Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-20
COMMUNICATED
n. james Rirer and Kona'7he Company.

I,,,s L..n subject Of no little amusement 10 the
,os,,ye the great wisdom man'ies'ed oy some OF our
sI.. n, .ta officers Of this Company, and person
;,-,,ed IN tie facts, would frequently be led to
49, ,b,, the perverted Interpretation placed upon
,b, cfcial conduct really worthy OF consIdera-
,,, Those remarks are occasioned by observing in
- name, The rpils. AID 5eral attack OF citizen OF
IN . mon the conduct OF men whose name will
Tvs lonr ate, those vino HIN sha! cease to be
,o,,.r,hs,sd even "a the name of Dewitt Clinton is
s,I treasured BIZ the grateful citizens OF his native
S,,,a T. IS known 10 all who have ever heard OF the
lanes River improvement that the gentleman who
now holds ,Ac oice OF President IVES The original pro-
ec,or Of the present scheme; haiit was entirely owing
n his able and energetic efforts that It was ever COM
uerceG: snc VII! add that 10 other man could have
carried u thus il. with such inadequate means and
sncb s;,nal success will now attempt to show that
.Cnizsn OF Virginia has done hum great injustice IN
the Conclusions drawn hastily from few circumstances
he attempts 10 sho his ur'nesS for The trust assigned
k,c, and begins first with the number of Eng
emDl,yeG rs the Company The President and Di.
,ee,o.s were regulated by HE custom OF other canals
Tha Whole length Of line ~ miles Each assistant
Enciaee, had res.tency frcH 10 10 IL miles in length,
and was rceui,ed with the ard OF rcdmen to lay off
Il! the work TO. the contractors, TO VISIT the whole line
tar. IN c-der 10 see that the work was constructed
according 10 contract, 70 measure the work it
done ard to return accurate monthly estimates thereof,
winch slgacs required long and aborious calculations
Tie Principal Assistant gneers Of whom there were
three on The @hoe line, were required TO direc! and
1.-THE Assistant Engineers, to examine their calcu
tons To attend 10 the most difficult aud intricate duties
Vi the profession, and examine the monthly and iina!
estimates Each cf these officers we'll assured, If
he attended properly to his duties had full occupation
f. ali hs tine Tic Chief Engineer was required 10
vast IT, whole ne once or twice month, to suggest
Q: approve Of all plans Of location construction, 10
ell qgssons Of Inference between Engineers and
Contractors, and 10 lace such work under contract as
rh 81 deemed proper by the President and Directors
Thus Zach Engineer had his separate duties assigned
hn, sGt experience upon this work, as well as upon
o:aers u SIMILAR character in the u S, proves that
cher cement attended with less expense 10 the
Company more happy effects in The construction of
IL aofA, could have been made.
a Cnzen otVr-inia" says that Judge Wright re
scnel scccunt Of physical inability owing to nd
vancet age, ard that Mr.. Charles Elicit was appointed
!nh's place, who was young gentleman of great pro
mise bu' not Of great experience. The writer forgets
Ia advanced age did not prevent him from giving his
attention 10 this work and two three others, and that
o*'Jr 70 Mr. Eileus inexperience he retained as
consulting Engineer But when aftera lapse of two or
ih'ae years, The other works he had charge OF were
completed, and Judge Wright able and willing TO
g'e his nn9ded attention to this work, the President
End Directors from considerations of economy, dis
psnset w'a consulting Engineer, and re-appointed
J1lse Wright Chlef Engineer. Is this the extravs-
saHee OF folly with which they are charged The very
a,'s ir which they deserve commendation are turned
ai.asl them By Misrepresentation.
Bl', AGAIN, tins writer charges them with extrava-
g1nce IN The number of Superlnlendents. There are
"Ay 'h'ee Of these, and each one has, with hired
ore 10 keep in order repair any breaches tina. may
oc>H' ard open the drains upon upwards of forty miles
VI Ue canal. Above these, IS placed general Super
"'eAtenl Of greater experience, whose duty it is to
travel from lynchburg 10 Richmond as often as prac.
lCah!e. and d rect he NJ ba there
hrs writer says that tic assistant Engineers were
general inexperienced young men, Just from College,
"'o, OF coc7se, could have practical knowledge Of
'h''r pro.essson and knowledge was acquired at the
expense and 10 the injury Of The Company. This is
10, uuf. Rodmen performing the subordinate duties,
'" 10 ""om were assigned the mechanical par; of the
Profession, were thus selected admit, bu, not
entrusted VAN the responsibility Of ordering or direct
'' ie ~oiA The salary allowed them was not suiii.
cent lr the maintenance Of common laborer; and
!e' Ae,e i"ea having gained experience, and proving
themselves worthy of promotion, by their industry and
rqae'y, were, some Of them, advanced to the grade
:" assistant Engineers; but great diligence and applca
,'n We're necessary for this distinction The President
o',Ay OF grea! praise for his efforts to establish
- Tor Engineers, of young men, natives of this
S'a'' no. at the expense Of the Company, but by
"''uhS out Inducements of promotion to those who
"oud apply themselves diligently and show themselves
!" other respects worthy; and where defects have
occurred, which must almost necessarily occur in Q
"o'k OF such magnitude, by far the fewer portion
nave been discovered where the Assistant Engineers
ving charge OF the work, natives of tins State
The writer, after, as he says, touching upon the
n''her and selection of Engineers, carries dia
'gne in which he attempts 10 satisfy himself that the
President should not receive $4,000 salary act as the
head Of bureau, and let the officers do and repor
what they please; and that the President responsible
Tor The pfcdica management carried on, both in the
construction of the Canal and the financial concerns
I'VE C"r'pany-a fact that no would controvert
eouio iney receive other evidence than his simple
sefuon that such management exists now, or ever
re attempts 10 show that very great oversight was
made IN the plan of,he Canal shove Lynchbrrc. which
Goeotless might have been avoided, had i, been left Ia
s superior wisdom. Now, as he ia familiar with The
location, would ask him If tiere is no, hl,E ,uo
miles in length, above Lynchhurg, and wheiber =,
Constructed the Canal around that bluff instead &c ~
plan OF slack water, executed, would M, hana
oesn ottehoed with very great additional expense
gaen The gentleman pre,ends 10 deprecate SO much;
anaas would also ask whether the Black Water Aque
ouct gave way last summer, when we had The highest
eshe within the recollection Of our oldest inhabitants
IL h's writer IS the person think he s, understand
nan perfectly well, and wish that others knew hi.
motive of hostility well as do; for it occurs 10 me
'aa. he was anxious that his plan ofcontinuous Canal