Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-03

aud the country angriy demands explanation, he
generously and unjusty endeavors shift off all fespon
sbillty upon the contractors. Like Macbeth, to the
ghost OF Banquo be says, Thou caust not say did it,
Go the and pour upon their heads the ul
vial OF your wrath aud vengeance The disclaimer
will not answer. "lt they pabe, he also cul
pabe Tor permitting their culpabiy" II those conrac
tors have been negligent and dishonest they should be
made to feel the consequences So also should this En-
gneer he made TO feel the consequences OF his msan
agemcnt, least far require him to conne his
attention exclusively to the works OF this company
Have we not right to demand his exclusive services
He receives salary nearly equal that OF the Exeeu
tive OF The State, and superior to those of the Judges of
the Court OF Appeals who have attained their positions
by the tosome lucubratones risinti aRnorum
Ia order that members might have ample opportuni-
ty to hear defence OF the ComPanys officers from the
State proxy, who has been unfortunately Diet tanned from
the House for than week. | have allowed
these resolutions 10 lie on the table until that gentemans
tMr Crutchtield) return. We have heard him at last
and go Tar from satisfying the House with the report
OF the Company's Committee of Investigation upon
the fall of Judith Dam, he declares the report to be
unsatisfactory even to himself That document car
hes lis own condemnation upon its face Its utter fail
ure 10 furnish explanation Of the disaster proves that
no explanation can be given 1t is obvious, from
lis whole tenor, that its saners desired to make it
white washing affair 1t fails even to that. In
stead of SURPRISING, it only exces distrust Instead
OF satisfying the mind, 1t only convnces it that sa
tIstactlon is TO be had.
The committee did not all sign this report. ONLY
three of the were willing to publish their names at the
loot OF such paper The report says that the COM
mittee assembled Lynchburg on the 24th January.
1t Is dated on the 25th the day aftcr-and the country
is given to understand that in the short space of 0ne
day this committee made all necessary arrangements
for visiting the dam, preceded to the spot made the
inspection. returned TO Lynchburg and prepared their
report This report, got up IN such indecent haste is
gravely submitted to the country conclusive of the
OF the disaster. Well, what do the committee
say in explanation OF the grave matters submitted to
their 1nvestigatlon From same cause there appears
to have been sufficiently strong bond of union be-
tween the ront-tace and interior Of the masonry"
VI this the country was very well convinced by the fall
OF the dam. They wanted to know, however the
cause OF this want of compactness, and the Committee
informs them gravely that il "somc cause" The
committee say they "beeve that the dam carried
away IN consequence OF its unfinished condition at the
time the fresh upon it."
The country were aware that the dam unfnish-
ed, ard desired to know ,chy it was carried away in
thst state. The Committee answer with compacency
It carried away in unfinished condition. &c. A
very common deuson uracised in the nursery chamber
upon naice children st tell them, that iftisy will
put salt upon birds tail they will be able catch
the bird. Our Committee informs the country that il
they once put cap stones upon the dam it will stand
That was not the enquiry at all. Why did this dam
tall before the cap stones were laid down. Can the
Chef Engineer be excused upon such explanation
Are our public works to be constructed in such manner
10 be liable TO be utterly demolished at every mo-
ment Intervening between the hour OF their commence
ment and the moment of their final completion? The
company have established the principle that Engineers
who construct their dams become responsible only from
the moment OF laying down the cap stones, and fear
have to pay twice.
have met with yet that is satisfied with the
report OF the committee. 1t is solemn farce from be-
ginning 10 end Their progress no to Lynchburg their
pleasure ride to see the ruins and their return from
Lynchuurg only give the complexion OF ridcule to
mat which before was serious and melancholy mat
ter Theirreport relieves the Chief Engineer of not
particle of responsibility. The enquiry still recurs
why was the groung used in the construction of the
dam, soft and Welding Why there not "a su1i-
Gent bond OF union between the front face and interior
mass OF the masonry" Why did the dam fall while
N an unfinished conditions" And the answer palpa-
bly, and pat TO each enquiry Because the Chief En-
glneer allowed soft and yielding grouting to be used
because the Chief Engineer did not provide sufficient
bond OF union; because the Engineer did not guard
against tal of the work while in its unfinished cob.
dltion. These omissions attributable, not to his
want OF skill but to the fact that he allowed other emo
luments TO tempt him to leave the supervision of this
work to irresponsible subordnates and contractors
demand, therefore, that this officer be forbidden accept
employment elsewhere, and required 10 give exclusive
attention to the works OF this company.
Ito BE Concluded