Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-23
TIE LEE MONUMENT GRANITE.
A Reply 10 statements Made by Mr..
NesherwOOd ana ar. Burgwyn.
-. u. r,.oo,,tor - 1880
HIIUNUHUs ' ~ UNCVHIU
~ ti,o rraffor ~ the Dfapstcb

RICHMOND, Va, December y, 1883.
To tho Editor OF the Dispatch:
Sir,-The arrival this week Of vessel laden
with granite from Maine, 10 be used IN the
construction OF tie lee monument has
Justly caused a very general feeling oil sur
prise and indignation, and - to several
DUblished interviews vita Governor Ice,
Nr. NFtuerwOod, and Colonel Burgwyn, the
blame /, made to rest entirely noon the
granite contractors ot this yCn'tY, | trust
Won will allow me, a one OF those coulrac'-
ors, space 10 your paper to show where the
cause lies.
When, IN answer TO the advertisement
calling Tor bids, Colonel purgwyn was called
on for information so that we could estimate
inieliirently for Ibis work. we we're told 10
furnish sample OF the stone 10 he used, ;he
same 10 accompany the BIDS. calling our at
lenti0n At rho same time 10 sample 10 his
Office as the sort OF granite wanted, THIS De-
ing piece % very fine blue Nirgioia granite.
lie further instructed MS rs to the manner IN
3 hich .aid sample should 10 cut, one proyi'
sion being talf one side should be polished
so that the committee could The better Judge
"a 20 The quality OF stone, and such inS'rnc-
tions were fully complied with By the Rich
mAnd bidders 10 ans wer 90 the first adj
hhfIlsHfnNUl NNf UlU-s AfFlNis saul A.'N'
were opened Colonel BurgwyL stated in an
interview with a reporter that the work was
estimd'ed by an expert t0 cost less ,han
SO. OOO. and also in conversation with gem
t,eman OF this city stated that IN his opinion
,hc bids would be from $4,000 10 $4,000.
The lowest 1iG, mat y the Wcslhim Granite
COMPANY. was ISL 500; The highest. MrCar-
tbs A.xaldwiu. Washington, Si222j. After
readIN the bids Colonel Burgwyn informed
the bidders that they cOu'd either take their
SAMPLES away or leave them - they saw ~,
leaving IL 10 be Inferred that he considered
himsei the committee, snd HAT the q crk
should not be given ont, and IN 4 puhllshed
interview next day stated that they Che com.
mitfec) did not intend 10 9quanter Tie peo-
ple's money. and that the hide were twice As
much ss they shoni bave been. and ilot
thew would again advertise for bids, making
20 chance In the plans Or - 3liclti)us.
This was done. aud printed circulars, n,-
compan,el hv copies OF the plans and speci-
fications. were sent 10 Maine and lllssachu-
sets rs well.
ON The opening OF the bids sent in answer
~ this II wa. found that tbe 0rlelnal hiij'''
bad not changed their figures. TIE N''oWc
tNatnel Granite Compi0v's hit VS. sf.,>Jl
,nd tne Hurricane Granite Company ('>o Oh
Mime bid 800. These bids, consider
ing t,ic relative cost OF stone auf labor be'
tween here and there, eve looked uron as
complete yirdilaiion o. our ini-uent in
pu'iing Inc bids for Virginia blue granite @,
over $4,000. The ll1l'oWei Company
IId OF $500 is. IN 0ur eslimaticn, a better
ur.ce than iho Wc-ibam Granite l0mpu0; y.
BID oi Gjl.S)J. rs the Mairo granite is holh
fasier cut ana easier Quuried. NJ. Nctha'
e 3D.. IN NIs d NJ
panied by sample, which IN 70.
w1y came un 70 the Instructions given
/ hy Colonel Burgwyu. !, was y yer" inferior
piece a cray.c9lored stone not uniform h
/ color. nor did it have one silc polished a.
/ required. Further. the dressed parts wcr'
/ Of very poor Workm+n'bip. The market
! prIc, ~ such stone a. ibis sample IS az least
F so per cent. less than the price OF sucn ,tou'
~ Co.onc, Durywyn called for, aud Whlch
/ was bid on bv me original bidders, ana n
can also bc cut much cheaper ihan the niC'
+ granite. Mr. NctDerwoOd consequently dif
not defeat THE Eichaoud contractors, 1s n,
/ j. quoted o., saving, tor the reason HAT be
/ was not properly 10 competition with them
/ as be knew their bids and also knew th1
thew did not intend % change them. lie, IN
/ fact, made his own specifications.
subsequently, before the contract wa'
+ awarded Mr.. NethcrwOOd, wrote 8 Iol'nc
Burgwyn calling his attention 10 these facts
and requested thgt II he WAS 10 accept ucl
stone aud such workmanship as were callet
for bv Mr. NefherWo3d's sample that so
should be allowed tDe opportunity o. agar
bidding on these conditions, calling attention
10 the fact that said sample did not comply
/ With his instructions nor with the spccillct
/ tors. and asking bin TO lay my letter heloT'
/ the committee. Whether this was done d'
/ not know, 81 received no answer.
so far a. Mr.. Nctherwood'- statement ma
/ the other bidders for the work refused q
furnish him with sfonel- concerned The fact
do not bear him ont, rs our h,m we're ncFc
asked 70 furnish any TO him. uor wer
the Richmond Granite Company asked
Huicheon Il Donald, although not bidders
were u0f asked 10 furnish thi, Granite either
and o. il was not necessary illt sli the stone
should come from one quarry doubtless Dir
/ Netherwood could have got all the stone
needed.
Colonel Burgwyn says that the lllllo~el
granite was used in The Yorktown mOnu
ment, and that II meets all the conditions Of
/ the present case. The Yorktown mouumen
was erected by the national Government q
cOmmemorate a national victory. This T.
monument erected 10 the memory u an IN
dvidusl. Of Nirginian, NJ cueitain dea
20 the hearts Of all true \irginI .n,; and Il
TOE estimsli0n OF The people thi- mcnumen
should be erected out oi the everlasting
beautiful granite OF bis native state. PA
triotism aud pride alike PROMPT item q
Think 50 d. l.. MHCHEII.