 |
Chapter 4
The Building Campaign of 1819, Part 2
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Wooden Pipes
The resolution to bring water to the university by wooden pipes from the "neighboring
highlands" was passed at the same visitors' meeting that resolved to cover the roofs with tin
rather than wooden shingles.[339] By late June the decision whether to contract out the pipe
boring or do it with university workmen still had not been made, so Jefferson left it to the
proctor.[340] The matter rested till August, when George W. Spooner, Jr., directed the
"Overseear of the Labouers to proceed with foure hands to get the logs for the conveyance
of the water."[341] Only three days later Spooner reported to the proctor that "We have
nearly all the logs out for conveying the water & shall commence Waggoning them
tomorrow."[342]
Two weeks later James Wade of Lynchburg, a "Very Industrious, punctual man; experienced
in the business," appeared at Jefferson's doorsteps at Poplar Forest wishing to become the
"undertaker of Laying the pipes for Conveying water to the university," as Samuel Jordan
Harrison's letter of introduction said.[343] Willing to undertake at the Philadelphia prices,
"whatever they are, altho' he does not know what they are," Wade considered white oak
(which he advised not to be cut until the last of September!) by far the "best & most durable
& prefers joining the logs by wrought iron boxes & iron hoops on their ends."[344] Wade
visited the construction site and upon his return home wrote to the proctor to offer for
consideration the propriety of having a reservoir that was projected for the mountain placed
in such a manner
university to run from the bottom, on that plan you would have the command of
all the water of the reservoir without the trouble of pumping, and in case of Fire
the Water would flow in the greatest abundance, a handsome Jet d'eau might be
formd with the overplus water if it was thought proper—if this plan would meet
your approbation a circular Reservoir made of Oak Plank 2½ or 3 Inches thick,
to hold 30 or 40 thousand Gallons, would answer it might be sunk sufficently
deep to have a Brick arch to cover it, tis my opinion a Vessel properly made and
well bound with Iron would last 30 Years or much longer.[345]
A version of Wade's reasonable plan was adopted by the university a few years later (see
appendix T). When in the following spring the university was still without a pipe-layer, Elija
Huffman and Aaron Fray proposed to lay pipe for 6¼ cents "per foot running measure the
logs to be delivered in the most convenient place to suit ourselves, the diging & filling up
and the boxes to be furnished by the institution—the worked to be executed in a masterly
manner." Huffman is recorded as laying pipes for the institution until the end of the year
earning $242.53 by the end of September; whether Fray worked as his partner is
unknown.[346] By mid-June 1820 the proctor could report that "Our pipe borers are laying
down the logs they are down for 300 yards—I have conveyed it 300 yards in a covered ditch
at the end of which is a reservoir, 6 by 7 feet & 5 feet deep from whence I take water."[347]
339. See Minutes of the Board of Visitors of the Central College, 26 February 1819, in
ViU:TJ.
346. Huffman and Fray, Proposal for Laying Pipe, 15 April 1820, ViU:TJ; see also Arthur
Spicer Brockenbrough, Statement of Expenditures, 30 September 1820, in DLC:TJ, and
Alexander Garrett's Statement of Vouchers, 14 September 1819 to 14 May 1822, in ViU:PP.
Brockenbrough's statement lists Lewis Bailey and William Boin "& others" as ditching for
the pipes, earning together $111.17 for their labors.
347. Brockenbrough to TJ, 7 June 1820, ViU:TJ. Jefferson later included "bringing water in
pipes" in his estimate of the $10,000 cost for "numerous other contingencies" like covering
with tin instead of shingles and levelling the grounds and streets. See his Statement of
Probable Costs for the Buildings, 28 November 1820, ViU:TJ.
|
Chapter 4
The Building Campaign of 1819, Part 2
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |