Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-06
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& a. Ia. spo. sss ' Of : Gaze, :,
It ~S.seiusion ~ss not arrived 81 wiihnat ad-
fact that by paTsuiag such a eOarse, the te-
Of he work would BE- delayed ung that
without fortunate concurrence Of circumstances be
relied doubtful whether the potion Of the ue be-
tween Lynehburg and the mouth of North River eau be
completed By the close OF the year lS4S was expected
Nevertheless the importance OF commencing adVscdy,
and with the full understanding OF the stockholders,
| deemed paramount over every other confederation.
No one can be morc alive than l am the importance.
nay the necessity ut harmony among the partners In
great undertaking m order to but
this may be pntcharcd at too great price In the
instance attempt made promote by departure
from important sdopted after the reec-
ton, with view t. economy. and which, after acqui-
csconce hope may be excused for saying still
mcnd themselves 10 the enlightened judgment ct all who
will mparay examine the subject the best that under
tbs circumstances, could have been devised. IL remains
to be whether the gsave obearance thus
has not been purchased sacrifice OF important
on the part IT the company. At all events the company
has by this means been reduced the alternative either on
the one hand by pursuing the OF false
tuay dictated by body represent single but
powerful corporate sockhoder to run the risk of having
the improvement constructed interior and unSkiul
manner; the other by placing the works under de-
gree Oi known and unduubted professional skill comu,cn
surate with their difficulty aud magnitude. a which
alone IT, Sgain bring the company under the
ban OF the legislature the charge OF wssteul extava
gance.
A. my will avail II given without bosita
ton Tor the latter the dictated true ccono
Is not here necessary for either admit or CON
overt the opinion which has been advanced that vir-
gina engineers have in instances received salaries
greatly dlspropoTitonate their merits Whatever may
nave been the fact, certainly in of adopting
81 unwse Practice But the position mean 10 assume
IS that the central improvement of Virginia being i'm point
at Importance, magnitude and difficulty of eNccuuon equ,
at least to other Ut the rva lines OF communica-
ton between the western States and the Atlantic it
sontIa that H should be placed in charge OF engineer
who for sil and Judgment design aud energy and
experience IN execution, may rank with the first
Try and this whatever within bounds ct rea
son may be his am aware
that the members OF the profession who would claim this
rank, and demand high salaries. probably somewhat
aOuldanii nut happily VIC have tor guide criterion
which dad not formerly when pretsnsion might
deceive and dispropcrionlc salaries were IN
liable 10 be given Numerous works OF internal improve
mCu OF great magnitude and importance have since been
constructed and gone INTO operation this country; aud
their character and indicate very correctly the pro-
iessonal merit OF those by whom they respectively
planned aud executed Therefore, rs to engineers by
their rorks We may know them"
In regard the particular engineer to he
placed the head OF the work the amount Of the sal
proper be paid him, my purpose 10 make
ANY recommendation but having observed erroneous
opinions prevailing TO the latter point
nave made IT, together with the plan Organizing an eff
Gent corps, the subject OF correspondence
with Col J. Albert chief OF the United States opograph
zeal engineers, Capt William IL. Swift the same CORPS
Gen. William Gibbs NNeill, civil engineer, John g. Jrr-
vs., civil engineer, and Nathan Hale, Esq pre- sdent
OF the Boston and Worcester railroad company-gen,le-
men whose high character and long experience con-
duct OF works of internal Improvement entitled their opin
ions 10 great weight aud influence copy my circular
letter to those gentlemen, and their respective answers
numbered t. >, o. = and 9. herew tn submitted with
comment
o. the three bills which, in my communication Of the
10Th March. referred pending the House OF
Delegates, the first making provision the Underwater
connection, and the second freeing the Richmond dock
from the control OF harbor appointed by or re-
sponsble 10 the company have subsequently become laws
aud are herewith communicated, numbered 10 aud IL
The remaining bill herewith communicated, NO. 49,
which framed with 4 TO place the company upon
the same footing with other members Of the Commonwea ia
IN the collection OF tolls due by the OF masters
OF steamboats, other craft navigating the Ohio Iyer was
regret 10 say rejected by the House OF Delegates
Suretes 10 The companys bonds required BY the
the lst March last guaranteeing average toll Of $780,
UOO per annum upon the canal between Richmond and
Buchanan. for period OF five years after II shall have
reached the latter point have been obtained TO the amount
Si56OO0 which bonds have been duly executed by the
company and fled in the Office the second auditor ac
cofdng To law y list OF the aud amounts OF In,
several bonds document No. 49, herewith communica-
ted.
AL which is respectfully submitted.
WALTER GWYNN, President
Ala Nay, lsI7.
tAPPended 10 this Reror, letters TO Mai Gwynn from
the several eminen, Engineers mentioned by him. with
natural esprit dE corps, all high salaries should
DC perhaps easily persuaded by Arguments ii it
could be shown that high salaries had heretofore always
sured avoidance OF in the Plans or fidelity in the
execution Of the work But do not nolo design to make
any remarks the subject
The Repor, having been read II was referred to COM
mitiee OF thirteen, consisting OF the following gentlemen
VIM NJ Peyt1n OF Roanoke;
y. L. Veneabo Of Prince Edward;
.. VI. CTutchield Of Spo,tsyvania;
Gus,avus =. Myers OF Richmond;
Isaac DaNenport