Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-06-18

tam as whole, and containing no exact reason in an
Pca'on 10 the inquiry in hand, other and further info
mnlion IL deemed necessary. This information wop,
have been sought from "a Slockholder." But he ma,
DC mere volunteer, and not possess it, nd as il an
pears That The Board of Directors referred TO YOU for sucl
oher and further they did not assign i, il
,oognt ootb expedenl and respectful apply 10 yor
olectiy Tor full and specific information in relation I,
"s transaction, and the which led lo it-all O.
when you no doubt POSSESS.
u, indeed, il BE- true Us is BY some conircursd ,b,
the Stakeholder written aud published bv van,
procurement, with The intention which is abuve cnud
unnay oscI;h,d TO lie publication, then your answer ;r
ths application may be in expressive silencp or bv d.
isc' reference 10 and sdor'i"n of it In either event i
IS considered respectful TO advise YOU that az vet 1o
satisfactory reason has been suggested for The act
ing your late Engineer. Charles EIlet IT, from office
ana eiec'ing thereto Judge Wright On the contrary
he act IS regarded one, operating injustice both as
u Affects the dismissed Engineer and the and
character Of the Company To maintain the snundnes,
OF Tins opinion the asuEs ms yeD suggested for The
act WI" De examined in detail, as they appear; first by
the assignment Of them by the Board OF Directors and
,hen as inferred from The publication o. "A Stock.
holder /"
The office Of Engineer is The mos, impoIan, iha, OK
isis I'D tie Company II that flee is not flied BY a
competent ttcer, the adventure Of The Company
not progress TO a successful termination II is The ne
rest of the Company to fill that Office not only by
Competent officer in The common acceptance Of The term
Out by the most competent ard skul officer in every
other things being equal When such an officer is pro.
cured, IL the interest Of the Company 10 keep him. end
net TO tismss him for tina, is inferior in any re.
spect These things are assumed as truths which need
no discussion. How these truths affect the question
will be seen in the end. Judge Wright was first en.
ployed by The Company. He had high reputation and
was believed TO possess oil the requisites OF skill and
other qualifications make him The Chief Engineer in
The adventure of improvement which the Company had
engaged in. Charles EIlrt jr was Principal Assistant
Engineer Tie necessary preliminary preparations lie
ing made, the work commence, d about to be
commenced In this critical condition of things the
resolution Of The Principal Engineer gives way A
view of the labor and toll of body and mind be
cop0tered by Principal Engineer, who should perfnrn
his duty presented by small acquaintance with The
adventure before him. with the great and increasing DIFF
fcues which surrounded it, and threatened its defeat
unless overcome by great labor, skill, and
sant perssvcilrg application Of both the
eies oil his body and mind that he desired TO withdraw
from his undertaking. and 10 The Office with which
he had been honored assigning as reasons therefor that
he found the advanced age 10 which he had ar-ed the
decrease Of bodily and mental vgor equenl thereon
to admonsh him that he already, becoming be-
Incompetent, 10 the successful prosecution OF the enter.
prise in which he had engaged. This condition of
things demanded remedy. An expedient adopted,
liberal and atterng TO Judge Wright while it subserved
for the present the interest of the Company This expcdi
ent was 10 retain Judge W Consulting Engineer, and
appoint Chas. Eiie Jr the Principal, whose entire
competency in all respects perform the duties and
services appealning TO The office and 10 the enterprise,
was vouched by Judge Wright. Eiiet was competent
body and mind and skill and overcome
the difficulties which too formidable for Judge
Wright, in his then advanced ege. IL Judge WIighls
resignation had been Internationally received and Eel
elected inference might have been drawn unfavoi
able 10 the reputation of the former for science and skill
and it might have hren belle ved that he had whdra
because he found the difficulties which stood in the
OF successful Termination OF the adventure of the Com.
pany too great 20 be overcome by any skill science
which he possessed; but, by continuing in employ
Consulting Engineer, the inference might be repeed-
and BY continuing, another inference, which might
have operated 10 the prejudice of the stockholders,
also Tepeied, and that inference would git ha
been, that the most experienced and sklful Engineer
that could be procured had after reconnaissance Of the
whole ground, abandoned the enterprise impractical
BILE and that The adventure committed 10 The hands Of
less experienced Engineer was hopeless; for yet,
Mr. Eet though scientific and sklliful, had not, by
equally extended practical operations secured TO himself
equal reputation: And furthermore, by continuing
Judge Wright in employ as Consulting Engineer, the
stockholders secured to themselves the benefit both of
his experience and reputation So that the continuing
of Judge Wright empny was, in any point Of view,
measure Of good policy for The time If nothing more.
Things being thus arranged, the enterprise advances
with more energy and with better SPIRIT but peesen,s
in many respects, a new aspect The new Engineer
finds it necessary 10 change many of the locations
made by the first Engineer and to erect the work on
new locations; and also 10 change the few plans for
work which had been prescribed by the first Engi
neer land 10 substitute plans and specifications
thereur-and not wantony, and 10 indulge The pride
Of opinion, but in good faith 10 subserve The int.
,cs. Il the Because, these changes OF oca.
TONS pi.ns for work and the necessary specifications
therefor were submued by him 10 the President aud
Directors Of The Company, and received their direct ap-
prevail es well as The expressed or implied approval of
the Con.ult;ng Ensi"ee-. From lheiU.r~."ard up 10
the time hen Mr.. Ellet dismissed, the Office of
Consulting Engineer evidently Of no value, unless
his name and good wishes gave it-because, il is be-
eved that all the scientific labor which has since been
performed; all the personal labor of reconnoersg the
country, and the localities over and through which
The work has been or is intended TO be conduced nll
the exposure Of health and prvaon Of comforts attend
upon such examinations; all the surveys locations,
plans charts and estimates necessary for conducting The
work from station TO station has been done and perform
ed encountered and executed, by Mr.. Ellet, under
the guidance Of his direction without any aid derive
from the Consulting Engineer, except in lew uninpoli.
ant particulars and except far his approval may be
called aid II is true that many of these things have
been done without previously consulting Judge Wright.
This unavoidable many instances because he was
not in situation TO be consulted, without unprohu
BILE wcsle of me and doubt thought less import
ant inlsmuc all The plans, &c of the Chief Engineer
must necessarily be submitted TO the approval OF The Pre-
siden, and Directors, with whom the opinion OF Judge
Wright would have lis proper Influence and for whom
the Office Of Consulting Eng neer was chiefly intended,
to them, being scientific men in this particular,
in forming correct judgment upon the reports, plans,
&C. which the Executive and Principal Engineer might
submit for conside IL could not have been IN
tended that The Principal Engineer should consult Judge
Wright about any thing concerning which he had no
doubt; and Judge "rght's approval Of almost every
thing which came under his consideration, which was
in regular course Of business submitted TO the President
and Directors and Suggestions Of alterations in some
few instances being generally overruled by the Board of
Directors the Principal Engineer mi ght well conclude
that il was unnecessary consult Judge Wright. who
WINS generally absent before he proceeded TO make out
such plans and estimates respecting the work in pro-
press as he had doubt the interest of the company
1,ouired Thus il is evident that MIR Eet has, from
period shortly after his appointment and for several
years been considered by the President and Directors,
no, only more effective Engineer than Judge Wright,
bu, equal if not SUPERIOR in the necessary qualifications
of science and skill and at the very moment of being
dismissed he was assured that "no personal hostility
was evnced towards him by any member of the Board;
that no charges had been made against him that praises
were accorded to him Tor talent Tor professional SKIN
smny adequate 10 conduct The great oork and for IN