Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-04-07
NELSON COUNTY, 29rh March. Isi7.

NILSSON COUNTY, 18th March, lSt1.
To the Editors Of the WAs:
Gentcmen-AEough neither a County Surveyor nor a
resident vt the counties referred by &C. amused an
idle hour 10y solving his mathematical question: contain
ed IN your last paper,
The bearings OF the sides required TO complete his
figure 5. So deg 50 min. l.. and n. IS deg 80 w
Area OF the lot 42O2 rods, 26 acres, rood and poles
and the length OF the different sides respectively 40 CO.
and l25 rods.
The above solution think is correct. although did not
extend the decimals rs tar srTee might have
required Very respectfully, h.
hope It will not be considered presumption in me to
differ with you IN regard 10 the Innco o: the offices
o. PRESIDENT and Chief Engineer OF the Canal and the
sequept increase of salary. In my opnon whenever the
President competent he should invariably discharge b
duties. The responsibility would then rest on one man,
aud We could praise or blame accordingly. Now the
Is the scapegOu OF the other the responsibility is dung
from the shoulders OF both.
You think, too, that the 'sccnce OF Engineering is over
rated and oVcfpad In energetic Russia, in scientific
France IN sober prosperous gland aud amidst our own
cool calculating Yankees benefits are felt
and rewarded Ony in Virginia do we find II 'oyCrratod
and overPad" Here, where every farmer, although he
cannot hang gate stock plough considers himself
qualcd 10 construct any work Of art, speak by the
II nave often heard them express it, Science Of En-
gneerhg Is alone considered "humbuG " and, sig
num- every public work nearly the State has ms
managed, either from having incompetent Engineer or
competent from hs beng under the OF self-cun-
ceiied Presidents who ncIered with his aud
thwartcd his plans. Their being overpad more idle
charge STILL some one or two may have been. Do you
fcssion, oyeTpald by income OF 5000 dollars per
mum AMI why shold titr Engineer, who has rhou-
sand times the bodl, and equally much n,al cNerton
10 undergo, 6e as well paid they IL Is common and
vulgar idea that the cmocnt- OF professional men should
be reduced to the standard ct the actual bodily labor they
undergo, ami be paid Ike poughmrn, according to the
hours they work; but did expect your paper
encourage it. The result will be you will find some
for $4,000 per aunum, who will undertake. 20 perform
the duties aud SlOOOOO before YOU eau get nd OF
Inn. IL Is style Oae's sell Engineer" bat II IS
difficult 20 merit the utlC.
am Nrsnisu mNsc aud as such wish her works well
conducted A. tar personally am concerned, 1t 40
never make cents difference whether the salary = = loo
"f SlOUOO-but have much Of 'Eugincefs'' M my
lie and 1w ifom observation that The consists m
not having good ones snd in ovcrpayng them. T..
IL We very cheoriuly publish the foregoing communi.
cluou, and without commtnt-lhough. itwerc
think could show, by reference the history Of
works Of internal improvement in this State we have
been particularly unfortunate IN the selection Of Engineers
their services have been eNavaganty reward
ed. The rask would be ungracIous one, howeverand
as there IS necessity undertake It. content To
leave the whole subject the public Judgmentl