The North-Carolina standard., 1840-11-25


and disappointment, that the Halls and whole
interior needed painting, the Clerks and Spea-
5ers' Desks were unfinished, the dTarery Tor
the Speakers Chairs, Curtains for the VIM
dows. Chandeliers for the Rotunda, Stair-cas-
es and PASSAGES were still wanting. a ma
ioritv of the Board resolved to procure a ttlr-'
ther loan of two thousand dollars, to supply
this deficiency so far as was necessary. AP-
pIication was accordingly made to both the
Banks of the State and of Cape Fear, but
was met BY q decided refusal. The same ma
iority then resolved to procure what was
deemed necessary, so far as 1t could be done,
upon the credit of the State, from those VINO
were willing to supply the materials and Ia
bor and wait tor their compensation the &C
ton of the Legislature. They have accord
inqly, caused the Desks to be completed, the
Halls and Doors to be painted, and suitable
Chandeliers to be procured. The room de-
signed for the Supreme Court, and that tor
the State Library are still unfinished. Two
of the apartments on the first floor are in the
same situation, and suitable Drapery Carpets
and Curtains are still necessary to complete
the interior arrangements of the Capitol.
While the enclosure of the Square with a
fence of durable materials, in style to cor
respond with the building itself, IS suggeStcd
bva correct taste and demanded by suitable
regard for the preservation OF the house ana
of the highly ornamental grove in which 1t
stands. The Commissioners have taken steps
to procure from a competent source Piie:l
and estimates for such an enclosure, which II
is hoped will reach this City IN time 10 be
submitted to your honorable body before the
close ofthe Session. A removal ofthe old Of
fees which now butdeforn the Square, with
out adding to its convenience, 1t Is presumed
will of course constitute Il part OF the plan OF
improvements.
An enquiry reasonably arises upon the lore
going statement how it has happened that
the estimates have 50 often fallen short OF the
actual expenditures. Let those who make
this enquiry remember, that even Of common
works the expenses cannot often be correctly
ANTICIPATED, that in regard to all large public
works the difficulty OF attaining correctness
is greatly increased-that i'll regard to these,
even the most skiliul seldom approach to GER
tainty-that scarce an instance is to be found
in which the actual have not exceeded the
estimated cost Of public work, whether pro-
iected by the General Government or by one
of the States whether it be building, Il ca
nal, a rail road or 4 pier-to these general
considerations let it be added, that in our
case, the work was peculiar the material in
itself difficult to be procured, not often used
by us for building purposes at all, and never
before for the entire erection of a large edl-
flee that no experience or practical knowl-
edge was possessed by those who lived here:
and that strangers, however skillfIl i'll the
general statistics of such works, must neces-
SariIy want the local knowledge to give parti-
cular and precise application Of their esti-
mates to the state and condition of the coun-
try. 1t is believed if these things are duly
considered in connection with the vastnesS of
the work, the variety and complication of its
parts and the diversity of labor and mechani-
cal art necessary to its execution, every rea-
sonable mind will find a fair solution of the
enquiry, without imputing to any Wilful de-
sign to deceive, or a criminal negligence of
attaining to truth.
Besides, it must be remembered that the
Commissioners were themselves without any
professional skill, and were therefore obliged
to resort to, and rely upon the supposed in
dustry and fidelity of every subordinate and
every laborer employed in the work that
amongst large number of them, some would
be found dishonest, many inattentive and
idle, and that it was not possible for the
Commissioners, without an almost total aban-
donment of their private affairs, to exercise
such a constant inspection as would ensure
diligence and punctuality. What could be
done by men in their situation, it is believed
was faithfully done. But often and unex-
pectedly, as the Commissioners would pre-
sent themselves in the different departments
of the work, and though the probability of
such visits might and doubtless did prevent
the absence or open suspension Of the work
by the hands employed, yet it could not be
adequate to ensure a diligent prosecution of
labor in the intervals of observation that
despite Of all their attention, much loss was
thus suffered by the State, the Commission
ers are compelled to believe. They feel con-
scious, however, of having endeavored to
practice a just economy, while they regarded
the taste and quality of the work entrusted
to their charge, and they know that every
effort has been made by them to discharge
the trust in manner likely to give satisfac-
ton to your honorable body, and to the pub
lie. OF one thing there can be no doubt, in
the Capitol just erected, the State possesses
building which, for solidity and beauty of
materiel, uniform fitithlulness of executiop,,l
and for architectural design, is not surpassed,
if, indeed, equalled by any building in the
Union. Upon it the eye ofevery enlightened