The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-04

faction of the directory, they CATERS paribus viii
have the preference for the construction OF the rest
of the line.
This contract, az it is seen, IL surrounded by al
many moral guarantees as may be possibly desired.
10 is n contract of reciprocal equity in which on tho
one side the contractors being paid for all the
vice they do and freed from the burden OF all kinds
Of eventualities, have before them no probability OF
loss and for this very reason lessen the margin
Of their profits. On the other side, the company,
paying for whatever it orders to be made, has its
hands free for any modification Of the plans, and is
exempted from the fifty or eighty per cent margin
which il rendered necessary in the uncertain play OF
contracts in bulk, terribly broken country like
that Of our COrdilleraS.
The only serious objection to the system of con-
tracts by the job preferred by the directory are
those which, perhaps, may be derived either from
the want of aptitude in the contractors or from the
danger of losing time in consequence of their not be-
ginning the service. We are glad to be able to
tranqulize the public with regard to these risks, by
stating that the contractors to whom preference has
been given, offer in their antecedents and the cir
cumstances which accompanied the concluding OF
their contract excellent guarantees apart from the
inducement which naturally puts them IN motion,
having before them prospective construction of
about $50 miles Of railroad, besides the IL for which
they have contracted. short notice OF the part
ners who compose the firm to which the adjudication
has been given, repOsng on documents which have
been shown to US, will have the advantage OF tran
QUILTING the country, which not without reason, de-
ires the rapid construction OF the road, and at the
amongst that if they comprehend, as it is to
be hoped they do, their mission, they will be receiv-
ed with the most cordial wishes for their prosperity
Two of the company are capitalists: one Of
them Mr.. Watts-lving in the United States, and
the other-Mr. Earrah-having- for fifteen
years at Rio, and now, as we are informed exclu-
sively occupied with the administration Of the en-
terprise to which he has associated himself. Two
other partners-Messrs. Robert and George Harvey
are two brothers, exclusively engaged in railroad
contracts. The elder-Robert Harvey-proves,
with documents signed by the respective presidents
and chief engineers, to have executed to the full
satisfaction OF the companies considerable contracts
for the railroad of Raleigh and Castor, for that of
Richmond and York River and for that of Rich
mond and Danville-for the latter, says the docu-
ment more than two-thirds of the road bed and for
ty miles of superstructure. The fifth partner-Mr.
Jacob HUNDREDS known to Colonel Garnett
and his First Adjutant, under the direction
of which latter he executed in the United
States several contracts with excellent success.
OF this latter contractor, Mr.. O. Fisk, one OF the
most illustrous engineers OF North America states
that he has known him for long years, and that he
never saw him give up unsuccessfully the execution
of works for which he had contracted. Our lega-
ton in Washington thus expresses itself with re-
gard to him "Mr. j. Humbrd h i known to me as
account Of the considerable pecuniary means of
which he diposes, to carry out great works as it IS
proved by those he undertook on different railroads
in this country" At this very moment Mr.. Hum
bird has finished. or is finishing, tunnel of ZOO
feet in rock in the State of Virginia. Lastly, the
sixth partner Mr. w. NJ Roberts, has an established
reputation as engineer. it was ne who directed,
as chief engineer from the beginning to the end,
the construction OF the railroads in Cumberland
Valley Bellefontaine and Indiana; he also chief
engineer OF the Navigation Company OF Monongahe-
In, and of that of the Sandy and Beaver canal For
the Keokuk, Fort des Mones and Minnesota rail-
roads, Mr.. Roberts having become q contractor,
executed to the satisfaction of the company thirty
eight miles OF the road bed Our legation officially
recommends also the good qualities OF Mr. Roberts.
These are, in our opinion, moral guarantees enough
for tranquilzing us, to which we may add that Rio
il witness of the activity Of the contractors who,
Immediately after the adjudication had taken place,
without waiting for the public act of the notary be-
gan to purchase implements and other utensils, and
today are in the mountains in company with seve-
raj sub contractors with whom they wish TO contract
for different fractions OF the service in order TO fur
Their the work as much "a depends on their power.
We will not omit to mention here circumstance
in our opinion highly significant, witnessed by
friend Of ours who was casually and for another
purpose present in the office of Sir. Siaho. We
not aware ofths circumstance when we learned that
the act Of notary had been made public.
The person alluded to reports that Mr.. Meade (the
American Minister) before dipping his pen, had
asked the President Of the company il he desired
his signature as asmple private man or in his official
and diplomatic character that the Counsellor
Ossoni replied that the testimony Of the private
sufficient, but that the signature Of the
Minister il his Excellency deigned to give it, would
be very useful and honorable. Then Mr. Meade, in
tcogatng the two parties as to the sponaneousness
act in his quality as Envoy Extraordinary and Min
lister Plenpotentiary Of the United States.
We shall observe that either we not able to cal
cuate the Specification Of this act of his Exceency
Mr. Meade or it must be admitted that il constitutes
a quasi engagement on the part of the American
government with that OF Brazil, in consequence of
which the works Of the railroad of Pedro H. will
ceive vigorous impulse and be executed with
loyalty and consciensciousness If in this way the
United States will save from the considera-
bic expenses connected with contracts in the bulk
hu fhnaf aril nxto of ia
must be avowed that the American policy has found
out one of the best means Of promoting the alliance
TO which il invites u.s.
We shall close with the following refection:--The
contractors TO whom preference has been given
TO have well understood their position and devoted
themselves TO the enterprise, perceiving without
doubt, In the energy with which till now the direc-
tory knew how to resist absurd pretensions, sign
Of benevoence with which 1t receives and will re-
ccive those who, without any pretensons Of domin-
ion, only endeavor to earn from their abors just
proportioned 10 the sacrifices which
they make in leaving their country. We wish from
all our heart that they may completely succeed.