University of Virginia Library

Advertisement for Contractors

Nelson Barksdale in the meantime continued to serve in the capacity as proctor for the
university. On the first day of March an advertisement for house carpenters and joiners
obviously penned by Jefferson began to circulate in Barksdale's name. It specifically
required contractors to submit bids for work at the university based upon Mathew Carey's
1812 Philadelphia Price Book, although undertakers were free to adjust their proposals in
either direction by percentage.[189] Lumber alone was excepted, to be settled at its actual
cost, but the kiln drying of unseasoned boards would be at the contractors' expense.[190] The
advertisement was placed in the local newspaper as well as in several other localities,
including Staunton, Winchester, Richmond, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.[191]

The appearance of the advertisement in the newspapers brought an immediate and
overwhelming response, making the month of March 1819 one of the most important in the
building of the University of Virginia. The worker's proposals that began to trickle into the
university at first apparently were instigated by word of mouth. Several prominent
Lynchburg citizens sent letters to Jefferson in early March recommending plasterer David
White, who was the brother of the deceased Albemarle County resident William White, and
who was presently engaged in plastering a house in Botetourt County for Charles
Johnston.[192] White, described as "well acquainted with stucco & ornamental
plaistering,"[193] had been "closely employed at his profession" in the Lynchburg area for
several years, fulfilling his contracts "with neatness, and dispatch," much to the satisfaction
of his employers until a "great depression here in all kinds of business, have put . . . an
entire stop, to all improvement."[194] White arrived at the university, armed with a fresh
recommendation from Christopher Hudson of Mount Air labeling him "one of the best
workmen in his line" and with his proposal in hand:

             

Three	Coat Plaster	and Lathing	62½	Cents
Three	Do	Brick Do. Walls	46
Two	Do.	and Lathing	46
Two	Do	on Brick Walls	34
One	Do	and Lathing	34
One	Do	and Brick Walls	17
I wish to undertake all the plastering as I see no difficulty in accomplishing it.[195]

Judge Archibald Stuart of Staunton sent an interesting letter of introduction to Jefferson for
Dabney Cosby, the brickworker. Besides describing Cosby as a person desirous of
undertaking "a small part of the Brick work . . . say to Make and lay 350,000 bricks," Stuart
also warned of a plot to monopolize the brickwork by some of central Virginia's most
prominent contractors:

I have been advised that separate proposals will be made by Messrs Jordan, Brown,
Hawkins, Darst and perhaps others for parts of the brick work takeing care that such parts
shall include the whole while in fact they are all to be partners in the proposed
undertakeing—If they are successful they will exclude all competition & this monopoly may
eventuate even worse that that of an Individual—Mr. C[osby] assures me he stands
unconnected in the Offer he shall make & I believe it is his object so to demean himself as
to attract the future attention of the Visitors.[196]

No evidence of this alleged conspiracy to monopolize the brickwork at the university has
been identified, however. Cosby made the trip across the Blue Ridge on 14 March when he
interviewed the ex-president in person. He waited until late March to submit his proposal to
make and lay 200,000 to 300,000 bricks for $14 per thousand, "Lime unstacked from
Agusta" and "Sand from Secretarys ford."[197] When meeting with Jefferson, Cosby
mentioned the possibility that his friend Bolinger might be willing to lay the wooden water
pipe for the university. Immediately upon his return to the valley Cosby consulted Bolinger,
who stated his price as "$6. Pr Hd. feet & One Shilling for fiting each Joint. If fited with
Boxes no charge for Joints. Diameter of the bore 2 inches Bonding found also sufficient help
to Lay them down." Bolinger "Prefers pine, to Chesnut," said Cosby, "the latter will split in
Jointing and requires a band. Logs should be cut 18 or 20 feet long, from 10 to 14 inches
diameter at the Stump. He desires you to let me Know in 8 or 9 days whether you will
consider it a contract."[198] Bolinger could not begin work at the university until late April,
however, so when Jefferson informed Bolinger that the university was accepting his offer he
told him to put off coming until the first week of May.[199]