Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-10
foR TIVE VIVA.
AND KANAW VILLA COMpA

hanawha Company, the sweeping charge Of gross mman
ssement OF the concerns of the Company from first u
s without admitting single redeening shield
eh, from the indignation Of the Stockholders and the
ruoc Most OF the specifications Of charge were ably
any successfully answered in detail few days ago. by
"e' In the wing, the signature Of "Justcer but
propose 10 invite attention few additional remarks tend
| ing To the end.
The assailsnt by declaring that wsstefu
system was adopted at the Of the Comma
nys operations, and has been continued up to TIN. t.
reply that thorough investigation of facts voud sbe
inns charge 10 be wholly uniounded; and that from first
last every act OF the Directory has been adopted with
single eye to all the economy that practicable under
ofder oil the Stockholders put the first the
aaI III course OF simultaneous construction, and that
Consistent with the Of works i'm
MANNER and with their preservation when completed The
instances cited by the writer, proofs of the truth
his charge. All thahe says concerning the number GRADES
and character OF the Engineers during the construction of
the works. and concerning the Supcrntendants since their
complexion has been well answered by Justice that
1t may be passed without further notice Bur the nj
that ,he Canal has been njudiciousy located and
tat the works have been badly and nj an inor
dinate cost, will claim u passing remark.
In regard to the location, IL will he sufficient TO observe
That the opinion of the assaant variance with that of
Engineer OF the State who, in his report the
Board OF Public Works in the fall lSI0 speaks in terms
Of approval OF the location all the points
oh ana to that since he nothing subject fair
TO ier, that at least, did whhs
As To the cost and style of execution the work il
conceded, and the President informed the stockholders
~ e ue, That as the construction of the Canal between
Richmond and Lynchburg, drawing to a close-when
LOT want oil employment great portion of the engineers
me- leaving to those who remained greater distance
traverse, and consequently rendering constant vigilance
over e scattered contractors less practicable, and when
ny reason oil inc payments Tor work being made
appreciated currency to which the Company had
ced To resort the control OF the engineers over the contrac
tors had been greatly weakened-a few of the works of
arr were executed in inferior and fraudulent man.
ner portion Of these had he taken and rebuilt
at an increased cost while Others yet remain beishss
oil minor Importance upon the work. but capable of being
Temedied hereafter at an inconsiderable cost.
but TINS being conceded, appeal the gross ins
e OF charge ofwasteul expenditure founded upon such
PaI,ia ana insignificant grounds authority the
subject which will be conclusive avery candid mind
mat the works have been constructed in manner
In the Report OF the Principal Engineer State re-
iered to above find page 1896 the following
Cosf-Ihe cost OF the Canal up Lyneh6urg is nearly
S4so'OoO, which makes it S32 So per mile; and if the
Locks, as at first intended, had made of good e
stone might have been S3500O per mile The cost has
certainly exceeded the antcpaons the public who
PeG'eq H. from early reports to be less than $4,000 per
e; hence have arisen opinions unavorabe the
agemen of the Company; whereas the true cause of the
disappointment Is IN fact that the underestimate
ed IL may be recollected that 1881 NV minimum es
innate was S2e,0O0 per mile, Board of Public Works
vol u, IO3.) That estimate has also beep ex
ceeded attributable the general increase of prices which
has taken place since throughout the country and in some
degree also TO the rapd with which the work has
been pushed"
To this ought be added the welknown fact that .tbe
general increase OF prices above spoken Of was at the
penod OF the construction of the Canal not less than so per
cent above their the date OF State Engineers
estimate of 2c,O0O per me-whch added to his estimate
would make S42,O per mile nearly $40 600 more than
the actual cost And, after all what was the extra COST
occas'oned by the bad work above advericd to Upon en-
curry at authentic of information cannot
md that, at the outside, amounted to S4SOOO-less
ta one per cent what would have the cost of
the improvement If il had occurred Away then nj
once and forever, with this contemplate charge
And now as To the style OF execution and character of
the work "A citizen of Virginia" speaks as though il
were anoorous TACT where conceded that the canal
throughout, is miseraby constructed rckety concern
which must shortly crumbe decay and ruin If this be
ms real opinion II is the opinion of but one and evidently
"a m nndS a,l,-
weight than that of thousands wo perhaps have had eoua
opportunities OF forming Judgment upon the subject For
my own part nave examined every portion of the
peted work with great attention and do no,
hesitate TO declare conviction that the Canal from Rich
oha Luxembourg Is admirably planned, and with the
exception OF the few bemshes heretofore adyerted toy well
executed throughout, and that it NAV challenge co,nn,
son with work OF equal magnitude in the United Sta,e
and believe that the concurrent testimony of ali 1hc,h
citizens or strangers, who have examined IT, and WHOSE
opinions arc entitled to consideration been to this effect
Inc correctness of this opinion placed beyond doubt
by the practical proof afforded by the noble manner in which
ue canal whsi1od the devastating fresh OF the past
ner When Is recOiected that the works for great Dor
ton OF the finished line, submerged by food such as
occurs hardly once % years, which came upon them
with fury before witnessed in this century and ,h,,
only one piece OF masonry the Beaver Creek Cuye which
mistake not was then undergoing repairs and con.
equenuy III an exposed condVn) way the least con-
hdent of the friends of the canal becomes assured that it,
pernanency Is established, and that will stand 10 future
ues' te pride OF the State, the landmark OF a era of
prosperity and endearing monument to the patriotic sp
m who originated the enterprise and amidst une xanpcd
difficulties, and dscouragemcnts have brought Tins far
towards a conclusion.
IT, them as have endeavourcd to show the Canal NAV
be regarded as well located and well and economically
sruced the main stay Is knocked from under the charge
which "A citizen of Virginia" evidently delights Ia dwell
upon namely that the President has been guilty of neglect
ing the lOth bylaw, which requires him TO hold yigan
supefntendance all the works of the Comnanv in r
gress, and all the Officers and Agents of the O.,
pany' In this part Of the communication under revc,y
the writer insnuatcs that the President has done tie else
than - take the Chair Meetings of the Directors and
act as the head OF bureau, suffering the officers TO do
ana report what they pleased. Now there is no fear thar
such AN impression be created in the public mind for
II well known all who have an interest in the matter
that the President since his frst election Ito say moth
ing OF his previous exeons has given to the duties of his
ONCE and 10 the advancement Of the COmpanys interests
all his time and oil his energies of mind and body t the
sacrifice of domestic comfort and the neglect of his ri
interests To most extraordinary extent. doubt whether
an instance of such exclusive and unng devotion TO the
public service, be found in the annals of the Sate
bu the writer further charges that go far from the vgilant
sperntendence required, he seldom on the line
land when called Richmond Frequently went in he ca,
rage, and by other routes and even when he did 90 upop
the me- he notified the engineer of his intended visit be
fore hand, when. matter OF course all things womb
appear 10 be correct Promising that II the latter clause
OF this quotation is intended To describe n prnctee or ,s,g
Of the President, IL is am automatically informed ;,c,
rect IN point Of fact remark that 1t the writer had been
treating OF one of smaller Improvements Tirnpke
OF Railroad OF some 20 30 miles in extent for exampe
INC Nun supcrinendcnce" required Of the President in
'ne oy-aws might well be construed into the duty con-
sany watching with his eyes, the department Of every
Agent and the ct every job of work But let IL
be Tccoecied, that the improvements Of the James River
ana hanawha Company consisting Of new works in cours
OF construction, and Of Canals uice navigation and turn
pixies requiring the collection Of tolls and constant spr
niendence and repairs embraces an extent of some $50
miles, and that besides the ''vglant rrntendcrcc- %
qurcd IN the bylaws, the President ia expected 4, sg