Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-20

avoided, and this expense the Company. !, is
10 be presumed that both sides OF the River were ex-
anned by Engineers, and tic estimated cost of con
strucon, with the comparative advantages Of the two
routes, submitted Tor approval 10 the President ard
Directors and that they selected the least xpensre 81
The two. um satisfied that this the case from
my knowledge of TIE two sides of the RIVER the South
side, the present location, infinitely the BEST pre-
Sening fewer distractions, and consequently attended
with less COST md, moreover, by different location
from the prrssn one be would have PAID regard III
the convenience OF Lyncburg, that subscribed largely
and literally to Tins work, and was, therefore, entitled
10 some consideration Then the gentleman has dis.
covered mares nest in the removal ola Spoil Bank,
at the extra Of $50 or So this too gross Eegl
ence and folly the pnrt of the President and Dr.c.
tors He surely must have expected them 10 have
every cubic yard of rock and cnrh taken out OF
the Canal.
What consideration does this genteman's impeach.
me mt deserve when forced resort to such insignificant
objections us this:
Again He says that many OF the Locks have heen
taken down and rebuilt Out Of 81 Locks, three
found deectiye-two 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, partially taken GowE and rebuilt al the ex
rense OF the Company and yet this writer states that
many Locks have been taken down and rebuilt, with
the fairness to state how many, or any other cir
cumstances connected with il.
The ,imbers placed across the lower end Of the Locks
were not for the purpose OF preventing their nclnng
measure TO insure their stability and he asks why has
all this enormous pense been incurred, answer that
no expense has been incurred That
and which no power gifted with less than supernuural
WISDOM could have avered. lie the President
and Directors oi want OF attention Did he expect
that these gentlemen familiar with the details Of
Carpentry of Masonry, and all the Mechanical Sciences
Did he EXPECT them watch the laborers daily ct their
work He certainly could not expect this. Their
cenera attention vas gwen to the work: that of the
| cnuld do, III, bo
has DONE Neither have heard believed this
writer asserts that lie made /, practice Of informing
Engineers Of his proposed visits that every thing might
he prepared beforehand; and yet know, from the
sterur problty of his character, he would soop
70 act the part of spy this gentleman would have
him do.
He proceeds 10 point out n few other imnr inarv
causes complaint, all OF them worth much those
enumerated; and in doing so he shows perfect FAINT
llary with all such cases that he complaint
however slight the prete xt unfair the conclusion he
draws be. None OF the other charges far
CARDS the construction of the work. deserve moments
consideration.
The late freshet having done considerable injury 10
the canal he proceeds To point out how, his opinion
il might have been partially avoided. He says, "lf
Guard Bank had been constructed Joshua Falls DAM
the injury to The canal would have been tyihlng =
Would he have done this, had he acted President OF
this Company: Could he have foreseen, three years
ago. that in the Summer of lol2 should have freshe
higher than any known within the recollection Of
the oldest inhabitants, and have gone to this additional
expense for contingency never likely TO happen?-
And had the present President had this work done and
no lreshet had occurred, We should have had this
Guard Bank pointed out 10 us, the catalogue with
the others, wastefu extravaganza So much for that
wisdom that predicts events with unremittng certainty
after they hare happeasd He complains of putting the
hole work under contract at one time, from Richmond
To Lynch6urg, thereby enhancing the price Of labor
The charter Of the company required that the WORK
should be completed irom Lynchburg 10 Richmond
before they could receive cent revenue and had il
been contracted for, and executed by p:eceneas the
cost would in nowise have diminished, but rather in
creased, by having less compettion and The time o!
completing it greatly increased ing valueess such
portions had been executed until, as whole, they
had right TO demand tolls.
have attempted TO answer nearly all the charges
brought against the President TO show his unfness for
the trust posed 10 him, and have only omitted lew
that from their utter worthlessness deserve cons
deration But proceed to the financial concerns of
the Company, which this writer says beray the
wan, OF wisdom displayed in the construction of the
work; 50, this Company, its want OF WISDOM shows
practical good sense i'll the management OF its AFFAIRS
that surely is derived from mysterious source when
on line Of ID miles Of canal few defects have
Cured, whenit has been newly put in operation, and
also portions of flooded By ovew lining mass OF
waters which threatened To destroy il, has resumed
operations in incredible short space of time, and has
proved fully to The satisfaction fevery impartial man,
That there few works Of similar character that can
compare with il in strength and turabiity.
OF the financial concerns of the company, we shall
have as heretofore, in December full account from
The President, b. submitted to the stockholders at
their annual meeting; they have so far, with common
dable confidence, placed implicit faith in the President,
who has for years conducted the affairs OF the
Company with unsurpassed zeal, al the sacrice Oh
personal health and convenience whose whole energies
body and mind have been devoted 10 this subject, OK
citing general admiration for his Information, inteil.
eence and admirable qualifications for the task before
him. As to The present embarrassmcnts of the Com
pang, il has been partially involved in the general
distress end ruin throughout country; but APP
parent the least sanguine that only needs Tor
short time the fostering hand Of wise Legislature, 10
eccua!ly its standing and credit 1t there mas
been error the part Of the President has originated
| from conviction in his mind that the great I'M
porance of this work would become manifest TO the
most common observer, and too much confidence IN The
general intelligence and patriotism of the Legislature
and People. The next report Of the President doubt
not will give full and ample information of the financial
concerns of the Company and it is TO this source the
fountain head, that the Stockholders should look lor
correct information, and not 10 the remarks Of an un
known writer who may be actuated by motives OF per-
sona hostility have particular personal interest
in view and not the welfare and success oil the Compa
ny. 'o9iiSD'
FOE TIE ENQUIRER
MILITARY INSTITUTE.
Fully concuring IN opinion with writer IN the last
ENQUIRER, over the signature Of Richmond, that the
Public Guard in Richmond, should be converted into
Military School, upon the plan adopted in the " NJ
T. OF Lexington, it is highly desirable that the subject
should be thoroughly investigated. As this writer
truly remarks, the only objection 10 this plan, worthy
Of notice, that the duties required from this Guard