community, the contract
system, whilst !, fell far short o: the proportion Of
work which it designed TO cover. proved equally
iiimed. irregular, and ineaieacious, IN IT'S arpea-
ton add resulis
In addition to two sections let in December. 1896,
and seven in September and October, 1887. only
three we're put under contract at the public letting
on the 14ih December last; TO which were after
wards subJoined. by private agreement three IN Jan
nary, one in February. one In April and Two IN May,
besides i've culverts and six farm bridges at differ
eut periods in the OF the summer All the
work oil every description from the lower arch up to
Boshci's dam. and about half of the excavation
and external wallipg upon the lower level, were
thus. at various periods and by successive aud de
tached lettings. gotten under contract hut, out Of
a total OF &c jobs, 10 were foiiened, and others
were necessarily eufiaed SO that, of the whole
amount OF work letto contractors on this part Of the
line, about four tenhs, either by forfeiture, by
SUMPTION by assistance given 10 the contractors
ultimately tell back upon the hands OF the company,
and had 10 be executed by its own force. Neyerhc-
less, the prices, upon tn part Of the line ranged
from 10 TO 10 cents per cubic yard foi excavation Of
earth from IS to e. l-2 cents FOR excavation of
rock aud for other descriptions of work proceeded
upon scale oil equal libefaliIy but they i'm
paired IN their influence by COMMENCING causes
by the high price OF labor still further augmeutedby
the unavoidable competition OF he company itself
the neighbonng markets. by the increased d,ftcul.
~ Of controlling Aborcrs IN the vicinity of the CITY,
md upon everge IN the midst OF The M xed mul-
,iiude IN the companys Immediate service, and by
the extraordinary character OF tho season and tie
danger TO health and lie iIon operating IN locality
so much exposed and well calculated TO add to It's
deleeiious effects.
The consequence Of this extensive failure Of the
system OF contracts was that by lar the greater pAt
OF the heavy WORK on the lower level, NJ well as
porioa oithat between the lower arch aud Boshcr's
Dam. was ultimately executed by hrcd force OPP
eraIing under the immediate supcintcndc and di-
feclion oil the company's agents.
la the management olthis heavy and expensive
jobbn the lower level, the directory adhered 10 the
plan, heretofore announced. Of dividing the work
TO two parts 10 be successfully executed. The first
class oil The work CONSISTING of all that could BIO
done with the water remaining in the canal had
commenced. as will be Tecoeced. rs Ear back as
the latter part Of the year 1896, with the force then
moved down HON the Beaserdam aqueduci Ilav-
ing progressed during the year 1897. II was far ad
vspced al the period Of the last annual meeting of
the stockholders, and was subsequently continued IN
10 the Time oil suspeDding the navigation IN the
SptiBg Of 1885, when every cubic yard of excavation
and embankment and external walling had been done,
that could be executed with the water remaining
in the canal. The monthly force engaged in
this operation averaged throughout the year 1887
upwards OF 100 laborers and had risen 10 February
last TO the number OF 232. lSee App.G1
For the second class Of the work comprising the
excavation below the Top water line, and all tho
due DOT embraced IN the first class preparatory ar
engagements were made for several mon hs in ad, ance
10 the month Of January, public notice was given
that the water would be drawn from the canal about
the LIST OF March. and that II might become neces-
sary 10 do so a short time before thai, period but
that it was the intention OF the Board of Directors 10
avoid n'errup,'ng the salion until the co d,ion
Of the work should rtuder the measure in-
dlspensable This notification WAS speedily fol.
lowed by ernest petitions to the Board nom the
milling and manufacturing interests affected by the
work. urging The pospouement fthc measure TO as
late period rs practicable, upon the ground OF the
heavy iossesto be sustained in their establishments
from suspension OF operations previous tho con-
sumption OF the stocks of materials on band. At
subsequent meetings OF the Board, the time va,
twice extended, go that II not until the 18th
day Of March. and about one month later than was
expected Al the last annual meeting of the stock
holders that the water was actually drawn from the
canal.
The execution Of the second class of the work
commenced with about 800 hands. then in the com
panys service, and active measures were promptly a.
dop,ed and afterwards steadily Continued, with a
visw TO augment the force 10 amount adequate to
ats completion by the LIST OF August. A dollar per
day for good laborers, 10 be paid monthly the la.
horers finding themselves, with an assurance TO the
owners OF slaves that they should be taken the best
care oil, and that their board should not exceed one
dollar per week, was offered through the medium of
the public prints In June, pledge was gwen TO
the public. that these terms OF compensation and
payment would be continued during the progress
ofthe work. and that an advance OF 30 per cent up
on these rates. 10 be paid the first regular pay day
occurring after its completion, would be allowed 10
such orderly and industrious laborers as might per.
severe to The eud. In July. additional allowances.
IN The form Of bosptalsi or the reception Of the sick
and regular and frequent medical attendance prov-
ded al the companys charge, were authorized 10 be
furnished and continued as long the emergency
might require.
The result OF these measures was, the gradual
collection OF mixed and irregular force the acctc.
gate Of which about the beg tuning OF The summer ex
ceeded eight hundred 10 number, but maintained
throughout the progress of the work a monthly
average OF somewhat upwards of six hundred hands
Inc immediate management of this force was con
Quoted by the agent on the lower canal with sui,,