The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-08-17

&C., &C.
Tho London Times, In view of tho fact that the
Levistban has already cost three times as much as
It was fptimatsd she would; that million OF del.
lars win be required to set her aoat; that in ad
ditiop, half million ia owing on her. which must
soon be paid or tho ship sold under the hammer |;
in view Of these facts the Times boldly asserts that
the constructor, who led 20 many persons to nyeat
their money 10 the enterprise was either incom-
peteut. Or worse The Times believes it was the da-
~ ofAir Brunei, not only to know how to build
the vessel, but to know also what the expense
would be; and ignorance of the last was as much
a fault a. ignorance Of the first. The Times re-
marks that, In this advanced age Of engineering,
nothing can be said to be impossible, provided DO
limit IL put upon the cost. Merit, 10 an engineer
remarks the Philadelphia Ledger, consists less 10
whathe does than in adjusting the means to the end
aud he Who induces men to subscribe TO an enter
priss which he 10 aware will cost more than he
represents, is kuave; be who does it isnorantly,
10 insompstsnt.
The strictures Of the Times might be extended
10 other persons besides Mr. Brunei, and other
enterprises besides the monster steamship. How
many railroads 10 the United States have only
the amount Of the estiDatesG How many houses
or churches are built which do not exceed the
sum which the architects eaid they would costf
The probable expense Of every such enterprise, Of
Landscape gardening, upholstery, decorations, &C.,
10 almost always moderated. If sman 10 about
to build house, remarks the Philadelphia Ledger,
or 70 improve his grounds, to refurnish his dwell.
fog, to paint and ftesco his walls, he naturally
wishes to know wbatis will cost, and nobody but
Q fool or . spepdthrift, enters on such underta-
hipss, II he knows that they will exceed his avail
able means. To be inhaled on 30 important point
may lead to serious embarrassments. "Yet hun.
dreds Of men are annually put to serious incon
vsnience, and some are ruined, In consequence of
the false representations made to them BY the
archiseets, or others they employ. For house
once begun, muat be finished or what has been
already spsnt will be lost, and 90 the dups of the
architect's ignorance, or knsvery, has to 60 on,
whether he likes It or not. Would It not be better
policy, weil ~ honsstsr, for architects and 9th.
srs toisli the truth ut nrsti In that event. II the
employer chose 10 build an expensive house, they,
at least, would be free from fault.
"The answer to this 10. we know, that such or.
chisesas would get no work. Every man, said one
Of them lately, who wishes to build, wants
handsoDsy house for bis money than the sum will
shord; and II one tells him this, be goes to some
other architect less scrupuious so if one Is to have
work one must do a. the rest The plain English
Of this IL, that II Mr. A. cheats, Mr. D. mnst do %
10 self defence. We approve neither the morals, |
nor the sense Of this reasoning Men, orce de-
ceived, are apt to be shy Of the men Who deceive |
them. But architects and landscape gardeners. |
have lsss TO do than they would. In consequence
OF the general pistruss % to the correctness OF
Their estimates People who employ them, md
they s'ver know where the outlay IL to stop. NM
lees the job 10 Of the smpiest and most ordinsry
ensrseteI and hence single experience satisass |
most persons, hence also elegant h0uses and hapd~
some grounds are not 90 numerous - otherwise
they would Be. Why should sot honesty BE- the
best policy for sr architset - wsll - for other
peoplsf Tho fact that III srchitscts DO not De-
csive. aDd that thoss Who tell tie trsth get sss
moot vork. proves that Il II mistake 70 make
false estnases = q The prehabis cost q the buid
Ing = fsgsss 1913