Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-09-11


20 Passenger cars $4,000
10 Baggage cars 1906
1000 Freight cars 300 600
! $4G3, 800
Iron rails, 800 per ton. is $4,000 per
mile.
CcntraL road EstimOte.
s Locomotives $4,000
8 Passenger cars 4,400
a Baggage cars 1000
100 Freight cars 40, 200
...... SOC 600
Iron rails, sos per ton, is $500 per
mile.
The Commissioners, unable to convince
themselves that this enormous difference
in estimate resulted from Mr. F,lon's CON
vlclion of a probable relative digcrnce in
the business OF the two roads, notWith-
standing his apparent llberality Of conces-
sion Oh that point, were unhesitatingy of
opinion tina, the report should not be pub
llshed, but that, if necessary, a new survey
and new estimates should Immediately be
made.
One other fact in reierenc to the esti-
mates of Mr. FELTON,, is worthy of special
notice. The estimates furnished TO him
by Messrs Chase aud Tracy, were made in
the most liberal manner. and so TO elicit
his express appreciation. To these esli-
mates, those gentlemen made the large adj
dlional allowance offitecn per cent. for
contingencies. Mr. Felton,, with con
tempt for accuracy, which caa onlyJe at
lr!buted to a slip-shod determination net
to get too Tar an estimate, payi no auen.
tion to this per ccntage, but, not content
with snperaddlng Woat cXlravagant and I'M
paralleled estimates for road furniture,
completes his labor by adding further al.
Iowance of 10 per ccnt-maklng, in the
whole, more than 26 per cent allowed by
this judiciovs and friendly engineer, for
contingencies.
If this is the method by which Mr. Eel.
ton has acquired the reputation of not IN,
derrtanding his work, it is one which,
though undenia5ly simple aud easy Of lm-
taton, few engineers will prohabW deem
it jpdcions to adopt. Mr. FELTON,, speak
ing Of Mcssrs Chase and Tracy, says
Both these gentlemen performed their du,
ties in the mos, satisfactory manner; and
Mes.ers Chase and Tracy have estimated
literally for an approximate estimate, =
But here we have an engineer adding 10
pei cent TO liberal estimates, including
Is per cent for contingencies, made by
gentlemen who performed their duties in
the most satisfactory manner. If this is
,henearest approach to accuracy which can
lie expected from one claiming to be IA
scientific engineer, it is evident that esti-
mates can furnish the public with bat
srraIl reliable information. The truth is,
that this estimate Of Mr. I'e'lon's is utterly
unworthy an engineer who possesses, or
who seeks, valuable reputation. 1t is
excessive hey ond example, and ifM: Eel
ton had been governed BY a Just aprrecia-
ton of the duty he owed to the community
who employed his professional services,
and who thus bestowed their confidence
upon him, in matter deeply affecting
their interests, he would never have per-
mi,ted himself TO increase the grades, and
aggravale the expense of their proposed
road, without at least the decent formaity
OF traversng lis route.
Again, it is well known that, according
to the survey made under Mr. Felton's d.
rections, there were 90 miles requiring
grade of from GO to 20 feet, on the sixty
five miles Of the Rutland and Burlington,
By Mr. GiIbcrl's survey, 40 feet is tie
maximum grade on this potion Of the line
OF when there are but six miles. Mr. Eel
ton attempts to avoid the effect of this i'm
provement on this work, by the discredit-
able subIerfugo Of saying that he had al
ways admitted that this portion of the line
might be improved. We call this a most
discreditable suotertugo, because Mr. Eel,
ton ncrcr mtcadcd that this boosted ad-
mission should be understood to embrace
so tltcasire an Improvement. If he dill so
intend, how despicabo appears the parade
Of "45 miles orGO feet grade" which, in
his report to the Filchburg Board, "con-
clusyeIy settles the question between the
two routes!" Again, MIR Felton, says
that "equal improvements may be made on
the Central route" His zeal for his en-.
pIoyers carries him, in this instance, to
the very verge Of of absurd,y; for if C.
quail Improvements" ShOuid be made ON
the Central road, it is hardly too much
to anticipate that the road will possess the
novel advantage of having Il descending
crude J0th rays on its whole Inc!
The siXty-ive miles from Rutland TO Bur
Ington furnishes one Of the most iayora-
bic routes for a railroad in w-EngIand
and it may be interesting to engineers at
least, to learn by what process the survey
which Mr. FELTON, superintendent establish.
es % miles Of grade of from 60 to 10
| feet per mile on that route. 1t will be
rccoleclcd that by MIR GlIbor's survey,
40 feet per mile is the maximum grade on
this portion Of the line, Of which grade
there are found but six miles. This dis
crepancy excite less establishment than
the reason for it. Rutland is 4 l6 feet a
bove Lake Champlain at Burllgnton.
BY careful computation from the report