Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-03

officers Of this Company and person unacqusinte with
the facts, would frequently be led believe that peryer
ed Interpretation placed upon their official conduct re-
ally worthy Of confederation. These remarks
stoned 10y observing in your paper the unss aud Ilera
atick Of citizen o! Virginia upon the conduct of man
whose will i've long after those who cen-ure him
shall cease to he remembered the of Dewitt
Clinton is st treasured by the grateful citizens OF his ma
tive State II is known 70 all who have heard Of
James River Improvement that the gentleman who now
holds the office OF President the original protector OF
the present scheme; that entirely owing his able
and energetic Efforts that IL commenced and
will add that other could have carried thus far
with such inadequate and such signal success
Will now attempt To show that "Czen Of Virginia. has
u"he MN great injustice I'm the conclusions drawn hastily
from few circumstances lie attempts his unfit
ness for the assigned him. and begins first with the
number oil Engineers employed by the Company. The
fIesiuen aud Directors regulated by the custom of
other Canals The whole length Of line was l47 miles
Zach assistant Engineer had rcdsncy from 10 10 II
miles IN length and was required. with the aid of rod
men, To lay oil all the work for the contractors the
whole line daily, order that the work was con-
sinicted according to contract, the work
was done, and to return monthly estimates there
Of which always required long and aborous calculations
The Principal Assistant Engineers, of whom there was
'hree on the whole lne were required direct and
struct the Assistant Engineers examine their calcula
tons, TO attend the difficult and intricate duties of
the profession, and examine the monthly and final
Zach OF these officers am well assured if he attended
properly to his duties had full occupation for all his time
The Chief Engineer required 10 visit the whole line
once or twice month"; suggest approve all plans of
location or construction to settle all questions of difference
between Engineers and Contractors, and 10 place such
work under contract might be deemed proper by the Pre-
sident and Directors
Thus each Engineer had his separate duties assigned
him. and experience upon this work. well as upon Others
o similar character in the United Sates proves that no
other arrangement attended with expense to the Com
pany happy effects construction of the ork
could have been made.
"A Citizen Of Virginia. says that Judge Wright resigned
on account of physical inability owing to advanced sre
and that Mr Charles Elicit appointed in his place who
was young gentleman of PROMISE not of great
experience The writer orgets that advanced age did not
prevent him from giving his this work and two
or uree others, and that owing Mr. Eeit's inexpecnce
he retained consulting Engineer But when after
lapse OF two three years. the other works he had charge
OF were completed, and Judge Wright was able and willing
TO give ms undivided attention this work the President
and Directors, from considerations of economy dispensed
with consulting Engineer and Judge Wright
Cmei Engineer Is this the extravaganza folly with
winch they chagcdl The very for which they de-
serve commentator, turned against them by isrepre
seniation.
But, again, this writer charges them with extravarance
IN the number OF Superintendent There only of
these and each one has, with hired force keep order
repair any breaches that may occur and open the drains
upon upwards OF forty miles of the Canal Above these
placed general Superintendent of greater experience
whose duty is travel from ynchburg to Richmond as
often as practicable, and direct the operations Of the
others.
This writer says that the assistant Engineers were gen
orally inexperienced young men, just from College, who
OF course could have practical knowledge of their pro-
LESSON; and knowledge acquired the expense and
10 'ne INJURY OF the Company. This true Rodmen
performing the subordinate duties and to whom were as
signed the mechanical part of the profession were thus select
ca admit but were entrusted with the responsibility
ordering directing work The salary allowed them Was
not sufficient tor the mnintainancc of common laborr and
these young men, having gained experience proving
themselves worthy of promotion, by their industry and ca
paciiy were some OF tie advanced the grade Of
sstant Engineers but great diligence and application
were necessary for this distinction The President is
worthy oil great praise for his efforts establish School
for Engineers of young men, natives of this State not nj
The expense of the Company, but BY holding out induce
ents OF promotion those who would apply themselves
chu
ana where defects have occurred, which almost ne
cessary occur in work such magnitude bv far the
fewer portion have been discovered where the Assistant
Engineers having charge OF the work, natives of this
State.
This writer after, he says touching upon the num-
per ana selection OF Engineers carries dialogue in
which he attempts satisfy himself that the President
should receive $4,000 salary to act as the head of
bureau and let the officers do and report what they pease
ana that the President responsible for the prodigal
asecnt earned on, both the of the Canal
and the financial concerns Of tho Conpany-a fact that no
would conovert, could they receive other evidence
than his simple assertion that such xs
now. existed.
He attempts 10 show that very great oversight was
made in the plan of Canal above Lynchbur which doubt
less might have been avoided, had it been left his
perior wisdom. Now, he familiar with the location
would ask him if there is bluff miles in length
above Lynchburg, and whether to have constructed the
Canal around that bluff instead the plan of slack water
as now executed, would have been attended with a
very great additional expense, which the gentleman pre-
/ tends To deprecate muchl And | would also ask
uc Diach w alter Aqueduct summer
when we had the highest reshet within the recollection
our Oldest inhabitants If this writer is the person think
ne Is understand him perfectly WELL and wish that
diners Knew hls motives of hostility well do: for il
occurs 10 me that he that his plan Of connu
GUS Canal above LyGchburg, should be adopted in order
that he might profit by it. in undertaking the work
He says that the President and Directors acted equally
unwisc In the location Of the Canal on the South side for
10 miles below Lynchburg whereby small Aqueduct
and two Cuvorts might have been avoided and this eX
p,nsc saved the Company 1t he presumed that both
sides OF the River examined by the Engineers and
the estimated cost of construction with the comparative
advantages Of the routes submitted for approval 10 the
President and Directors and that they selected the least
expensive of the two. satisfied that this was the
from knowledge of the two sides of the River
the South side, the present location, is infinitely the
best presenting fewer distractions and consequently
attended with less and. moreover by different ocs
ton from the present one he would have paid regard
TO the convenience OF Lynehburg that subscribed largely
and literally To this work. and was therefore, entitled IN
consideration. Then the gentleman has discovered
mares nest IN the removal OF Spoil Bank at the extra
cost OF $50 1885, this. too gross negligence and folly
the part of the President and Directors He surely
must have expected them have seen every cubic ward
Of rock and earth taken Of the Canal
What consideration does this genteman's impeachment
deserve, when forced TO such insignificant obec
lions ths1
Agnin he says that many Of the Locks have been taken
down and rebuilt. Out of - Locks three were found de
feovetwo OF them before Final Estimates had been paid
and suits pending for the recovery Of the small loss
sustained The third, the only loss in fact was partially
taken down and rebuilt the expense Of the Company; and
yet this writer that many Locks have been taken
down and rebuilt without the iairncss TO state how many
or any other circumstances connected with il.
The umbcrs placed the lower end of the Locks
not for the purpose OF preventing their inenng in
wards, a. they failing, but precautionary measure
to insure their stability and he asks why has all this cno
nous expense been incurred answer that no EXPENSE
has been incurred that unavoidable and which no
power, gifted with less than supernatural wisdom could
have aycrcd lie accuses the President and Directors with