The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-18


S2S S9B Is
Bridge Euperstrueture. ....... .....,.. l0,[6s o.
Total. l........................... SSab. .sS4 IS
Which would make the entire road cost
$l4 900 per mile.
WHY TIE ACTUAL COST RXcRRDRD MR..
BRCKRR's ESTIMATE.
Many circumstances and casualties oc.
CURED to produce this result. Mr.. Becker
Estimated the cost of graduation and
On IsonHiy ~. SzVo.sV
ettlmAted. "............,..........' 4,bSO
Total. otal........................... :. .89lO,sOj
This amount he thought would cover
the entire expense Of building the road
ready for bridge superstructure, iron, etc.
THE REPORTS OF MEssRs. SMITH AND
.. BECKER. .s
In Mr.. SMTTH's report he gives the es-
timated cost (less $1,000 for bridge super.
structure, which does not show in Mr..
BEcKRR's estimate) at $lSS, 1853 for some.
thing over one-third Of the whole dis
tance. An approximate estimate for the
whole distance, allowing the work 10 be
Of the same general character, would
amount to $560,0O0. This amount does
not include the bridging Of the road. In
MIR. BEcKER's report the estimate for the
entire road bed Of twenty-four miles was
but $2l0, 900, exclusive OF bridge super
structure. On the basis OF MIR. SMITHS
report the average cost per mile would be
about $23 900. as against $9,770. on the
basis OF Mr. BROKERS report.
THE POSITION OF THE DIRECTORS.
Under such circumstances what was
the proper course of the Directorsp Mr..
Smith, be 1t remembered, based his esti-
mate Of cost on his own survey, while
Mr.. Becker based his on the reports oil
his assistants and on responsible bids As
to how the great difference between the
two reports could have occurred do not
now pretend to say. That was question
the Board could not decide satisfactorily
to themselves, They acted on the best
judgment they could form from the facts
presented.
THE BID OF Mr.. BURNS.
In regard to the bid Of this gentleman
/ will simply say that neither he nor any
one else ever made the company q bid for
building and completing the entire road
as per line of survey and profile Of road
for specific amount. Mr.. Burns made
bid 10 take the whole road by sections,
In the same manner and form as all other
bidders, which Is in the following words,
viz:
"The quantities Of the following state
ment or schedule are TO be considered as a
approximations only, and 1t iS,understood
the final estimate for all work done upon
this line shall In no way be based upon the
present statement, but shall be calculated
from detailed measurement hereafter 10 be
made from such classidcations OF material
as may be developed during the progress
Of the work"
The schedule, then follows with the dii.
Ierent sections upon the whole line oil
road: l can only say that Mr.. Burns bid
was so far above all other bids that the
engineer did not consider 1t at all. 81 l
hope the Burns bid for building this road
will rest hero. have the same in my
possession and It can be seen at any time.
All this extra and unforeseen work
would have had to be paid for at
the price named in the bids. Whether
the work would have been completed
sooner and thus resulted in the running Of
the road before the panic set in, by giving
the work to single contractor, is Of
course at this time mere matter Of con-
coDj lecture No one can sSy how 1t
would have turned out, and we do
not pretend 10 know. 1t must be
remembered that the work had
barely commenced before the first Of
June, 1879, and that it was not In our
power to commence sooner on account of
an agreement with the Board Of Super
visofs Of Ohio County, which required US
TO close the contract with the Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati s. ST. Louis Co. before COM
mencing work upon this road. Owing
to the absence OF President Scott, OF the
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & st. Louis road,
we could not close our contract with
that Company until the 9th Of May, 1879,
and when thus closed the contract was
not sanctioned by the Board OF Super
visors for some days following 90 that
in the year 1872 we had practically very
little time to do anything, owing to the
delay referred to, and owing also to the
horse epizootic that came upon our con-
tractors in November, and which com.
PEELED most Of them 10 suspend operations.
These drawbacks were followed BY win.
ter Of almost unprecedented severity,
and one that admitted Of but little
progress in the building Of the road. In
consequence Of 1t, the Spring found US
lar behind our expectations. The con-
tractors were Of course serious losers,
having had their stock 10 feed and handle
OF unusual expense, and being also
obliged TO pay for many days work that
were very indifferently performed. Their
losses caused failures, bankruptcies, as
siguments and general demoraliz ation
among them, and thus entailed upon this
company not only delays and losses, but
great deal Of dissatisfied public opinion.
And yet, as you can readily see, there was
no escaping the Ills that belel us. No
one could have anticipated them at the
outset. The magnitude Of the work was
beyond first calculations; many unlocked
for difficulties arising out Of right Of way,
and also by reason ofthe immense amount