Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-08-15
Col CrNzet ard the Tunnel.

C. Grozet They cantaiu a yindication of
himself and the contractor on tbeiBlue Ridge
Tunnel, which the public have right to, and
which we readily give. They also furnish
some authentic information about the condi-
ton and progress of the Tunnel, which will
be interestitg to the numerous friends of the
work. We tender our thanks to Col. Gro
yet for the personal regard which prompted
this letter.
Il x y
But am / public officer The law does
not consider me as such. / am but the a.
gent of the Board of Public Works, I exc
cute their orders and instructions /; my acts,
therefore, are their acts, except in what is
strictly professional If | be asked about
my reasons for particular location, for Civ
ing general slope to the Tunnel, for ex-
ample, or for making it without shafts. or
any other question pertaining to Engineer
ing-it is my province TO answer. But as
regards general measures, financial matters,
contracts &c would not the questions be
more properly addressed to the Board 3?
And would it notbe transeending my duty
to constitute myself the reporter Of that
body.
In the matter Of contracts for bricks,
however, / eau venture, without trespassing
upon their privileges, to elucidate the sub
jeet, especially as tie delay has been laid at
my door. For more than two years this
work has progressed ,oithout cash payments,
.ohiohy by the energy and public spirit of
the contractor, who, since last October, has
not even received State stock, which was
inhibited by law-so tnat, but for the in
domitable spirit Of this contractor, the work
which "drags its slow length along" would
not even have dragged, but stopped alto
gether. You may readily conceive under
what difficulties labored in that state of
,things
Now, eighteen tnonths ago, / was con-
WINGED of the necessity of arching $50 feet
about of the Tunnel but the contractor,
who was even fearful that he would not be
able to sustain the work, and feared that.he
might have to stop, could not venture to
add TO his disbursements and declined max
ing hrieks Ny application to the Presi-
dent of the Central was unsuccessful, and
the law prohibited our entering into con-
tract with any one else. Hence, tie delay.
In June last, believe, the contractor,
John Kelly, obtained an accession of,funds
and promptly took measures to procure
brieks--but the Board of Public Works
made no contract; nor did |, ofcourae. The
whole transaction was the contractors own
business, on whom VIC have 10 depend alto
gether.
As'to the large contract said to have been
made, | am not aware that the contractor
has undertaken to procure bricks for the
farther extension of the arch. He once sug-
gested it of his own accord, because he the t
it would make better iob-but while adj
mitted the fact, and so did the Board, I
thought we were not in condition to incur
more expense and, considering the roof Of
the Tunnel, in the distance proposed, per-
fcetly safe and likely to continue so for an
indefinite time, with but common share Of
prudence and casual organizations, / was
opposed to the job. which you see was 10
nurseling of mine. The Vindicator is GER
tainly right in saying, I'VE are not aware
that any more power exists now to make
the contract than heretofore" Nor have
we made any and only supervised the
construction of the arch when the contract
or obtained bricks for the purpose of build
ing the 15G feet;I, myself, consider indis-
pensable, of which so feet are now secured,
leaving only about 20 fest. TO do, which IS
all about which, 1 have any ooncern These
explanations show you HOY, unjag. all char
ges are about delay, &c, since the thing
adverted to, was never, nor is it now, part
Of my plans and that which had contem-
plated could not be done for waat of funds,
for which we have to rely on the public
spirit of the SO much abused contractor,
without whom the work had stopped
by some people, am made responsible
for every thing, and charged with great
many things which had never any existence,
| have said and done great deal whieh,I
never dreamt O., ~ ~ =
The great cry has heen slow progress,
and, that, because those who speak so have
no knowledge OF that kind of work, and,
while / repeat that the progress has been
oreditsb!e to TIE skill and management Of
the. contractors, 1t is absurd to connect me
with it ). for have not any more to do with
the laborers than those who find fault; my
business is to direct the construction as to
plans and specifications, not to oversee the
laborers. And as to expenses about which
most absurd things also have been said,
those people ought to inform themselves,
and they would learn that the accounts are
verified and certified to ME by another Off
Ger, appointed BY the Board, who sees the
hands paid, and that consequently, have
no manner of agency in the disbursements,
except signing drafts upon the return of that
kind of Auditor. Every thing is supported
by vouchers. Some people are clamorous,
among .them the Advocate, for the Board to
investigate, what? their own instructions
ard orders?
We begin to see land and huge to have
the track. in order some time in September
I had proposed to let the trains pass through
in July, because the company seemed to
want its temporary track engines elsewhere
this would have required the. use of an un-
iulating track IN the Tunnel, which would
have been graded at intervals /; bet the
President, very properly, preferred. to, wait
until the track was perfect this will save
ultimately time and expense; but to the
public it looks like additional delay and
hasty promise, while, ON the contrary, the
public interest and safety have been cauti-
ously consulted, So it has been all along
with my acts, misunderstood, misrepresen-
ted whilst on the contrary those who have