Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-07-09
For the Standard.
Our Railroad.

and some Of the objections which were
raised by our non-paying subscribers
We viii now consider another subject Of
complaint BY them. Il IS often urged
by them thatalthough the western route
may be buiIFfor $4,000 less than the
eastern, yet this sum IS not saved by the
corporation, but By the contractor, and as
the western route is adopted and can be
built cheaper than the other by the sum
Of $4,000, the contractor puts that
sum into his own pocket.
IF this assertion were really true, the
argument Of cur opponents would not
seem to be very well founded, for admit
ting that either route would cost precise
" the same sum, yet the western route
would be really worth $4,000 annually I
more than the other, because it can be
operated each year by more than that
sum cheaper than the other. Again,
supposing the contractor really does save +
SI30,000n his job, still it is better that
this sum sbopld be in his pocket, rather
than that tbe same sum shorId be wasted
in a needIessly. expensive road. But
/ such Is the infrmity Of human nature
+ that some men can never feel that they
have made a good bargain unless the
nan they trade with loses. This is not
a right feeling. IF a man can produce a
| piece Of property that IS really worth
500, and It will sell in market for that
sum, it ought not TO excite the regret or
envy of any one that it really cost the
/ producer only $50 to raise or to manu-
/ facture this property.
/ If, as all writers on political economy
tell Us, that productive labor IS the source
and origin Of wealth, It would seem to be
the duty Of all who can control and d.
rect the application of labor, to direct
and apply it to a useful purpose. \
million Of dollars spent in war is lost,
lost to the world though the soldiers and
contractors employed, may individually
/ recsivetheir pay for their services. In
like manner if a railroad or any other
public work is built at the expense Of
/ S2,00a,000, when another road on anoth-
er line which would equally or better
serve the public, can be built for 81, 000,-
600, any man Of sense would say take
the cheaper route, and If the more ex-
pensive route Is adopted and built, we
may say that 100000 is lost to the
world; that the extra amount Of labor
needIeszIy expended has added nothing
to the worlds withdrawing to human
support or happiness.
But let Us examine this complaint, that
Tho COMMITS has ciaalAa 4l.e-.4>.a r,a->y-
out Of $4,000 in his contract with the
directors, or that the directors did not
cheat the contractor out Of that sum, as
they might have done, and as they were
in duty bound 10 do. We all know the
character Of our directors. and know
they are not men fond Of being cheated,
or very liable 10 be imposed upon. The
contractor also has the reputation Of an
honest man, and Of experience in his
e business.
4 The contract was made October, 1858,
5 and IS to this effect: at IS agreed that
: the road from the village Of Barton TO
2 Canada Line, shall be built on the line
] which shall in all respects be the best line
4 for the corporation; and if the parties
i cannot agree upon the location Of the
o road, the question Of the location shall
j be referred to James Hayward, Onslow
i Stearns, and the chief engineer; and It
IS also agreed that If the road is built on
I what IS called the Beebe Plain route. il
{, shall extend as far east as it can be built
= with reasonable grades, so as to accom-
;, modate Derby Line village.
i Can any thing be fairer? Is It not
q sensible and an honest contract, with
Il out any indications of overreaching. OF
: undue advantage on either side? But
G it IS urged By some Of the advocates Of
IS the eastern route that the contractor
b was bound to build the road for S1,I85..
. 600; the company have got to pay thai
J. SUM, it matters not 70 the corporation
which road IS built, and if the contractor
5. loses money IN the job We care not, but
= we want the eastern road" But the
r question arises, would the contractor
ri eTe~ have entered into this contract
q binding himself to build the road fol-
p, Sl,I80.000, if It had not contained thi,
IL condition for q reference TO 3Iessrs. TIav
, ward, Stearns and Adams, to determin,
IA the route ? Had the proposals Of tn,
4 directors bound the contractor absolutel,
to build the road on the eastern route. :
different price UndouhfadIv ,vouI5 Lo-