Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-07-11

There appearing to be some evident defect
In the management of the repairs of the road
anterior to the lst June, l044-the Board de-
ternlned, at the commencement of the year
just past, to change the policy heretofore pur-
sued, with regard to the repairs and other
work done, and adopt the system of paying
monthly, the cash, for all the repairs and 9TH
er work done, by which measure, the expen-
ses OF the road have been curtailed to consid-
cradle extent
The Bridge across the North Shenandoah
river is now being rebuilt, and if not now ready
to receive the travel will be in very few
days, and 1t is to be hoped will be of more ser
vice to the company than the one first erected
at that place.
The Bridge across Middle river has been
during the last summer, secured by d trussel,
and seems, at present, to be pretty firm. But
the greater number Of the bridges on the line
seem to have been so imperfectly built, that
much attention, and precautionary expense
Will be necessary to sustain them. Those
bridges, having been so imperfectly built, par
tlcularly the one across the Shenandoah Chat
fell doocft) the expenses necessary to secure
them, and the rebuilding of the one across the
Shenandoah, adds much to the embarrassment
of the Company.
The rebuilding of the bridge across the
Shenandoah, was contracted for, at the price of
$1,000 for the superstIuction, believing, as
the Board did at the time, the old abutlnents,
to be sufficient But upon further exanina-
ton, for the purpose of 50 altering them; as to
suit bridge built upon the arched principle, it
was ascertained that they We're SO defective as
to render it unsafe to trust bridge. of any
sort, upon acknowledgment, the Board was
Immediately convened, and after much deliber-
alton contracted with Messrs: Davis & Kid
well to rebuild SO much of the abutnients, as
was not embraced in their contract for the su-
perstructure, at the price of So per perch
(rock-ranged work)-the entire amount of
which, as yet, has not been precisely ascet-
certained.
With regard to the general condition of the
road, it may be represented, as good-but
attention will be necessary hereafter, on ac-
count of the general and gradual wearing of its
covering or Gaping.
1t is of vast importance to the interest of the
Company, that the application of labor hereaf-
ter, should be well weighed and considered,
and made in the most advantageous manner,
and with strict regard to tho Company s
means, SO as to enable the Company to create
a sinking fund, sufficient to pay off its debts in
q reasonable period, A course of this kind,
will hold good in all the common operations of
life, and is equally applicable to Incorporated
Companies. But here lays the difficulty with
most of the public Improvements in the State
to effect this, and operate with certainty it be-
comes necessary, that the supervising officer
should be perfectly conversant with the finan-
scial officers of the company, and in every con-
tract he makes, to have strict regard to the
obligations of the Company, and its means of
meeting them in some reasonable period. One,
and not the least, of the causes, of the many
difficulties and failures of most of the public
works in the State, is the want of this infor.
nation on the part of the contracting or super
vising officer, or competent head to direct
and control his operations.
With regard to the best policy to be pursued
the succeeding year, the experience of the past
may be turned to great advantage. Although
fhe general face of the road presentsa better as
4. meet than it did twelve months ago, vet the
Z Board is of the opinion, with the same expert
%ence. better application of labor could be
made for the amount expended, if the year
were to go over again.
Whilst the Board is free to confess that
they are inclined to the opinion that too much
labor has been expended in raking the metal
from the sides of the road, instead of making a
iudicious application of new metal to its CEN
ire. and have had occasion to demonstrate a.
rainst it, yet, the Board is equally free to say,
n Justice to the experimenting officer, that it
was believed to be the most expeditions way
70 change the form of the road which was
annd much troughed at the commencement Of
IA year lust past, and much labor necessary to
drain it after every rain. A further applca-
,;or az the rake with a view of raking in the
.sides. would, certainly, be very injudicious
aDolication Of labor, and should be discontinue
II does seem to the Board, that the prin-
c;nal object now--as respects the repairing
should be an advantageous application of stone.