Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-03-26
For the Standard

W AhS pbaiidtsAhs
Mr.. EDITOR Il have said the Bar
ton river route for the railroad was tho't
of and talked about as early as 1852 and
1888. At a meeting of the directors
held in Nay, 1854, it was unanimously
voted by them to locate the road down
Barton river, and anticipating that the
needed amount of stock would be soon
taken, it was then also voted that COM
mittee be appointed to put the road I'M
der contract, and with authority to change
the location if on more full examination
any other route should appear to be more
" advantageous for said road" 1t is said
by B. H. that the contractor refused to
build on the eastern route" and that the
directors knew when they appointed the
engineer that he would locate the road
down the river" The contractor did
not refuse to build on the eastern route,
but agreed to build on such route as might
be determined on by the directors and
himself, or, if they could not agree, on
such route as might be fixed by referees
mutually agreed on. 1t being shown that
Al ~-oouIu-6e quit for
$4,000 less than the eastern, B. Fl.
insinuates that certain of the directors,
together with the contractor, share that
sum and he asks if the contractor did
not make his bargain " to cover the high
est estimated expense of construction ?"
The insinuation of B. H. is not only base
less, but because it is so without reason on
the part of its author for the scandalous
imputation, it is likewise base. None of
the directors participate, directly or indi-
rectly, in the profit or loss on the con-
tract of construction. For a reply to
the question of B. H. l will say that pro-
badly none but the contractor can answer
it categorically, but the fair presumption
arising from his large experience, and
known ability and success in the business
ola railway contractor, is that he made
his bargain on his own judgment of the
cost and chances for profit. | can well
imagine that one so shrewd as his sue
cess proves him to be, might, after having
looked the ground over, feel safe, and be
willing to incur the risks of contract fo1
: construction of the road on either of the
routes proposed, as might be determined
{ by disinterested, competent, and honor
able umpires to be /" IN all respects tn
best line for the corporation.' Such WERE
the terms of the contract to which ht
agreed. Why should he not !? He knew
the charter required the directors to Sc
lect and adopt the line, course, or way
, which after due examination made, they
may deem the most advantageous for tn
f road and that such action would b.
consistent with their permanent interest
! So far then he might feel safe. Castin!
: out of the account the $131,000 differ
ence in the expense of construction o.
0 the eastern and western route, he NIGH
$ feel entirely safe as to which was til
e "best line for the corporation" and there
= fore which would be adopted, because c
: the difference of grade. And it appear
# by the action Of the directors in MAY
a 1854, that they had then the same view
# as to which was the "best line for til
n corporation" that the contractor had i
a October 1855. The conclusion is there
v fore rational, that the contract was mad
r with the belief Of both parties theret
,e that sensible umpires after looking owe
,fI the ground, would be of the same opil
,e ion and the other conclusion is also II
lie tional that under such circumstances IL
at $l3l, 900, or nearly that sum, is save
< to the corporation as one item in the e.
lie pense- of construction by adopting II
is western route.
g But some B. H. (and by this l dor
i'll mean some Booby-Head,) may ask if IL
is contractor was to have the same pri
of for construction on either route, no
~ could he feel safe that the western rou
Id would be recommended by the umpire
at and adopted by the directors, because
the difference of grade ? I say some ]
ou II. may ask this, for one B. II. has g
v ready said, with an air of confidence al
tn show of stupidity, in reply to my in
az nation before now made of saving
be reason of the difference of grade, that Il
"ruling grade" on the western route
", 50 and tenths feet to the mile, and tn
1t some surveyor made the grade on t
eastern route 45 or 46 feet per mile
on Therefore he concludes that if the diffe
ur ence of grade would in any way work
We savingto the company, that saving W GU
est be on the eastern route. Lest some 9th
intellect should be as dull as that of
he H., will endeavor to illustrate, repre'