Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-03-08

81 ~ consider Il props yat5k aae =
.pslds /
listS i may b. sI[f down at about twos1 5hat
IS, two Of Stock to three Of cash payment -
originally estimated for let, and completed
prices and feel fully justified in stating thai The
Road has cost less than If let wholly for cash--tor
the reason that in cash lettings at the South the
work is generally taken by foreigners or nonresi-
dents, many Of whom are nero adventures, with:
out means or credit, who cannot command an ade-
quate supply of labor in the vicinity Of the work;
that which they do obtain is ut an advanced price,
to the distrus OF the parties and the
imported labor still higher it is apparent that these
tend greatly to enhance the cost of the work.
which, if not provided for in the outset is rarely,
may say, never fully done, must lead to failure,
and an abandonment Of the contract, with the in
variaby attendant consequences OF delay, and IN
creased cost. Now when the work is executed, as
was the case on the North Carolina Railroad, in
small contracts with the exception of the section
extending from Goldsboro to point six miles west
of Ralcigh) by the people on the line of the Road
no one undertaking more than he can conveniently
perform-there is no unworthy jealousy or rivalry,
and no dstrust-friends neighbors and relations far
and wide lend helping hand all from one end Of
the Road to the other being engaged in the same
cause with one object in view, become unit
ed in sympathy and kindly feelings; what one may
lack in labor and means his more abundantiy sup
piled neighbor will provide the Road furnishes
Contractor consumes his own provisions, works his
own horses and his own hands-being, as it were,
the purchaser of his own surplus products and the
hirer of his own horses and hands,-fndng re-
muneration and ample recompense in pay received
for his work. 1t follows then as a necessary con-
sequence and it must appear obvious to every one,
that the native Contractor resident on the line of
the Road, and adjacent thereto, can work for less
price than non-residents of the State, who would
have to import foreign labor,-and, if white labor
as in all probability it would be,-would cost more
than slave labor, besides not being so effective Tin
the Southern country by at least thirty per cent.
Ny own experience and observation, sustained by
that of skiIful and experienced Contractors, fully
iustiies me in making this comparison and ratio be-
tween white asd slave labor in the South. l there
fore, have hesitation in saying that the North
Carolina Railroad, built it has been in small con-
tracts at the Engineers estimate, by citizens of the
State residing the line of the Road, WITH the ma
tive labor of the State-has cost less than if paid
for wholly in cash under the system of public let
tings to the lowest bidder. The result, however,
will be otherwise when the work is let in large con-
tracts for payments partly in Stock, for the
chcaply as twenty thirty Contractors scattered
along the line of the Road residing in the vicinity
where the hands would be employed, nor can he
procure his supplies as cheaply; experience has
fully proven this every where-and l could, but
that it might be deemed inyidous, cite examples
Z. In relation to comparison of the estimated
and actual cost of the Railroad, in lieu of any Oh.
servations or collatng of my Own,-I beg leave to
transcribe a statement made by Gov. Morehead,
late President of the Company, in communica-
ton to the last General Assembly, which is fol-
lows:
Gas by the estimates now submitted, it will ap-
pear, that the Road, when fully completed and
equipped, will cost, per exhibit A, s., 235, 300,
over and above the three millions; it may seem to
those who do not understand the subject, that the
original estimate of So 405 1872 made by the Chief
the mark, and erroneous in its calculations.
{" If any such impression be made, it is due to the
Chief Engineer, and to the Board, with whom had
the honor to act in adopting the first estimate, that
it be removed A short examination of the subject
will excite surprise at the accuracy of the first esti
mate.
"That estimate was made, to ascertain what sum
would be required to construct the Road and fairly
put it in operation and the Chief Engineer after
timatng that the Roadway would cost s., 165, 332-
the workshops and fixtures $lOO, 0OO-proceeds to
say The number. of Locomotives and their trains
depend of entirely the amount of business
and may be increased as the wants of the Company
require. 1t is not usual to embrace in the original
estimates and charge to capital more than barely
sufficient to put the Road into operation and with
additions, carry it through, and
BILE it to do the business of the first year. With
this restriction submit the following estimate viz
The Engineer then estimates for ten Locomo-
tives six passenger, four baggage and eighty bur-
then cars at $l39, S0O-which sum, added to the
two preceding sums gives So, 4O5 1872 for the Road
way, equipment and workshops.
The estimates now presented to you arc intend
ed to show what sum will be required to complete
the Road all necessary buildings and appcndages,
and to equip it in style commensurate with its inn
portance.
"By these estimates the entire cost will be ST.
235, &c., (being the whole amount contained in cx-
l,ibit AZ which is 81 235, 800 over and above the
three millions already subscribed
By exhibit A, it will be seen the motive power
yet to be contracted for amounts to the
sum of sase, 600
By reference to the accompanying printed
Report al page 81, will be seen the mo-
tive power already contracted for, and
the most of which is already received,
which may be put down at cost of 22l $50
Thus making the motive power cost $5lO,75O
Cost of motive power brought forward, $5lO,75o
estimate lss,soo
The increase for motive power is ss7o,s5o
10 this may be added the estimate for
houses, for oversecrs and hands, which
might be, but ought not to be dispensed
with, viz: 10000
Also may be added at least the sum of $40.
600, rendered necessary in the estimate
for additional sheds for Locomotives and
Coaches 10000
Thus we have the sum of $41o,s5o
contained in the present estimate which was not in
tended to be estimated for in the first.
The extraordinary rise in the price of iron since
the first estimate, could only bave been with
prophetic eye. Of the twenty -three thousand tons
bought for this Road, 5000 tons were purchased
fho r;c md sir