The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1844-06-13
For the Recorder.

Mn. EDrroR:-I see in the Recorder Of
Nav the 33d, a communication purporting
10 have been written by John Berry Of
Iiillsborough, for the purpose Of showing
me the gross errors that had run into in
my third communication. lie says ,l,sl
| have. by design or otherwise, misrepre-
scented him. l only attempted 10 show
what is common with all business men.
When man Of business sells an article,
and knows that he has 70 wait q good
while for his pay, lac is certain 70 have
more than il the money was 10 be paid
down. But TO look at MIR. Berry in this
ligh, is insulting. | always think in such
cases as this that the nan is almost too
fair. Next, he is going TO prcsen, facts
to enlighten the people, so that they may
know all about the matter; hear him now:
Some Of che commissioners, not Of the
town nor its vRini,y, applied TO me-" dc.
does he give their names 80 that The peo-
pile can knew who they are. No, that
must be kept behind the curtain; that's
not for the people to know; it is enough
fof them 10 pay the tax.
He says his estimates wcre made on, in
detail, item by item, and below the usual
prices, and are flied with the plan and
contract. In justice they ought to be a
great deal below the usual prices; for a
few years back lie would have to give
from six to eight dollars per barrel for
flour; now he can &C, il for three or four
dollars per barrel. Well, it was just us
easy TO make barrel of -four then as it
is now, and all things ought to come down
in proportion.
And to prove that the county has lost
1900 or 1000 dollars by thus foul contract,
a gentleman told John Turrentine, esq.
that il the job had been let out in the ust.
al way. that Mr.. Berry would had to build
the court house for 5000 dollars, or not
at all; and this man is in the habit Of
doing such work, and | understand that
this man stands as fair before the public
as a workman as Capt. Berry does.
Here is more information. lie says,
4" Your correspondent farther charges that
I built the court house at Yanceyville for
5000 dollars; in this too he labors under
a mistake; | received within fraction of
6,o00 dollars" How nicely he clears up
this point does any body know from his
statement what it did cost! No, sir; nor
he does not intend that you shall know.
Why did he no. come out like plain ho-
nest man and say just what it did cost
| understand that he was to have $4,000
to buildfthe court house, and then he ap.
piled for an extra allowance, and in that
way he got 5000 more. So it just lacked
inst fraction of $4,000. Well, il $500
is Capt. Berry's fraction, should like to
know what his whole numbers would be.
Well, II this statement is correct, what
may Orange county expect before its done
with HIM! Why, at that ratio we may
count upon giving him as an extra allow
ance $500. Now wo know how 1t was
with the Hillsborough prison; that seems
to be his way to make his profits.
He says II am in hopes that the facts
as here exhibited will convince your cores
pondent that he has done great injustice
to the commissioners" Is Capt. Berry
a commissioncrlor have they cE.i Dyed
him to defend their cause! would say