 | Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Arthur Spicer Brockenbrough to Thomas Jefferson
I enclose you a contract entered into between myself as Proctor of the U. Va and Dinsmore
& Neilson subject to your approval--I have adopted this plan for several reasons, I found
great difficulty in fixing the prices of a great portion of the work, to fix the prices of a few
items only, would be almost giving them their own prices for the balance, for a great part
could not be correctly settled at this time, and again giving them that part would prevent any
competition hereafter, and contracts should be made for lumber without delay for the roof
&c--this plan has advantages over any other in my opinion, for it ensures the faithful
performances of the work, by Men competent to the task, where as if it had have been
undertaken even by the same persons by the job they must have made very large
calculations or hazarded too much for their safety, any alterations that might have be
hereafter made would be attended with considerable loss to the institution, and again I
believe that Carpenters work executed in Philadelphia at 10 or 15 per cent below the book of
Prices--The work perhaps might have been let for less money than it will cost agreeable--to
this contract, but sir it would not have been done as faithfuly as I now think it will be--there
will an expence of some few hundred dollars in the measuring charges but no equal to the
saving in the per centage below the book of prices and there will be no difficulty in settling
the Bill--I Shall be happy to hear you are satisfied with the arrangement entered into with
Messrs Dinsmore & Neilson--
I have made one other contract, with Wm B Phillips for 400,000 hard bricks to be taken
from the Kiln at $4.50 per thousand--One hundred & twenty thousand of which will be
ready by the time the weather will permit their being layed, so that I think we shall make an
early start at the work--I am Sir most respectfully your obt sert
A. S. Brockenbrough
in writing
A. S B.
ALS, ViU:PP, 2p, with TJ docket "Brockenbrough A. S. Mar. 12. 23." This document is
badly stained and mildewed. Jefferson sent the contract of this date with Dinsmore &
Neilson back to Brockenbrough on 12 March.
| Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |