The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-08-28
Rutland Road Estimate.
Central Road Estimate.

100000
Iron rails, s65 per ton, is $500 per
mile.
The commissioners, unable to con,
vince themselves that this enormous diff
erence in estimate resulted from Mr. Fell
tons conviction ola probable relative
| difference IN the business OF the two roads
notwithstanding his apparen. iberality OF
concession on that point, were unhesita,
tingly of opinion that the report should
not be published, but that, If necessary,
new survey and new estimate should
Immediately be made.
One other fact, in reference TO the es-
Inmates of Mr. FeIton is worthy ofspec.
ial notice. The estimates furnished to
him by Messrs. Chase and Tracy, were
made in the most liberal manner and so
as to elicit his express appreciation. To
these estimates, those gentlemen made
the large additional allowance OF fifteen
per cent, for contingencies. Mr. FELTON,,
with contempt for accuracy, which can
be attributed only to slip shod determin
alton not to get loo lou an estimate, pays
no attention to this per centage, but not
content with superadding most extrava>
giant and unparalleled estimates for road
furniture, completes his labor by adding
further allowance of ten per cent
making, in the whole, more than &c per
cent allowed by this judicious and friend
ly engineer, for contingencies
Jt ,h,, ie tho ,1,ofhfNd hy tDhIoh MI Fol.
ton has acquired the reputation of lot
unde1 estimating his work, it is one which,
though undeniably simple and easy of
imitation, few engineers will probably
deem it judicious to adopt. Mr. FELTON,,
speaking of Messrs. Chase and Tracy,
says:-'Both these gentlemen perform
ed their duties in the most satisfactory
manner; and 'Messrs. Chase and Tracy
have ESTIMATED LITERALLY for an ap-
aroximate estimate But here we have
an engineer adding 10 per cent. to lib
eral estimates, including Is per cent. for
contingencies, made by gentlemen who
performed their duties in the most salts
factory manner? lfthis is the nearest
approach to accuracy which can be ex-
pected from one claiming TO be a scien-
lfic engineer, it is evident that estimates
can furnish the public with but small re.
liable information. The truth is, that
this estimate of Mr. FELTON, is utterly I'm
worthy an engineer who possesses, or
who seeks valuable reputation. 1t is
excessive beyond example, and if Mr. F.
had been governed by a just appreciation
of the duty he owed to the community
who employed his professional services,
and who thus bestowed their confidence
upon him, in a matter deeply affecting
their interests, he would never have per-
mitted himself TO increase the grades,
and aggravate the expense of their pro-
posed road, without at least the decent
Formally Of traversing lis route.
Again it is we'll known that, accor ding
to the survey made under MIR FeIton's
directions, there were % miles requiring
a grade Of from Gu to 70 feet, on the 65
miles Of the Rutland route between Rut,
land and Burlington. By Mr. GlIbert's
survey 40 feet is the maximum grade on
this portion fthe line, of which there
are but six miles MIR FELTON, attempts
to avoid the effect of this Improvement
on this work, by the discredtabe sub,
terfuge of saying that he had always ad
mitted that this portion of the line might
be improved. We call this most dis
creditabe subteriuge, because Mr. Fell
ton aerer intended that this boosted ad-
mission should be understood to embrace
so eTtenSioe an improvement. 1.-The dad
so intend, how despicable appears the
parade of as miles of 60 feet grade,
which, in his report to the Fitchburg
Board, 'eouclusively settle the question