Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-08
COMMUNICATED
OFFICE LOUISA RAILROAD COMPANY, !
January 22d. 1850. {

OFFICE LOUISA RAILROAD CoMPANyI
January 22d, 1850.
| WINS. c. WIcKHAM Esq.
| DEAR SIR-Yours of yesterday is Just received in
which You mention that Mr. Segar has just stated or
the authority of r. ]. Randolph, "Mat culoerts are
6eng built Of pine poles along the line Of the Road,
ABOUT the truth OF which you enquire. 1t is deeply to
| De regretted that COL Randolph should have placed
hmself III such position towards the Louisa Railroad
Company as he has done; and the fact OF his making
statements calculated to nure the character and credit
OF the Company, would have struck me with amaze
men put formy having had good reason to believe be-
lore TINS tnat ne was inmical to me personally and
mat ne has been charged with trying to injure
the financial credit of the Company.
1t untrue that building cuIverts of pine poes
The country tor distance from the line of Road
between Hanover Court House and Richmond is entirely
destltue OF stone which could be at all relied The
ordinary aid of State subscription being withheld from
US, and the Company being thrown on its own resour-
ces to pay considerable amount of the cost Of the
hoaa, the pohcy was adopted OF building some small
| drains OF wood where the embellishments were not
heavy, with the intention OF using the Road as a m cans
OF transportation, to get reliable stone at future day
TO construct these drains permanently, when they
| might need a renewal. In all cases, plan re-
CURED large mbers OF the best kind that could be pro-
cured, either white oak or heart pine, which would
| last some eight or ten years
The cuvers, in some instances, are built of stone,
where 1t could be procured without very great cost in
others, where the entertainments were heavy, are
building, and have built, OF brick. No persons can be
more sensible than every member OF our Board OF the
more substantial manner than has generally been done
10 Virginia; but the want of capital the reason we
have not done There cases where wise policy
would justify structures for time not of the most en-
during character because they would be too costly in
the hrs instance; and il there d where
such policy was proper think is in the construction
OF the smaller drains OF wooden material under small
banks on our road through country destitute OF stone
expecting to use the road thus made to get
the solid granite Of James River to reconstruct when
repairs are wanted. That we thus compelled to
construct those parts OF our road in comparatively
temporary way, misfortune, under existing cir
culnstances, and not fault.
1t any culvers have been built of any.materal less
durable than heavy heart pine white oak it is done
without authority from the Board, Engineer, and
am sure, without his knowledge. That any being
6uH OF pine poles, feel authorised say, is false. 1t
is TACT that cannot be disguised that glarng msrepre
sentatons have been freely used by enemies to pre-
JUDGE our Company and its claims before the Legisa-
ture Great injustice has been done u.s. and appeal to
my friend, Mr.. Segar, hlghmnded honorable man.
70 reject whether ne has not been imposed on by the
thousand dlsngenuous arts OF our enemies, and been
betrayed into an unmered reflection on the manage
nent OF our Company. Il allude to his remarks about
the falling bridges, &c &c. And here let me ask does
not me TACT OF our undertaking 10 build that bridge of
stone place the stamp Of falsehood the charge that
tie Board could haze been guilty of the FOLLY of au-
thorasg cutcerts to be made Of pine poleS* But the
stone OF winch the bridge was building, though
paying fu price tor it, was perhaps not strong enough
Tor such work and from that cause, the fault OF the
contractor it tell before it was finished But what wish
to ask Mr. Segar 49, whether such accident that
or even one or two others OF lesser consequence
ring IN the construction of line of improvement should
bring odium on the work itself and its managers2 In
this case OF the bridge which fell before the contractor
finished it, think will be acknowledged that no more
difficult question could be presented than sometimes
ours, land this striking nsance0 TO determine what is
the character and capacity OF stone to stand the effects
OF rain and frost We anxious to build the most
substantial bridge-he r. f. & P. Co. had used SINH
lar stone In the piers OF their BRIDGES which had up to
that time gwen no signs OF failure though learn that
recently serious danger is to be apprehended
Our engineer, with the advice Of contractor, emit
tied to great confidence, determined to try it, but it
1alied Is II any very great WONDER that Mr. Kuper
and Mr. Adle should have erred in their judgments
to the durability OF that stone when that by the
late report OF the Secretary of the Home Department OF
our Federal Government with all the skill which the
funds OF the United States could call to the decision OF
so important question as the building OF the Capitol
the very same mistake was made; when we see that,
he says unless something done to aresit, that mas
sve building is destined ere long to become in his own
language, mound OF sand? Is it reasonably to ba eX
pected that every structure on long line Of improve
men Will be perfected without instance Of failure ia
the progress OF construction, afterwards! Mr. Segar
is not familiar with the history othese practical detail
or am sure ne would not have given the weight of hs
name and station TO the severe Judgment he passed on
these cases OF work proving defective whilst still in the
hands OIL te contractors How many thousands of dol
lars has 1t cost the James River and Kanawha Com
pany to repair the masonry of locks that have given
way the breaches in the canal, and damage from floods
&c. &c. "
is ltJus to denoupce thar whole scheme or even the
managers q IL tor these mishaps Take the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Company to
whose engineers and other managers have been accord
ed the greatest skill and Judgment. does Mr.. Segar
know how many of their oaiverts were washed away,
e 1oad wny when they were k
were far greater than have occurred with the Louisa
company. am told that almost precisely the same
thing occurred with only several smaller culvers
pu with large piece OF stone work Fredercks-
hrIrin thoHI .rl
Their work had passed the inspection OF the engineer
and was received Are they TO be prescribed all public
confidence and reliance because of their accidents?
might probably, safely ask, where the company which
has been SO fortunate to have all their work faithful
ly executed and nothing to fail None but those prac~
ncaly acquainted with the subject OF the off
eulty OF Keeping contractors UP to the strict and
faithful performance OF their contracts They often i'm
prove on the engineer and piece of work con-
frary TO the terms OF the contract spite OF his utmost
vigilance sometimes he IS persuaded to yield his iudg
nent IN doubtful case to that OF experienced CON
tractor sometimes he IS overuled by pledges and pro-
muses. OF guaranteeing the permanence OF the work.
Experience IS frequently the only thing that will de-
termine the manner in which work is done. We have
striking illustration OF this in piece of stone work
done by Col. Randolph himself On the night before
last 2Oth inst retaining wal built by him Shadwel
Mills TELL causing the road to slide down. and most
heavy loss to the Company. The Engineer was bring
ing the locomotive out to attach to the train and with.
out any warning, found the engine falling over pre-.
train and going very slowly. The Engine did not
entirely capsise; alter few hours delay it was read
iusted on the track, and happy to say without auy
damage being able to perform the trip with its usual
power,
must ask you to show this to Mr. Segar, and author
ize you touse it as you think proper.
Respectfully, your friend.
E. FONTA1NE, President
As another conclusive refutaton of the charge that
the company before authorizing such trail structures
pine pole cuverts, refer you to the iron bridges at
the Rvanna river and Moore's creek of which is
now nearly finished