Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-05-06
INTERN IMPROVEMENT

From the Richmond Examiner
The Chenpncss Of Slore Lobm belonging 10 Compnnic.
IN constructing hnpropcments compared 10 The system
Of Contracts.
The Commonwealth # Virginia has at this time many
improvements IN progress o Construction, II hccomcs
question Of sstinns IMPOTENCE T., tho cheapest mode
of making these improvements The systcm OF making
contracts with individuals is universally adopted in the
free aud generally IN the slave S'ntrs There can bc
question but i, the better plan in The Northern
States and can be- done cheaper than H companies were
10 hire labor hut IN slave Stat \, where the labor
be owned by the companies. am decidedly Of the opn-
ion. that the grading masonry aud mechanical work "n
Rail Roads and The entire construction Of Canals be
made for less than half the cost under the system of
tracts To sustain this view Of the subject. the object
II this essay, tnf am deeply interested mt only as n
large tax payer but stakeholder in two Of the mos,
important improvements in ,ho State the James River
aud kannwha Company aud the Virginia aud Tennessee
rail road Company
Az lover of my native State should drlipht to see
not only those two important improvements completed,
but also the other great lines commenced and that
contemplated carried on 10 coosomnn,ion. Th'n.
should expect tn all geograpl nj visions h.nled
and good old Cummonw cah take the position ia the
contdcracy Which she is entitled by the extent of
her territory the pruduciyencs u her sn AMI her min
etal resources. But this cannot he done II hr expensy w
system of contracts he continued for the States Treas
uty is inadequate To sustain these accummnaird bur
dens and consequently many sections be deprived
adopted 10 cheaper their cost. The plan propose,
sm con vinced will hnye this effect aud ought To be
btacnd by MI tho improvement companies in the slave
holding States.
To sustain Tho in have assumed. il necessary
10 npare the cost Of labor To company owning I'll"
slaves and 10 contractor who hires them. for IL s gen
efay known that but small portion Of thu ahoIers eau
possibly belong the coniractrs-iha they principally
rely upon h'cngs-nnd that they have found slaves The
profitable laboers proofo this fact, more than
hen futths Of the aboters the James River aud Kan
awha Canal the last year slaves.
Tho average hire the present year Of negro men To
work public improvements is about tl2O II n rail
road canal company were 10 purchase at the present
price, say $500 tho annual cot IN tho company compared
with tho hirengs. will be nearly MS follows:
Interest On 5000. &35
Insurance ,d life. 10 equal 10 iG dollars !
less than half, for hand To be employed in grading or
e1cavang earth besides tho profit 10 the CONTRACTOR; bu,
upon mechanical work still greater difference exists ;
take masonry for examples and upon all these improve
nentS II vast amount Of masonry has tn be done.
.pghily negro man. will in six mon,hs make tlcr"hle
mason and in twelve months excellent one. for il IL
simple rade eas y learned. Yet nasons are scarce
and command high price. and contractor offering for
work bases his calculations upon paying these high prices
The to Company owing slaves who are masonsand
TO contractors who hro them. will approximate to the