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Haviritfbeen vjrulenllv assailed in the editorial columns of the Toronto Leader — the paid mouth-piece of a clique of Railway practitioners, who affect to despise everything Canadian — except our debentures — I submit, as the best answer to this attempt to blacken my personal and pro- fessional character in the Capital Cily of my native Province — and amongst many old friends and school- fellows, — the articles from the Montreal Herald which have called forth this labored, malignant, but pointless Grand Trunk denunciation. That the publications which the Leader so flimsily professes to despise, have been keenly felt, is evident from the sharp cry of the wounded plotters through the columns of their organ. The Leader^ with more shrewdness than honesty, labors to insinuate that my reply to the assaults of the Railway jobbers, is dictated by disappointed ambi- tion. It is only necessary to refer to the fact, that I did not seek anything at the hands of the Government, but that the proposition came from them ; moreover, as I never anticipated any other result than that which has taken ])laee, the correspondence in the Herald which has given so much offence, would not have appeared at all, liad not the same gentleman who has shewn so much discretion in publishing Mr. Brassey's letter, unneces- sarily held mc 14) to the country ;is an Eiii^^ineer wiio miglit be iniluenced by Grand Tniiik iiioncy. As ;in Executive Councillor he aflected to fear the inveterate ccn*- rnpting tendencies of the Company over ^vhicll he })rc- sided — whose morality he was (laicv to discriminate, bnt lielpless to ndbrm — but to those who are familiar with the philosophy of the school to which he belongs, the reason assigned will bo regarded as Incus a nonluccndo ; for had there been any possible grounds for the "painful sus])icion," I should undoubtedly have rccciv(>d the hearty support of the President, Engineer, and pensioners of the Grand Trunk Railway. The following letter was sent to the Leader — but its re- ceipt is not even acknowledged in this day's issue (INIay 11: TouoxTO, ?iray 13, 1850. To Ihc Ed'dor nflhnLrddrr. Sir, — I hehcvo it is tlio practice of iinpartiul Jonrimlists to pLibii-~li the articles upon wliich thoy have occasion I0 comnifiit. I tliink you will admit, that the p(3rso!ial attack in yoni- [)a.[)cr of this iiiiv'.s date, entitles nie to a>k as a matter ofjiisUce :it your hands, tliat you would he ijood enouuli to pnl'lish iho^e productions of niuie upon wliich yon have so sti'oii;j!,'ly aninuidveiti-d. I have the honor to 1k', Sir, Vonr otuHlicnt sm-vant, TIIOS. ('. KKFd'KR. Hie I3th jNI ncor WHO As ail erate cor- li lie prc- inato, l)nt liar Avith luccndo ; " painfnj ic liearty i oners of ut its re- Lio (May 5, 1850. o publisli I tliiiik hi*; (l;iy'.s tlial you iiic npf!ri VM. The following- reply to the allack in the Leader of the I3th iNIay, ap[)eurcd in the Globe of tlie next clay : To the Editor of iJie Glodi:. Sir, — I was invited to deliver last winter, an introductory cour.5e of lectures upon Civil Engineering", before the University of :\ic(Jili College at r\lonireai : in doing which I took occasion to utter some wholesome, but, possibly to some parties, distasteful truths. It so happened that a short time after the last lecture had been delivered, the President of the (Irand Trunk Company thought proper to drag my name before the Legislative Council and the country, as an Engineer wlio had been once thought of, as one of the parties to be appointed to examine the Grand Trunk iladway, but who, havino- been weidied in the balance — of, an account due by that Company — had been found wanting. I am free to confess lliat the fact of my ever having had any pecuniary transactions with that Company, was in itself suspicious ; 1 theiefore felt it due to my own character fully to explain the whole affair, and at the saiu" time to prove that llunx' were other reasons, be^iiles the dis- creditable one impuied to me by the President, why 1 had been ri'j;';;led. .'"ome extracts from these lectures— supposed to be iippiicable to the times — as well as my explanations were published in I lie .\Ionti<;al llciudd of last week, and it ap|)ears the latter at le:iv( li;ive alli'acted the uoli;e of llii' parties concerned, ^^o that I Irive been honored with xunetlung over a column of mingled advice aid al)ii-e bv one of the literaiy lii'a\()-, who: e obedient steel is piiuii'.f.l ill — ia!., at th.' buck of th;' railway magnates, who have ;>('i/j'il upon thi.r unfi>rlun:ile country and atHicted it with the '' 'I't.ruali) T.eadrr."' The coiu'jia.'d eiforlsor thL; AsMstmt Com- lai-sioner of Pubhj Works the Presihait ani Chief Engineer of G tlio Cli-aud TiMiik Coni,):uiy, (bosiJcs oUil'is loo ia.-iguilicant tu incntion) have refilled in the loHowin^; iiiihcttnLMit : — 1st. Tlmt I once estimated the iiiipiosenK'nt of ih: Ilapidsof the luver St. J^awrence at X 10,01)0, while !>onie other parthi.s have csliiitated lliis work at X'iOO^OOO. Tlie Leader has understated iny estimate about fifly per cent., and rori;ot to mention that the Engineer of the J^oaid of AVorks also estimated this improvement at X2r),()00 or X30,000. A house, a siiip, or a bridgt-', designed for the same purpose, vvili be estimated diiVerently, if they are to be built of wood or iron — and witii respect to the matter in ques- tion my plan involved no blastmg under water — while the others were wholly or partially based upon this expensive, and in my judgment unnecessary operation. As a case in point, T may men- tion that in IS-IT, Mi. Killaly estimated the landing j)icrs below Quebec as follows :—Berthier X-2,000 ; L'Islet ^2,000; Cap Orrigneaux X2,000 ; Hiviere du Loup X3,000 ; Father Point iiJl,;'300; total £10,500. I believe the cost has been at least ten times greater : but, no doubt, iNIr. Killaly can explain the changes and alterations of plan, or other causes, which have occasioned the discrepancy. i-'nd. That a Montreal pajicr once stated that a cvdvcrt built by me, under the Lachine Canal, had fallen in, and an arch had crumbled away. The culvert did not exactly fall in, but the water fell into it. 'JMiis culvert was built upon a plan forced upon the IMontreal Corporation by the ]5oard of Woiks, whieh retained the right of supervision over it dining construction, and it so happens that 1 protested in writing against it, as likely to let the water in , and my predictions were unfortunately viMiiied. The story about the arch is all moonshiiu}. Ino arch upon the .Montreal Water Works has '* ciumbled away," or give'n way, as the Leader can easily satisfy himself, by t'lupiiriiu-; of Mr, \\ alter Sliuidy. 3rd. Tliat 1 (b'pi'ived Captain J^ell of the Montreal Harbour Conuiiission, of tlie cro of the diseoNcry of a new cbinn;'!. 'j/bis is ju:>t the reverse of the farts, lithe Leader bad ^ee!l niy report, he would liave found that (_*a[)t. Ih'U's n;un»> is allixed to the table compiled by him^ after a foiui furnished Ity me. .Moieovtir, J b;Mie\e 1 was hiiiK-ant to id.sof lljo itii.'s have |iii(le)>(ato(l '1 tli;it the provenicnt , tlosigneil li'^'J arc to T in qiies- tlie others nd in my may rncn- crs below 00^ Cap Iier Point t least ten e changes sioned the t built by arch had the Water i'P<"> the ^ined the happens kvater in , T 'il'out I W'aler dcr can I;ii'hoiii- '!Ie(i by iii>t (li.. <-' would >iiipilL'(l ' i was I'he [n>\. pcrso!! coiiiiected with the coaunission who gave thai full cicdil to C;ipl. \\i:\[, which he so well deserves, and which is to be found in \uY report. If C'apt. Bell has " eomphiiued bitterly," to anybody else, whicii 1 cannot believe, he has always to »ne expressed his waiuiest acknowledgments of my notice of his labours. AVith respect to the discovery of the channel, I never claimed it — for i\\c simple reason that Ih're was no discovery. Captain BayfielJ di^^covered ali the channels of the t^t. Lawrence long before Capt. Heil or nivsclf ever saw them. 4tli. That I h h1 to d( tbeAi ]• ers iimeric and the Hon. Jno. Younii; of the credit due lo their labours in connection with the \ iitona Bridge. This is also a wholesale per- version of the facts of the cas'i. A preface was written to my llcport upon the JJridge, for the very purpose of noticing the labours of my predecessors ; and the oalj rejiort of an American ICngineer on the subject, is prialed in the njipeiulix. Lastly, my rep.ort was addressed to the Hon. Jno. Young", was printed under iiis directions and at ids expense, and if there had been any such omissions in it as tho Leader charges, he could and woald have ex- pressed his dissatisfaction, which he certainly did not do ; nay more, lie could have prevented its publication altogether. This IS the sum of the J^cculer's attempt to break down my personal and professional character ; and if he can find anytiiing more to say upon the same snbject, 1 have no doubt the exigencies of the (iraiul Trunk, or the revenge of its victims, will speedily produce it. 'i'lie Leader, in conclusion, gives two reasons for my appoint- tueuL h iviug been defeated by his owners ; first, " my having shown a positive opposition i*) the Crand U'runk cnterpiisc from the h.'giuniiig.'" 1 am h.ippy to be able to state, for the Lc(id':r''s ^ake, tiiat this part ol his article, at least, has some truth in it. 1 did opp<}>e tliat eitterpri^e i)i lS;r2, and have seen many good ri'a- vtms for doiir; so since — but the Company cannot charge me with iiaviug since v/rittrn one word to damage an enterprise to which we wti!; >'} irrevocably co.'iimiMed : nor iMilil tluy had h;'st attacked me, and alier ti.ey had pleadi'd their own bankruptcy, and denianu- c'd that wi: shdl p;iv their debl.N, l;ni.-«l) their woi'hs, aiid let thei.'i « kr ''''" '^-Mi'oconlrolr ^' our iv^niiiKj '-•O'l-ulc^lion of ,t:, „,,„.,..,, ,., " '"■■'''• "!'"-■!' I livl i,o,„„| i„ ' "'""^ '"■■^ vc,,. i,>„;j. ,,:,:" "r'"'"- ''-^ i-een „„.„•„,,•,,„,,': ^l-^vo!■k liiO lJlf<' 'i<-m1 aiul T "'•^"''" fo he aJion-( ''•1.' i,T| <,v >,, ilC 'Ti .'.'on- ''Jo in-jMX't it Oil '')- v.ilue of ■1 rik,' Alon- ^I'd i'V.uicc, '^ ; hut i!i.j (■iliicr 3[r. ^;i; 1 .'ihilii y-^ ' '"Miiifl, iii ,-3 •• il'Vay i'roiii ivin:,^ cou- nt' v/liero 10 iaithjul ^VC'fn (1)1,; !ci} iluViv )'Ve(l !>o- •ad^'s at i-';it fact al!n-,vc!! lit' cou- ' a'joiit 'C;;;i or '•-■ ii;i>'- '' ■ i 1 : i ( ( y ''I'! lice Tl„. lon- r.:y;' d u:y 9 ^'c» (hr Editor of the IMontueal Heuald. Sir, — In the Toronto Leader of the 2(jth ult. there is a re- port of nn exphmatioii made by the Hon. John Ross respecting the appointment of skilled engineers, while he was both Presi- dent of the Grand Trunk Railway Company and of the Kxecutive Couneil. !^^r. Ross says that immediately after his return from England, on the loth December, he objected to my appointment because I was "making a hirge claim upon the Company at that time and still unadjusted." 'Sir. Ross says " his hon. friend the Speaker had obtained the concurrence of his late colleagues to this statement, as agreeing with their recollection of the fact." As to the fact of my having an unad- justed claim against the Grand Trunk Railway Company, there were otliers at the Council Board who knew, as well as Mr. Jioss, that that claim had been "adjusted" a full year ago. If Mr. lioss means that the money has not been paid, that is true ; but he knows that his Company have no ptuver over the amount, and lliat it is as effectually " adjusted" as is an ac- coimt where a note of hand is given inpayment. The assump- tion that his " personal friend"" could be influenced by any claims, adjusted or otherwise, can only be sustained by also assuming that the ( irand Trunk Railway Company have the power to influence the arbitrator (Mr. IJobert Stephenson) mutually agreed upon between us. If they had any such power, and if Mr, Ross' theory of adjustment be received as valid, L should expect my account would remain unadjusted until my death, or until the Rrovince had st)ld out the last dollar of interest in the Grand Trunk, in order that I could be dis([uali(icd frotn making any professional report thereon. A member of Parlir.nient, as soon as he heard of the ap- pointment of Messrs. Benedict and Street, made it his business to ascertain from the Hon. Mr. Cavley why I had been passed, over, and was told, as the reason, that I " had refused to act vitli the Board of Works." As the law required the skilled Engineers to act ivlth the ]3()ard of Works, it is not probable that I could have made so absurd a condition. I did refuse A 10 to act under tho Board of Works, because I considered tliat that Department was on its trial — that tlie very naming of skilled l^ngineers by the Legislature proved that they had no confidence in the reports of Mr. Killaly ; and I knew that if I consented to take my instruciions from that Department, my hands would.be tied, and I would be compromised, l>y having undertaken a duty which I would not be permitted to dis- charge. If either of the reasons assigned by Messrs. Ross or Cayley influenced the Council, they were both equally without foun- dation. Had the Executive desired to know whether 1 would or would not have acted with the Board of Works, it would not have been difficult to make the enquiry. About twelve months since — when the £000,000 grant was before the House — I was applied to, on behalf of IMr. Cayley, to know if I would act, solely or in conjunction with others, to carry out the provisions of that act. I replied to the hon. gentleman who wrote on Mr. Cayley's behalf that I was will- ing to act if the Government really desired a hona fide exami- nation and report; at the same time, I told him that our negotiation would amount to nothing ; that tho Grand Trunk Company would never permit such an examination, and that if they did, I would be the last person they would assent to. However, I was assured by influential supporters of Mr, Caylej', that it was only upon the condition of an examination, etc., by some iMigineer, independent of the Jjuard of Works and the Grand Trunk Comi)auy, that they had supported the grant, and that in fact there was a distinct understanditig with Mr. Cayley that [ should be selected for the duty. I heard nothing more of the matter until September, when I received a telegraph from Quebec, from a member of the Go- vernment, enquiring if 1 would act. This telegraph was sent to Hamilton, although I had been for the previous week in Montreal ; and by some unaccountable means, although all other letters were forwarded, this telegraph remained at Ha- milton until I went up there, it being then a month old. I replied by letter, although as no answer had been sought for to 11 Itlcrcd tliut Inaming of ley had no nv that if I Itment, my I'y having |ed to dis- or Cay ley out foiin- er 1 would L would not grant was r. Cayley, ith others, tlic hon. I was will- 'ide cxami- 1 that our md Tiunk and that if assent to. rs of Mr, aminatior), of Works ported the tiding with ?r, wliei! I f the C;o- i was sent s week in though all 'd at Jla- h old. 1 ig'at fur to this missing telegraph, I supposed something had transpired after sending it which made an answer unnecessary. AVhca in Toronto, in January, I was informed by an authority I can- not question, that my name, associated with Mr. Wallace, of the Brantford Road, had actually passed the Council, but that upon the return of the President of the Grand Trunk Com- pany, these appointments had been upset, at the instance, as I have been told, of the Chief Engineer of the Grand Trunk Company and Mr. Killaly, I was shortly after called upon, in conjunctionwith the Chief Engineer of the Grand Trunk Company, to name a third arbi- trator in the matter of the Toronto Esplanade. I named the Chief Engineer of the Board of Works, supposing a Company which had so many Government Directors would not object to ap undoubtedly competent public officer. Mr. Page was agreed upon, but was afterwards objected to, on the ground that he had formerly acted for Cotton and Manning. Mr. Ross named only two parties — Messrs. Benedict and Street I Afterwards, on proceeding to Toronto, I learned that these same two parties were the Government nominees as ** skilled engineers." 1 was, therefore, satisfied that their nomination was pure and simple, a Grand Trunk proposition ; for if, in a matter in which that Company were interested to an amount exceeding fifty thousand pounds, they selected out of the whole province IMessrs. Street and Benedict to be their umpire, I am justified in assum- ing that the appointment of these two gentlemen to investigate the affairs of the Grand Trunk was brought about by the same agency which nominated them in the matter of the Toronto Esplanade. After this explanation, it is scarcely necessary to prove that neither of the conflicting reasons assigned by Messrs. Ross and Cayley for my appointment arc hona fide ; the fact is, my ap- pointment was an impossibility, from ray want of the necessary qualifications — viz., the possession of the entire confidence of the Grand Trunk Company. If, as stated, 1 was once appointed, what becomes of the as- sertion that 1 liud refused to act v/ith the Board of Works ? 12 And even if not actually appointed, why was my name brought before the Council by IMr. Cayley, and objected to by ]Mr. Iioss, if the former knew I would not act ? IMr. Ross says he proposed Capt. Swift of Boston, but forgot to explain that this gentleman is the confidential agent and in the pay of the Barings, very large shareholders in the Grand Trunk; that he has already been here, and that his opinions were known beforehand ; and that under any circumstances he is not a disinterested party, as between the people of Canada and the Grand Trunk Company. ]Te also says he desired names that would give confidence to the Board in England and to the public in Canada. The object of the act had no reference to the Board in England ; but after the public in Canada are satisfied, any incidental satisfaction which the report of the " skilled en- gineers" may give to the BoarcLin England cannot be objected to. I venture to predict that in the matter of these skilled engi- neers, the Govj^rnment have committed a grave mistake. The very efPort^Pt has been made to secure the appointment of parties wfroe confidence of the Railway Company, will rouse the suspicions of the public. I know that the door of Govern- ment and Grand Trunk patronage is inexorably closed to me and I am content it should be so ; but the public will require to be informed why the only professional business which Mr. Ivillaly attends to is the Grand Trunk, and why the Chief En- gineer of the Department of Public Works is carefully excluded from all insight into the dealings of that Company with the iJe- partment ? TJiere would be no need of skilled engineers if the GovcrnmcBt would order that engineer to examine and report. The public would have confidence in a rej)ort signed by Mr, Page, who is a thoroughly cora])etent enj^ineer, and a man of undoubted integrity, but it is greatly to be feared that these are fatal ol>stacles to his being selected. 1 will take another occasion to explain the unadjusted claim which was the pretended cause of my rejection by the Govern-- uent. Tuori, (..'. IVEEI'EK. May G, XSC^(^. 13 brought Ir. lioss, ut forgot it and in le Grand opinions lances he nada and ?d names id to the ICO to the satisfied, illcd en • objected cd engi- ne. TIic tracnt of ^^ill rouse Govern - d to me require hich Mr. ief En- xcluded the De- rs if the report. by 31 r. man of vcse are ^d cLaim J over n- El'BK. To llic KtUlor of tiiC ^NFoNTitKAL 1Ti:kall«. Sji;, — [ have no desire to intrude my business affairs upon tlie notice of the pid)lic, but the fact that the Government have, through the President of tlie (Irand Trunk Ivailvvay Company as their moutli piece, assigned as a reason for my non-apjioint- men to examine the Grand Trunk, tlie existence of certain pecuniary rehitions between that Company and myself, J am obliged to ask the privik'ge of explaining this matter through your cohimns. I have never had. or sought to have, anything to do profes- sionally with the (jirand Trunk IJailway : but that Company having fallen heirs to the local Canadian Comp'jni(\s which preceded it, and for which 1 had acted, became the party to which I was obliged to look for the amoiuits due me by their predecessors. For the last three years I have been endeavor- ing to get the amounts due me on account of the Bridge over the St. Lawrence and the llailway from Montreal to Toronto, but so long as 3Ir. liincks remained in power, he contrived to chisel me out of a settlement in retaliation for my having presumed to oi>pnse his C»rand Trunk scheme in ^852. 1 waited patiently for the end, feeling assured that the time would come when neither Mr. liincks nor the Grand Trunk coidd afford to resist even the few friends whom I possessed. 1'he following petition, which fully explains the nature of my claims, was first presented in the Session of 1851 and was re- ferred, without being printed, to the Railway Committee, when JMr. liincks, although then out of the (iovernment, succeeded in burking it. The Session was ndjourued, and when resumed, in ISot), the Grand Trunk (^^ompany again sought legislation — but now to the tune of £'.)0(),UOl) sterling. — \ resinned my petition, this time taking the precaution to have it printed, with the intention of having my claims brought up in the debate, and at least an opportunity to test their validity i)ro- vided for, if possible, in the rebel' hill. That 1 had not failed in my i';dculation may be iuferreil from tlie fact that as soon as my petition was printed (in May, l8r>.>) the Company ac- 14 ecptcd my proposition, wliich was to refer the wliole matter lo the sole arbitration of Kobert Stephenson, their cwn Engineer. Considering the facts — 1st. That I have never received one farthing for my labors on the St. Lawrence Bridge, which were commenced nearly five years ago. 2nd. That Mr. llincks, with characteristic insolence and vindictiveness, refused at first to pay me anything for my Bridge survey : declaring that vre had no business to make it and that he would not ^ive a button for the opinion of a Canadian Engineer upon such a subject — and that he only consented to render the Grand Trunk Com- pany lial)le when he discovered that the contract for the Bridge had been based upon my survey. 3rd. That Sir Cusack Patrick Honey, who " fretted his short hour" on the Grand "Jrunk stage, informed the l*resident of the Kingston and Toronto Company that the Grand Trunk would not recognise my claim — although they were bound by law to pay the ex- penses of their predecessors; that, in short, the Grand Trunk Compiiiiy have resisted a settlement of my claims as long as they ftlt themselves strong enough for any act of injustice, and only yielded from mercenary considerations when it was their interest fo to do, — I ask if it is not at least cool in the President of that Company to urge before his Excellency in Council, as an objection to my appointment, that I had unadjusted claims against the Company I How many members of that Council, besides its President, were Directors in the Grand Trunk Com- pany ? And as such were they not aware that my claims had been "adjusted" by reference to arl)itratIon ? Is not "the statement of facts as agreed upon" worthy of the Railway Executors of the departed Governor of Barbadoes ? Tiios. C. Kekfer. To Civ Ki 181 ani thi in "1 1 tter to ginccr. ed one h were fiucks, at first |hat vre button fject— Com- >ri(Ige usack rand and 'gn ise e ex- 'runk »g as , and their idcnt il, as aims ncil, 'Om- had the io PETITION. To the Ilonorahle the Legislative Assemhlj/, in Provincial Parliament Assembled ; The petition of the undersigned, Thomas Coltrin Kccfer, Civil Engineer, of the City of Montreal; Humbly Siieweth : That Your Petitioner was employed in the years 1851 and 1852, as Chief Engineer of the* " Montreal and Kingston," and " Kingston and Toronto " Railway Companies. Both these Companies surrendered their charters in November, 1852, in favor of the Grand Trunk llailway Company of Canada, upon condition that the latter Company should assume the expenses of its predecessors. Your Petitioner presented three accounts for services rendered to the Montreal and Kingston Company, all of which were duly certified by the Chairman of the Provisional Com- mittee, and by the President of that Company. A deduction of more than twenty-live per cent, was arbitrarily made from two of these accounts, and the balance only was paid. The third account was ]\ot acted upon, as belonging to the Bridge and not the llailway surveys. Vour Petitioner believes he is as fully entitled to the whole amount of the two accounts certified by the proper, officers of the Company, whose liabilities the (I rand Trunk llailway was supposed to assume, as to the part whicli has l)Gcn paid. The tliird account, on which no action has been taken, was for 8crvicL8 as Engineer in the survey for the Railway bridge over tlie St. Lawrence, at Montreal. In the charter granted for the construction of this bridge, the Company are bound to pay for so much of the plans and surveys as they may make use of, provided the atnount shall not exceed the sum of five hun- dred pounds sterling. Your Petitioner fears that this limitation of the liability of the Grand Trunk Railway Company may be used to his pre- judice. If it be claimed that no use has been had of the surveys luade by Vour t'etitioner, payment therefore may be 10 refused ll]tt^rrvt]lO,^ V. n • . f'-"'m,rc of H,„e „„,, ,.„„;., i""' l"-';''^"'='I i" their ex. P-ved of „o ,„„,,^,„ , . -> ; ^-t even ,f ,hi, ,,„,,^ ,,,j J'-way survey.,, whethe/u" T ! r"" ■""■"'"» PV for •■'PI"-"/y Pai.I ou aecouat of't ,e A tr.. 'f i'-'^ -"'-totheone IJoh.s beeu iuforuH,..! by „,e ,'. t ' . ' "'"' '""""'"'" Co."P«..y. P-;y tlu,t. .iuee the rebn,,ui b Im ;'™':" "!'""' '"'"- Co„f. o' tl>e Directors eouhl be obfuno V ,""■ """'"'■ "" "'«'<'"" "-. LaJ iu .otHiug bis a . :'' '" 'T '"' "'^ ''"0 Chair! '■«'tio..or uuder tht. notice J ', ■ .'.""f '! "'^' '"-"■ of y,,.,, P;.0;, .u„ bad received a rep J ,:";:;'. ' '""'i '""'-yCou,. .leer." "-tcogui^e the claiu, of the Emn. When your Petitio„er'.s lee, r "fono year's salary „, t t : , ^.V^-^^'i^'-^ --•'- daiu, P»n.v was partiy pa,-,,, a ,ar„e re, " "' "'""""" ^'""- therefron,, os.eu.sibly „„„u ,T, '"'"'""" ^>'a,s arbitrarily n.ade :<';;'-' be presented:," :: f;,";;:' ;,':- '^ »-.h,r Jeeou,! «"'l"-ay Compauy, ,vl,ich la.t I . ' eo . f'"" '■""' '^'"^"to 'gnored altoge.bor. •"™""'' >'''e„ preseute.l, was Coiifidfiit fll•l^ f] li uo !( tlie inten- ge survey, > their ex- ""vey had ^'ay Com- f^o pay for 'lould be tioner is uction of 'n, none xistence ul there 3 siibse- 'ontract nieiice- on ami the one npany. ' C'oni- o -hair- ' your -'oni- 'Ctors ■Algi. Jaim 'Oni- lachi 'unt •nto was ;ti- ic- ,v>i-:>:--^ u'Dul.i iiavj ;ci:uj)icd 1i;kI tiu y survived, yraiv Vclhloutn- ]>n\y:^ that in uuy innUvv k-gislalioii soiiglit for by thj {.n-and Trunk il:lii^vay Coniijaiiy Vwur lluiioiirablij House will causr to hi' i!i;-crtL\la claa.sL- cuip )\v(T!Mg' ail parties having L-^^mI claitus, againivt tlie Dirccrors or ^rovi^i^>^■ll UoaimittL'cs of the late .Afontr;'!;! ant! ]\iiig>t.)n, and lvi]ig>tou auil Ton)nt:o Kailway Cniiipanies, to inaiiitaiii the i^anic against their successor, tlie (irand Trunk i.'ailway Company of Canada. An.l your retiti'jiier, .is in duty hountl. will ever ))ray. TliOS. C. Kl::i' FiTi, Ci\ll I'higinecr. ?dontreal, April, T^o<), EXTllACTr^ i'UOM, LI-CTCiM-S OS CI\MJ. * * * * * * * * * * .„, ^ It ii.ay be iirgueJ that, after our i>iihlic works ;u-e eoiii|)h;l^;,!, the tiuadjor of .luiigiiieers will be liiiiitecl, and insuUleient to str>laia a speeiu! school of instruction. The fuv>t is to a certnia exteul line ; it is not lu'ohable that there will he anything like a propor- tionate -progress with regard to public woiks for the future ; and it 1^ pretty ceriain thai, though we uny have the will, we will not have the po\Ter to expend nioncy at tlu.- )'ate we have been doinf in l!ie last four years. that this by no nie'air^ is an argaaient that we Will have less nerd, on ihe udiole, of practieal and scienliil- in- I'oiiiKoioa on iaigiucci-ing ^ui!je(•t,^. for, as many piu'sons ai'o iiiorc able to nia've nhe.-y llrui to keep it, — ,o it i, ea^•er to"con- ^■''-■' i'ai)!i' wurk, ihaii to lake cue of llieni— purlienku 1} under orpOiUi a)n> ()!■ jMiMic go\ rrnmenl.^. \\ lib coi,H)raie b,idir> a ■> (on.rin,'' as il i;-, ca!Ie..l, is sonie- ■ laK • niad.e a lo-n;:;- onv by i..;ai>rance or d<•^lgn, wliereupcai inlo ha.nds whirl;, dc;-ji jiairnig ol tuvulen;!'-, manage it "■•' lia; salve o. li,e m, i.icnial-.. A iiailway whhh never |;;i}-. a dividiail, may \fi pay a. (oaiiiiis.don and, so long as its re- ke!|il-, or credit are sui iciaiit to pay wajiking oxpiUoes, publio I ]8 j!i»"ii'ited iiuliviJu.iLs ^vill h: i'oiiii 1, wlio will -Aw: liu.'ir t'ali^^il;.1 lo rctri^'ve a sinking pi'nju'rty, in co;i>iJoiaUon oi' nioJerato :;alarioft, nnd Ihc usual coininissioa on the rolling .vtock annually [nirchascd, the iron for the rejiair shops, the rails ibr la-newal, th;i purchase of fuel, oil, &.C. If the property be proau.->i.'ig or proiliictiVv-, any tendency to plethora is carefully kept down by resort to similar contrivances, — at least until, by judicious nuina<«-ement, the de- spairing stockholders can be bought out. This is an unfavourable view of hanian nature, but it is believed to be true, to a greater or less degree, us to some of tlic most, as well as to some of the least, productive railwavs : and it is chieny I the result of ignorance on the part of the shareholders at lary;e a,i I to the nature, wants and value of their property. " Knowledge is | power," and the strong in railway knowledge prey upon the weak. | AA'ith popular governments the case is niucli wor>e, as no other f qualification than political intei'cst is neeJi;;!, ;;t \c:\>i none i^s so effective, and the result of this system i.>, that Michigan sold her railway long ago ; Pennsylvania, in despaii*, has advertised all her public works for sale, while the last :^t\\c ]']ngincer of New York { recommended the sale of the Erie Canal, a work capable of yield- % ing a nett revenue of millions, as the only means of j)rotecting it | from the plunder of State oHlcials. In a fit of desj)ondeucy we, | a few years since, sold all our public woilcs except ihe canals, and | unless these can be better maaaged than they have been, they will ^ also be brought to the haiiniu'r. Indeed, I believe a proj)Ositiou I ibr their purchase or lease has latrly been made. 'J"he jjaclune f Canal has l)een conviMled into a mill race, and ia its present state ' is incapable of a large trade — (Ik' only rcDiedy having Lhx'ii dida'.ed and su^^pended while the railways ii;;\i.' been pw^hed on. The navi;'"ati()a of the Ottawa at .''-t Anas has been traiuided down by "' the same iron heid. « The best antidote to this incniiijtiMeiiiiy in poiiiieiaas and their proteges, with ropiM-t to en;,',iiicMMing subjects, is (o supply e;ich j)olitical parly with a surfioii'ii! aaiou)!! of cngiuceriug abilily, so that wlien they h:ive no higluT moliv;: iban the crclit of llicir parly, they may al lea'-l liavr the nicarr- of in d».iag a gnod appiiin!- inent ; in short, lo make .'hMiC ki)0\v!.".lgv,' of i ngia:,'i': in;; as essen- i 19 t'licr^ii;.-) to •a(o .'^alarioft, y [uij-clia.scd, parcliate of iliictivi', any t to similar ent, the de- i is believed the nu)st, as I it is chieily 5 at large a.i v.nowledge is )n the weak. as no other . none is so ■ail sold lier tiscd all her New York ble of yield- rotecting it ondeucy wej canals, and en, they will liro|)Ositiou he Jjachine ,)ix>ciit state men di.'ia'.'ed d ou. The led down by IS and Iheir hiii>',dy each 1.;" ahilily, so 'dit of (heir nod ai»ni)!ii!- \>^ as essea- tiil to the eixibryo Coininmissionersi of Public Works, Jlailway {Joinniis-ion>;rs, Canal Superintendents, ik,;., as is tluit of the law to the expectant Solicitor or Attorney (Jeneral, County Judge, or (.Queen's Counsel. No man can be considered well-educated with- out so:ne knowledii'e of Mathematics and Mechanics, althouirh he may make a considerable figure in j)ublic life without them — and as a gentleman may study both without being necessarily a Newton or a ])escartes. a Watt or an Arkwright, so a popular knowledge of Civil Engineering may be imparted without the necessity of mak- ing Smeatons, Telfords, Brunels, or Stephensons. It is time, therefore, that Civil ]']ngineeriug became a branch of popular education in our Seminaries of learning, and when this has borne its fruits we shall not feel the want of it in our Legislature as much as is now done. Had there been even a few Engineers in our Parliament (as is the case in the British) there might have been a little less of folly — and something more than folly — perpe- trated there. It may be asked, why do not our Engineers go into Parliament 1 It is to be presumed that some of them could get there as well as Lawyers, Doctors, etc. Most M. P. P.'s are volunteers ; few are dragged like Cincinnatus from retirement ; and an I"]ngineer has the same right, as he has the same opportunity, to canvass a constituency^ make non-committal speeches, he obse(piious to the father, flatter the mother, and kiss the child, as any other man. The probable reason is that, like many other respectable men who keep out of Parliament, they are now better employed ; but make them by your college's as numerous as Lawyers, Doctors, etc., and some of them will be diiven there — by necessity. But it is in the future niaiuigeniciit of ( ur Ivailways that the wi>est Held will bo opened f .r the n|)pIication of an iMiginccring education. There is scarcely one ol" the thousand cnij)loyees re(juiic'd, who would not be the better qualified for his post, and wdiat is more important to liim, be eligible for promotion, if he had the advantage of attending a class in Engineering. Liistly, the necessary growth of the mauiilacturing interest, and the apjiHeation of steam a:id water-jxiwor must call for increased Mv.ehanieal and Liiigineerin-!; k:iowledge, and this, with our (.'an lis, Harbours, Railways, d'asand Water W i)rks, 20 tiic hcivcM-ii^'e oi our t'»\v'iis, (iraina^^o, cs.c., open a llclJ niwic extensive than that of tlic k'l^al and medical ])rofessi()!i coin- binccl ; and in wiiich, if all tlu esi'ployees have not some En- iiineeriup, education, all that can he said is, they ought to have it; and, if given the opportunit\ they will most probably seek it. Allhou^h JMiginoering" is a pursuit ciaincntly calculated for the display of genius, (and T have alrc.idy adduced this as a reason for not iK.uipcriiig llie practice with any protecti\c restrictions,) I do not wish to he considered as maintaining that, to he an Jhigineer, a man nmst possess extraordinary cndowuicnts ; there ; I'c many grades in the profession, as in the army; hut I wi.di to guard j)ai-eu(s and guardians from supposing that in this profession a man may lise to eminence by mere routine. In every profes-ion the men of mark are limited in number ; but, as the most general object in selecting a profession is to obtain a respectable livelihood, ordinary qualilications, allied to industry and integrity, will be snlTi- cient for this purpose so lo??g as tJtc r,iq^plij docs not exceed the dcinoud. And here I would draw the great distinction between l^ngiueeringand the other professions. Almost every man (as well ais woman) re(pnrcs the services of a doctor at some period of his or her lite ; without any fault of your own you may be driven to a lawyer; and if you attain even moderate means you wiil, probably, employ :m architect; but few individuals recpiire engineers. Their patrons are extremely limited, and are almost exclusively confined to cor{>oralio!is or governments. Latterly the practice has ob- taiae.l of inchiding the engineering" in large contract^, in v.hich ca'«e the contracl(T becomes the pation or eni[>loycr of the men \vhoin 1; ' i'ormi'ilv took his orders from. Thi^ docs not incie;i->e the innabci' ol' the employers (as it niertdy snbN'itulcs thi.' contrac- tor tor ih.;; govt rnment or the eor|iora!ion) while ir lowei's the po ilion cd th>' cn^ineei' from tint ol' an aidiiter h.'tween holh paitit.'s to tliat of an ;;.v'iit of >' the p:iilv <•! the second part." This r.y>- t.'iu is only aj'[ili;'d to pi'ojo.Ms wiiich are de,i('iid!',it Ujitu :>lo,dv Oi I'latiuie', a'ld where ( lovernincnl^ or ( 'nriioi-al ioas aijiiiit t!i:i,' i;i,i!;i!ity to \)v. llidr own fm uuMci-s, l)y L',ivin.'; an iijlhi;'ntial con- tic!L'(or his ou'ii places and his own engiiirci ■^, in con-^ider;l(i'>ll of I ^ ni th tak m: ich securities as tii(?y h:i\e to offer, a n» I wh 1.11 ii 1 )I1 COIIl- )iTie l''n- : to have / seek it. d for the ■eason for ;ns,) I do ICniiineer, Lie many to muu'd on a niiui !s^lon the t general iveUliood, 11 he suiTi- 'xcecd the 1 hetween u (as well od ol" his iven to a rohahly, s. Their conihied has oh- 111 -wliich llu? men inciea-^e contrac- wers the Ih parties r!i r.y>- .lo>:k nil l!i;i,' [i;d con- sti'Mi of ■l.irli he luidei'lakes to Hout oil hy inean.s of his superior conned ions. ^\ herever parties po.^>ess the jiower to pay in cash or to neuotiote tl leir own securities, they will always give ou It tl, en* woi k by com- petition, m winch case ihey secure a Avorlcmg class ol contractors — the same, indeed, as are neressaiy to the speculalive middle man, who takes his pay in stock, or bonis — and get their work done as it ought to he done, undei' a hona J'ulc i upervision and for moderate prices. The only occupation for which a practical Engineer is cpialified when employment is denied him in the line of his profession, is that of a contractor, and this is a more legitimate and honorable course for him to adoj)t than that of dabbling in contracts sul) rosa. In I'act when he becomes a j)arty to contracts he should cease to practice as an Engineer, for his legilimale position is similar to that of a broker, who is not allowed to traffic in matters where he is professedly a confidential agent. There is no rea-on why the important husiness of contracting for large works should not hcconx; a profession, and men be edu- cated for it as well as for eniiiiieerins:. 'iliere is no knowledLie (he engineer can possess which i> not i quall}^ valuahle to the contrac- tor, and iho^e who are anxious to make a rapid fortune may suc- ceed as cojilractors, while they will furl it impossible as JMigineers, to do so ho-ieslly. Civil j'higiueers proj)(M", as distinguished from mining and mecha- nical ones, ai'o the most unfortunate of all classes in the matter of employment. The latter, h;iving employment of a perniancnt ( hariicter ;;nd h:'ing usually siationery. are in lliis re-jiect mare liki^ hiwyers and pliy>i('iins; but the Civil ihigineer is a lineal ilesrend- vwi of Uk; Wamleiin''- Masons oi *• lirethren of the .Ihadge.'' 11 is occupation is gone with tiie completion of the canal or railway on wdii' h Ik; has been engaged; and as a roiling slone, wliatever his silary, he gathei's little moss. This fact although ii forms no «'\cu-^e, is an explanation why suiae of the prolession, alter a lew years of emplovment and a erealer nami)er of forced idleness and lip-, roximate starvation, adopt the creed of the pickpocket, " that the woi o\\0'; them a living', am 1 resolve that on Uk; iirst lilting .ortunitv Ihev will lake eare of Xo. 1. There is often mingled 00 \villi lliis ileci.-iun a sense of neglect and injury lereived iVoni f)0-- cicty, wiiieli <;ives sonic color ot" iclribution or al least retaliation to many of the frauds in which cij^ineers have been the principal actors. Xo matter how regularly or how intelligently he may have discharged his duties, as soon as the work on which he has been engaged is completed, or so far advanced that his services can r^afely be dispensed with, the engineer is dismissed with empty com- pliments and an emptier purse, and some quack or favorite, with whom interest supplies the place of all cpialifications is appointed to mismanage his work. If, absorbed in the duties of his profession, he has not made friends of the mammon of nnrighteousness, he may have no right to claim a preference over those wlio have carelully attended to this important duly, by the neglect of all others; but it is not dilficult to understand that — with necessity impelling and opportunity inviting them — some will be found who will take the first opportunity to render themselves independent of future injus" tice. These belong to rather a formidable class of public men. who view crime only by its immediate consecpiences, and consider it no great harm to plunder a corporation or a people, because tiiC loss being distributed may not come home with inconvenience to a particular hearth. The remedy for a state of things which brings disgrace on the profession is not easily adininist(;red. Tlie engineer, thougli an in- dispensable agent, is generally a junior partner in the firm of (Jrab, Chisel &. Co. It IS neither in the Legislature nor in tlie pre,-s that reform can be ensured, for in both the fiiin is sulllricntly repre- sented to neutralize any spasmodic i-r ^* biuikuin " indignation. The first step is, to put tlie profession on such a footing that it shall be self-sustaining; and this is to be done mainly by them* selves. \\ hen enuineers whose services arc sought iifter a'^suinc the same position as lawyers and doctors, decline to lii' charttu'cd by any party, but take as many clients or patients as (h.cy feel they can do justice to, it will not b' in the power of tlie ( Government or a corporation to dismiss tlienr to begin the world anew, when [last the spring timeot'lite, and laden with tlu^ sujiport of a family, 'riii- position once established, the engineer is no long-er necessarily a wandering Bedouin, but, by being altle to have a fixed habitation Js- nut near fiiilei Jhe liter, say 23 •Olii f)0-' ;;iiiation rincipiil lay have :is been ces can ity com- tc, with ppointod ofession, , he iriiiy ^arelully ors ; but iiijielling take the ire injus" )\\c men, consider :ause the liencc to e on the gh an in- of (!rab. pro,-s thiit Lly repre- tion. g that it bv thcni' or assume ch:irtere(l ■ feel they rninent or when past iii!y. 'rhi- le.ssarily a habitation he lias some nuluceinent to store, an 1 hivi.-i ■ secured iuciopenu'enc*^ ot po.Mtion he may sii,tuin independence of character. Jt is only men ot some real or suppo>ed reputation who are likely to be placed in positions v.ht-re they can league mth politicians and con-< tractors, and become parties to the robbery f their employers. — 11 you give these men an opportunity to eurn an honest living, you may deprive the other knaves (on whom it would be hopeless to attempt a reformation) of w.e only accomplices by whose means they can successfully carry out their ends. Public bodies, there- fore, must ren^tmibcr that when they insist on the exclusive services of an J^nginerr, without giving him in return any guarantee of hi^) situation, they iufiuce him to listen to jiroposals, which i)C might otherwiie ^purn, in order to provide for himself and hisfamilj, when suddenly disn^isscd by a chiselling Covernment or a soidless Corporation. The government guarantee a li c situation to (heir lowest clerks, but their engineers are liirei], as their laborers, by the (lay. If they would hire them as they do their printers, com- missioners and politicians, by the job, allowing them the same privileges, there would be some fairness in it, but they arc neither guaranteed their posts nor allowed, like a politiral lawyer, to work for the state i'Uil the public at the same time. The excuse for the temporary eharaclcr of their engagement }s — tlmt engineers are paid out of apj)ropriatious, ami not out of the ci'/il list; and this same distinction is the clue to nearly all the political robl)Gry of the last twenty years on both xitles of the St. Lawrence. Appropi'iations are temporary ; ihc civil list :s permanent. In public works expcmliiure i.s literally covered up ; when a work is completed, no man can say what it ha:? cost, for cost depends upon the clrcmnstanccs. Details are not easily traced, and many things arc charged to an ap])ropriation which have not had the remotest connection with the object tor which that appropriation was made. In New York and Pennsylvania, which have been the great nurseries of thieving politicians, contractors, and engineers, the olfieial salaries arc ^M) low, and the whole state appropri- ation (for nominal expenses of government) so small ihat besides 21 10 I'l^iv an 1 (I'.fiRcvJtv attonJ i;!:: It lew wo: Ml 1 1: leir wlulc to nu (1 tl Willi such i»:i;i l'\' S'llll; I ia\'inir rt'ciiicc )ini.'!al salarir.-. to tlif stipciul uf c'.crlis It wortii ar (Lriior »• ,.1, salarv is loikcd up;!!! rallu'r a-- a IkkIuo olOlIi tiiaa as a cmh- su lerati f: ion lor sei'vic ,1 the oiiti'itl oi aoorojiriatious foriiis the real re'iVtiril of th.e .siicccs-i'iil jniity. Prtihi'jited iVonj any oiien interest in cont'-r.ets. th(>v cann it \)" ilei'^rivcil of tlie a-llot- ment of those contr.ie!^ t >slei"oit; ar ;er 1 iie e-eapei ,1,- \ I tl lo !)..!: I ■} su; al oi!Si ;u M r-.r -c wor- I r.ies oiilv t)v a (.eee-io;i ol ou)- C'cla; i:i'.r nU'-'-e. t liu- t ion a I ih a-.v u ■r w:ii ii ti ap'irnoriat nao ovi'ii nia.u Tiud the poople, ta!;ln2' t he ahinn , liaw s) haoiperel their state cvp'^Mi'liiu; e with re-.trietioa-, as ahuiist to iiuihe it iaiprneli- ca'-h', \-ai:ily eiulea\ orini.!; to suh ^lit liti,' h'^j:;i-l,iti ai lor ctniuvou ortv 11 illion (hj'at undt^r lonostv- l'e!U)sy]\-aiiia roHed ni) hjr tliese iui-piees, {lUiil r'-peelialion rea.red its head ; and is tliere no ri^k of" our ^'■aTi''j)Inii onward, with leckless aiul shameless ••^tride, up,on tlie saeae ;I,inirorous ;'i>ad '.' 'J"l>e worst ("aiture of this system, after thos-; of tin? vride spre;i(l carruptioM, i'apaeity an.! national deaiv)r.ili/,ation v/ldeh it en^irenders. is— uot tliat t:\e public are ro'olied of sw nnieii )v,oncy — her that works are un !orr ikeii wiiieh are iittei-ly useless and which, by tlieir inevitai)':o iaihire, de-tro\- conli- (lence in a!' future nuderta'uia;a-s, and injure the commercial charactiM- and cnalit of the cowntiy. !r matter:-; little what or w'aca-e the wce.-k is, sa lonu' as there is an appro])i-iation for it. I'iuLlini'ca-s ei):raiied in ! 'arliauientary iMutots are t>;])icteij to sieooiirt the >id(> on whlcli t!ii>\- are en 'a '''.'il ,■■•!/ 'r mii rt^i'h as nnscrnpu!ou,^!y. and with a-, nuieh UMurhalance as if bred t.) the law. 'I'lils is a praeth-- wliiah laapere^ peculiar (pialili- cations, -and a v?m)'\ ibail of expericaiee as a lob'.'V member : ija-eat p^wm- of face and <:a\-at(r stoimu'li ; a cohlid(Milial imdertoue with the serious, and a i-oHlckiUi'' ,ih iihim with the jmiior or laore eonvivi'.d membois. from the excitim',- nature of this p.r,;ellee, as well as fi\)ai the danKij.i(' the reputation is ap; to recoi\e from frcapu itt ami continued cNptv-urc to siu'h surr,)undiuL's, It should b^' a ^^pi'cialily, —and limltt'd to the duly ([ualltiril prriciilionia-s. to pir; the (le ttie prc\ but 25 It lie Itlie tnul " ii Perhaps the best tuodc of shewing what the En<>ineer ought to be is to describe, first his position and what is required of him ; and then,- the initiation ami prosecution of one of thosi- piratical scheme •; where he figures as an accoiupliee, \\ liena contract is entered into, no matter how detailed may be the plans and sjiecifications, or how specific the prices, to the Engineer almost without exception or res'raint. is left tfir determination of tlie quantities and (|ualitics and, therefore, of the actual cost of the work. In many cases, wdiich cannot previously bo provided against, he also determines the [iricc!^ ; but all ofthese are secondary to the power wliich he h:is by alterations, deviations, etc., of influencing the co-^t of theAvork, or opening the contract. Without infringing the letter he may \iolate the spirit of tht; contract, and enrich the contractor and himself at the expense of his employers. There is no legisla- tive remedy for this ; every attempt to circumscribe the power of the l"]ngineer by new checks, is simply a transfer of that jxiwer from intelligent to ignorant hands; and ignorance, however honest, is a inore expensive manager and an easier victim upon public works than knaverv. The only sideguard is that which every merchant or banker feels he can alone depend upon — the character of the person employed. Hut to secure an honest Engineer, you must first esta!)lish honesty in the Corporation or (government which appoints him ; because it is a melancholy fact that apj)ointinents have been made, not in ignorance, but hei:(i.Hse dishonesty was a primary (pialilication, a necessity, and because one Engineer coedd be made a sca[)e-goat for lany politicians, who could ]dead ignorance as laymen, and n whei\ called to account, cxclaun, Th on can st not si}' / did It. V ) secure this integrity in the appointing p tl )ower there must !)(> lumestv and intelligence in the Leg'shiture or the ( 'orpora- tioii, and these oidy can spring from an enlightened, a moral and al )o\e a 11. a vigi lai\t consfitueiiev If rtu peo| >le tl lerelore eoniplain that they are }>lundered aed dectMved, they have themselves to thank for it, in tlu-ir indiHereiice to the charac- ter ai\cl motives o f adventurers who, unasked, thrust themselves 26 upon them, and by the aid of their prejudices, bi^ry and a suborned press, obtain the control of their affairs. The majority of popular representatives may be sufficiently iionest, but it is a minority of the more able, bold, and often unscrupulous men who seize the reins ; and in whom the mere possession of talent is accounted a sufficient covering for a multi- tude ol sins. Obtuse honesty, therefore, may by ignorant sanction of acute knavery be the greater evil of the two ; in other words It is better to have a knave than a fool for a leg^alator— for the knave knows his own interest (which may sometimes accord with that of the public) and the fool does not. One way in which a great public enterprise may be initiated and carried through, or at least as far as the money goes, is at least instructive if not amusing. In Upper Canada each township is a sort of German principality, only democratic in its form of Gavern- ment. The jealousy of the back townships is excited because the front ones have, or are to have, a railway. The Province having kindly undertaken the main line, the whole resources of the back townships are available for branch ones. The municipal loan fund act — that wonderful contrivance which converts beautifully engraved paper into money — provides the means, and intending contractors, in the guise of apostles of progress, point out the way. Reliable men are elected, in some of .vf;vmthe enthusivism is indi- genous, in others carefully counterfeited. All that the community can be induced to swallow is readily voted, but it is still far from the required amount. An eminent contractor then appears upon the stage, who offers to take all the available means provided, an(4 the remainder in first mortgage bonds. In consequence of th« doubtful value of these last the price is fixed at about double the expected cash cost of the road. The municipalities are told that their subscription is a mere matter of form, that the earnings of the road will pay the interest, and that it is only a loan of their credit, as an endorsation of their confidence in the enterprise, and not their money that is wanted. If ther« be any kicking they arc told the eminent contractor will by his influence in the legislature, defeat their charter, will support a rival project, or by his influence »vith the government, prevent the sanction of their by-lews, and the 37 )f lb**, (lit, aH their lid tbe lefeal with id the i "•xchange of their valueless debentures for Provincial Loan Fund ones. The contract is then entered nito— of course wholly on the terms dictn+f I hy the contractor — and, where not tricked into conditions, i.uey are bullied. The contractor agrees to do all the enjrineering, allovring the company to have an engineer of their ov :. . ietermine tht; lal.ihnent, or otherwise, of tlie previously stui'- ; ontract 5 in other words, permitting them to lock the stable yfter it has been emptied. Through the contractor's repre- sentatives in the board of direction, an engineer is suggested to and appointed by the company, who afterward, but of couri^e at too late a date, proves to be a partner, and the company are committed by the acts of their own officer. The contract was taken by the mile. When it was signed it was assumed that the earth works would average twenty thousand yards per mile, but the h^ni^ine' 1 discovers tiiey can be reduced to ten thousand — without har.iigany grade steeper than the contract. This In done by runnuv^aroufid all the hills instead of cutting through them, and by raising nearly all the grades to the maximum ; niul the longer the road is made^ the better it pays, so long as the ", ,)rk is kept light, for tlw price IS per mile. Throujih liu; level land, instead of being ruiscd l)y embankments, it u scantily ditched uj) from the sidcv, and ih^ the Comp^.ty nnist look out if it be afterward IIoo.UmI I)\ tiie 'spring tiiaws or buried u[) in the winter suows^ for it is ♦■ accordinj^ to contract." By reducing the exca\atinii oiu-lia!t m (luantity, the proportionate priuc a! wincli it was estiniaied in the contract i> doubled, and, as the mode of pa_\ men' is ono-half cash and the other half bonds, the cash poilion of the cstimntt; covers (!ic cost of the work, and the contractor carries it on a^ loni; as llir (•a>li ot thi* Company i^* torthcoming, aciiiniulating, at the same time a fan share of their bonds, on which they ar»' bound to jiav him iiitncsl. W lien tlu li;iv;' no iiiorc casli. ;ui'. cainiol i»ii\ tlicii" e>(im;tt("^ their interest, he stops his work, still • aeeoiiiiiig t>) contract/' (unless the iminicip.iiiiit'f^ will come dowu with aiiothfr Aote (d convertible ilebciit mt ^) and ttircati'iis to take posso^iiiii orthi wor k d one, undtT tiie mortgage l)i)!i(ls in his hanib Ifh )y extraorilimiry elrorts niul s aeriti ees \\\v road is eoni' plctcd, It is jilinost a certainty that it will nol , toi the first 28 three years, pay the interest upon the mortgage bonds, while the municipalities must take care of that upon their own de- bentures, 'J'he contractor, having received in cash all his outlay, has the road for his profit, [fit will pay running ex- penses it will be run, and the municipalities will have the. usr of it, at moderate fares, as a return for their investment. T]\'^ road has perhaps doubled the value of their property and thiiA paid for itself, and it would be unreasonable to expect it to pay twice. 1 have thus endeavored to note some oi" the qualifications, as well as the conditions and vicissitudes incident to thi.s ])rac- tice of Civil Engineering. The mental and physical require- ments may be summed up in tlie ancient prayer, " uu'i).\- saiin ill corporc xano ;" tor a strong constitution is needed, not only for the exposures of the field, but to sustain the oxtremc mental tension which nuTTiert)Us and weighty responsibilities produce. There must also be an equabh; and self-reliant dis- position, a steady perseverance in the plan laid down. desj)itc the ignorance and opposition of thos'j who eunnot understand it. looking to the future instead of the hour for irue anpiccia tion and reward. Above all, if not only tame, but what i-. more important, conscientious seli'-approN al. in the c\!i;ing oi lite, are desired, there niust be a jealous regard for persoii;il Mitegrity in a profession beset with such great trials and temp- tations — threatened poverty and then almost absolute citjtinil of largo .sums of nu)ney — ingratitude or misrepresLMitatii d, the oH'spring of ignorance on the part of those whom you may be doing all in your power to benefit. Those are inddeiii io al- most every walk in life : lunl a ^ disasters and difiicnlties in construction nuike the c.\i)"rieiice~ in"- interests, will di>appeai' belore a patient and re i hite perseveraiu-e in the thing that is right.