Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-30

leily IS viii suffice eGectualy 10 assure The
cun,rsnY TIA; ever: cubic yard 81 masonry On
Inc ,,ew works sinai, &c constructed eaac"y ~ at.
corcaoec with The spill; OF The coaiise's, alu VI
course lie permanent and reliable
During the progress u. these various arrange,
mems. a stale @! things superyened, calculated
orc,,l, 10 influence the action oi HE Board
For a considerable period every arrival IRON
Europe brought lidinss Of the approach oil an ap'
pal!ins famine in various parts OF that continent
Each announcement of this kind was ATTENDED
by corresponding advance in The price u bread
siuis in This couniy, rn.il al lasl they rose 10
ahoai 100 per cent above Their rIice al me 'iiie
when The estimates were made, upon when tHe
legislative appropriations 81 las' "i"'ei were
based |! was The opinion oi many iheA'aehl
pentemeo. accustomed IL waich The signs 81 the
times, thai This STALE oil tie provision market miS'
continue lnl sus,h Of time, aud nave proper
lionable eneci uron The price OF lah'r no iit'e
conce n beIet,Ie, Was tell ty The boafd' lc>. inc
cost OF The work Should, from causes Deyohu liei'
control, be made 10 oveirun the estimates mus
suhiecline lbcm 10 the undeservcd censure, So
upsparinely cast upon The former administration
OF the company for like calamilous result, IN
Cured under precisely similar circumstances
This consideration prevented the Beard from
placing engineer parties on The line above Norm
River, and on The survey Tor The Underwater con
ncclon; aud although The preparation OF The aus
pended works between LynchbuTg and Norm
River, for contract was permitted 10 proceed, II
was Tor long time questionable whether any
portion Of it, excepI the new dams, could be sale
ly k. during tie presei, season or rot.
After seung into The field, The chief engineer
found that The plans and specifications 81 the I'VE
new dams could be prepared by the first 81 july
and those works were therefore advertised Ioi
contract on lie 10th OF that month. The board
met on that day, accordingly, and alter duly con
sidcring and preparing the numerous proposals
presented Tor The several dams, awarded The whole
OF them 10 John Eaton OF Ohio, whose bids were
he lowest, and were accompanied BY very salts.
factory testimonials OF his skill, competency and
ability 10 execute the work. II is proper 10 re-
mark that by thai time an unexpec'ed reaction
had raken place in The price OF bFeadsiuhs, ana
that, probably IN consequence, The proposals III
the contractors ranged considerably lowe. Than
had io!me'iy been expected.
a. III same mcciing The chief engineer was
authorized 10 lei all The work on thai portion oil
The line formerly occupied by The old Blue Ridge
Canal, except the CushaW aad BlIe Ridge dams,
either Ia The former contractors or al prices noi 10
exceed these OF the old contracts; which dnty
was shortly afterwards performed by him. Inc
residue al The line was ordered 10 be advertised
for contract on The 29ih OF September a! meet
ing OF he Board, 10 be held in Lynchburs Tor the
purpose Of letting il.
II was also ordered that survey Of the several
routes which had been or might be, proposed
through The city of Richmond Tor the tide water
connection should be made, and separate est.
mates of i.s cost by those routes respectively pre-
pared, and laid befre The Lynchburg meeting
above mentioned. This survey was executed by
the chic! engineer, with the aid OF Mr.. Tomlin
and MIR. Shaw, who were Withdrawn Tor that pur-
pose from their dutes above Lynchburg. II was
commenced on the 5ih ol August, and being COM
pleled by the 25ih oil that month, Air. Tom!in re-
turned 10 The line above Lynchbn.. Mr.. Shaw
remained IN Richmond u complete ihe maps,
plans and estimates Of the Tork. by The three
rontes surveyed, and rg,urred 10 The line above
Lynchburg on l!is 18th Of September.
In The meaa time, in consequence o! the favor
able " hea, harvest which hal been gathered tic
prospec, Il IN unusuaiiy abundant corn crop
Throughout, The country and the cown.ard ten
dency ct the provision market generally, The
Executive COMMITTEE were forced 10 he conclu
sion, that, ai'cr all the low price standard Of la
10. and provisions wouit prevail towards III,
close Of he year, ard, ,aefetie, thai liz Haai
csl and characteristic impotence ot the public
Il
need no longer be wihslood Under this impress.
sion, they requested tie Chief engineer TO take the
necessary Steps, in advance, for placing an eff
Glen, force oil engineers on The 70 miles between
North River and Buchanan, Immediately alter
The Lynchturs meeting o the Board, with view
10 prepare il for contract during The present year
in case ali order SHOULD then be given 10 that ef-
feet.
Al The Lynchburg meeting, which commenced
on the 18th Of September, all the work moi pre-
viously contracted Tor between Lynchbure and
North River, was let 10 contractors al reasonable
prces, with The reservation Of certain sections,
nearly completed TN CT the former contracts, but
lei! in such condition, that they could only be
eSecn'ed 10 advantage hy 2 lc.ce Of year hands
operating undeG uVe!seris, and $50 OF sGncrY
sna Jobs, which cond he more conveniently Ie,
iy plivaie contract. | have The satisfaction 10
believe, that ii the work shall all be Completed
atln@ contract rates the Cos; will fall somewhat
below he preliminary estimate; bn, the ne wspa-
per statement oi the amount Of The saving. which
/ hare been informed Of, was absurdly eyasgera-
ted.
Al that meeting, also The Beard ,concurring in
The views Of The Executive committee, directed
the surveY above North River 10 be undertaken
immediately. The exeIlionS Of the Chief engi-
neeI, al tie instance Of the committee, 10 obtain
a parry of Additional engineers !oI that purpose,
having proved unsuccessful. Mr.. Fomln and
NIf. Hairs we're Withdrawn i,om below North
River anu placed upon !hc survey above, in The
early par, OF October. ThcY we're shortly aficr
wards Joined b. Edward Lorraine, Tie inspector
at Richmond, formerly IN assistant engineer in
he company's service, whose place al The gauge
dccl; hes been temporarily supplied. Various
other additions 10 The force have subsequently,
been made; 50 that, operating as they have been
unit lev days past, under the personal trcc.
ton Of the chief engineer, their progress has
been such as 10 give ample assurance of the
timely Accomplishment OF the object in view.
Al The same meeting, the chief engineer pre-.
sen,ed his report Herewith communicated J
(App. NJ Of The survey OF three several routes
through The CITY OF Richmond Tor Inc Tide water
connection together with maps OF The several
rou,es. plans Of the work of art, and estimates
Of the COS, Of constructing tie connection BY each
rou;c. Referring 10 that report for description
oi The several roues, and lucid exposition Of
their comparative merits, especially upon the pa.
ra,nount question OF their al, qYacy 10 iced the
dock. remark iha, one of HE ruules was recon-
men!ed as decidedly superior in this respect, pro-
ylacd lie adoption could be coupled wha condi-
ton which could not be dispensed wih but the
prac icahlily o: which was not YET known; and,
moreover, mai Wnlle the Cost OIL cIcCHtang Tie
work, independent n. land damages, was stated
as nearly equal on all three routes the whole cost
might be materially varied by that item, but 10
wnal extent was not yet known. The hoard
therefore pos ponsd The further consideration 81
lha suhjcc, until an adjourned meeting 10 be
held in Richmond on 18th o! October, Tor which
meeting il WAS made the special order In the
meantime The executive committee and ihf
Chief engineer wa directed 10 make such
negotiations, All - obtain such couDsc
and intcrma'iol urea he vel doubtful points
as should H. necessary fully 10 possess lht
board oi The lneaas u finally disposing Of thi:
long pending question. This duty, with The va
liable aid OF Mr.. Baxter as counsel, was 50 iaI
executed as TO enable The beard, a, The meeting
in Richmond, after ma,urey weighing the mani
;oid and grave considerations which presented
themselves IN favor of each route, 10 agree with
ultimate unanimily upon The route by the armo
ry, through Haxall's canal, which had been re-
commended as preferable BY the chief engineer
The connection by this ron,e, as will be seen b,
the report Just communicated, "leaves the cara
Just below The Tredegar Rolling Mill, and by ;