Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-15

person Whatever, without eS perence, has ever been
appointed an engineer on the lire nor has any one
oeeh so appointed without eonyCtion from tesu
monials or Otherwise that he possessed the other
requisites OF industry and business habits. That
tnls conNttion might be erroneous in regard TO few
INDIVIDUALS among the great number required for n
line OF $50 miles, was 10 be expected and that n
was so, - not denied. IL il true, also that the sub.
ordinate grades OF LIST and End rodmen, were sun.
pueo from time TO time from educated young men,
eh'ehy natives of the State, intending To make civil
sns'necrins profession, numbers Of whom having
attained the requisite proficiency and experience
were afterwards raised TO the rank OF Engineer and
entrusted with the responsible superiniendance of
work as the exigences of the service demanded The
Poney oil making the eompnny's service school Of
native engineers, was animated in the first annual
report, as well as made public in the preceding
spring. and received commentator from every
Next comes the charge OF Dad srssuiisn Of the
work:
Many OF the Locks were so badly constructed
mat they were pulled dozen and reeonSiruetsd after
having been rsesrrsd and paid for. Mary Of the
Su'veris have failed, and been repaired at great
expense, within the present year. Many breaches
I'm the Canal have occurred and il is believed tina,
the masonry OF many Of the Locks will tumble, 50
soon as the piank'nG, which supports the badly
constructed masonry, shall rot"
For reply to this, in regard to the Locks suffer
me 10 qnoIe from the 9th annual report, .. 65A
i he unfinished mechanical work upon the inc OF
various causes, augmented Ia its amount and re.
tarded IN us completion. One OF the heaviest con-
tractors, being an undertaken Of ono of the sque
uue's ana Tour ct the locks after prornct-d delays
ananuoneo his contracts, and, at an advanced re-
lod oi the season, these expensive Jobs had TO pass
INTO new hands. At an important point the Out.
iaW locks at the Joshua falls pond-out of two of
inc oes: contractors on the division, and large
force IN their employment, one of the contractors
disr; the other, tor considerable mc was danger.
ousiy III, and the force was gradually reduced by
SchnesS 10 three hands; that the work al one ne
roo was tohlly suspended. Sundry wood locks
AT uierent points upon the line, aud at various
stages OF their progress, hsd also IN whole or in
part, 10 be taken down, in order To throw out ob.
Jecllonabe materials or TO get rid fdcfcciiye work
manship, la the last annual report stated TO the
stockholders, that | was induced TO believe that
upon the issue OF post notes IN payment OF the est
mates ct the July meeting OF the hoard. us3s ! no,
less Than one no { Of the whole white force and n
much larser portion OF the masons then engaged IN
on the works, became dissatisfied, and very soon
thereafter lett tie line. Nor was il merely in the
teuNctlon ct tho numerical amount OF the operatives
upon the line, ihli Inconvenience was felt For
PotN'h ~ the remaining contractors relaxed
III theur eNeruuns 10 finish their Jobs and diSre-
sa'uei Tue suPulsions binding them 10 a tirae
" execution OF their contracts" In the early
part OF the past season, in despite Of the unce,s.
ing tEer'lons OF the chief engineer, aud I'M
DER favour OF the increasing Intervals between
'he rena ming JpoS Of work, and regret TO add IN
'''''. N'st1UNfs, OF mistaken lenlty negligence
on inc part u some OF his subprdInates the causes
mus adverted 10 IN the last annual report began 10
disclose their injurious operation painful extent
upon the character ui the materials and Of the exc
euIIon OF several Of the unfinished locks Itistrue
mat the same deficiency Of good Cuarrics upon ex-
tthslNe portions OF the line, which had nduced the
directory 20 Change the original plan Of the locks
ron stone 10 wood, had, IN ike manner, led IN sun.
cry c1scs tom TIE want Of better materials in the
.S'"!'y' 10 the admsS on OF inferior stone into the
- n ma .. II
most limits allowed by spirit OF prudent econ. N.Y.
ara OF liberal orbearance, beng transcribed and
a9used, II becsme Indispensable, in q fTsrent in.
stances, with view TO avoid the more formidable
evils OF suspension Of the line of trade hereafter
20 take down Ia whole or IN part, and rebuild some
OF the wood locks, although I; might lead To some
additional! expense ami delay in the ind execution
Of the line"
IL may no: be umss 10 remark here that the com
pla!nunts indefinite assertion that nrry OF the locks
had TO lie rebuilt after being p4;d for, would be i'm.
proved IN point OF correctness, by greater partcu.
ariiy OF expression. There were only iaTss case,
IN which the detective work was not discovered un.
ul hna estimates had been paid. In the other cases
me hnai estimates heyc been withheld and will no,
be paid, unless iurics OF the county can b. rer
sundcd to counIenance fraud when committed ,Osins
corporations.
CO.: P''' =
Another considerable addition to the earth work
arose upon the Introduction Of the water upon the
line, from tie necessity Of frequently DRAWING II
away, in order 10 republic many Of The cuyert, and
acquecucis. The masonry Of these structures Of
which there are upwards of 200 on the FIRST grand
GVison' IN very many cases, did not keep pace with
he excavation OF the canal; in consequence of
which, the cmuankmcnl and pudding OF the Gull
yer.s and oquedlcts we're necessarily detached from
The contracts for the sections upon which they were
situated, and transferred 10 new set Of contrac.
Tors ard thus were executed, at Irregular periods,
more or 'es' detached from each oIher according TO
the irregular periods OF completion Of the mechani.
ca. works with which they were connected The
late execution and dispersed situation Of these nu-
merous Jobs OF earth work, causing them to be
brought less frequently under the eyes Of the su
perntending engineers many Of them were not faith
iuiIy executed, and upon the introduction Of the
water had to be repaired or renewed by the com.
pany's hands"
The breaches complained of are thus treated a,
p 663:
"Ihe amount Of earth work to be performed by
the force in the immediate service OF the COMPANY.
was, hSeWIse very much increased, well as very
much delayed IN us execution, by the unayoids HE
withdrawal from the line OF many Of the officers and
agents, in consequence OF the extraordinary un- !
heithilIness OF the past About the Is, Of
august inter- an uninterrupted service Of about elgh.
teen months, for the whole Of which period he was
absent from his family, the health Of our Chief En-.
gincer became 50 seriously impaired by our South |
ern climate, as 10 make u Indis pensa be that he
should return 10 the State Of New York. on leave
oi absence Unl the Isl Of October. For several !
months Of the summer ard autumn, Mr.. Lake, one |
Of the Principal Assistant Engineers, was likewise
disqualified by ~ L-1,h e. :..s ,,rr,orra,,,s ~ &c
i've uuty. ~ the line OF introducing the water
IN the months oi August nd SEPTEMBER when su.
Pcrntcndng attention. care and skill were peculiar
" important, the Superintendent Of repairs and
thfee out OF four nf the assistant superIntsndcnts
were Withdrawn from their posts 10y disease two
oi them continuing IiI tl an advanced period al the
year The adjustment Of the levels at this critical
Juncture, often fell exclusive into the hands OF the
lock Keepers, who had Just come upon tho line. 10
norani Of the business 10 which they were called.
Frequent breaches N the entertainments CONSEQUENT.
Iy took place. which, although injurious at the time
10 tho character Of the work, were IN fact due in
probably, nj least three cases out Of four. not 20
any csiect Of construction but 70 the int1perence
Of the agents unavodubIy charged with the manage
ment Of the levels"
And now Tor the cap Of the complainant climax
, ITO cop he climax Of gross neglect, or mirmnn
'agemcnt, liOr which excuse can be ofereID two
Dams were erected at Josuua's Creek Falls and At
rye river entirely across the James River by
which, tie whole trade Of the river was obstrucfcd
I'm ascending or descending, II vas necessary 10
unload and maui the boats over the Dams Many
"DOlis have been sw1mpCd, nd their cnrgo,s dam.
tagged. After the erection Of these Dams hv yybirb
"the navigation was ODstructsd Locks were com
"menced for the purpose Of passing boats through
chem"
The plth Of the censure here intended. is in the
last sentence, namely, that tho river locks Tor the
purpose Of letting boats through the dams were not
commenced until altsrthC dams were cgsctsI LVb.t
were the iactsi IhecOn,raclOrs Tor tho dams were
also contractors or The river locks connected with
them respectively. At Joshua Falls the lock was
carried on simultaneously with the dam and conn
pelei 80 ncary al The same time that the intsrrup.