5242. MINES, Federal Government and.—[further continued].
I received your favor
covering an offer * * * of an iron mine
to the public, and I thank you for * * *
making the communication * * *. But
having always observed that public works are
much less advantageously managed than they
are by private hands, I have thought it better
for the public to go to market for whatever it
wants which is to be found there; for there
competition brings it down to the minimum of
value. I have no doubt we can buy brass cannon
at market cheaper than we could make iron
ones. I think it material, too, not to abstract
the high executive officers from those functions
which nobody else is charged to carry on, and
to employ them in superintending works which
are going on abundantly in private hands. Our
predecessors went on different principles; they
bought iron mines, and sought for copper ones.
We own a mine at Harper's Ferry of the finest
iron ever put into a cannon, which we are
afraid to attempt to work. We have rented it
heretofore, but it is now without a tenant.—
To Mr. Bibb. Washington ed. v, 326.
(M.
July. 1808)
