George W. Spooner to Arthur S. Brockenbrough
| Sir | University of Virginia Apl 3d 1821 |
I received youre note of yesterday offering me a portion of the worke to be done on the Western range1 now to be let, which was gratafying to me as it is an evidance of my having given satisfaction in my present worke as far as I have progressed, but cannot but regret althoug[h] disposed to acquiess in the reduction of the prices on the buildings on which we are now to be ingaged on, not only as it affects us as undertakers but is calculated to delay the completion of the buildings, as we must necessarily be obliged to reduce the wages of oure Workmen which are already so low that they are behardly sufficient to induce good workmen to leave Sities and come here for employment—
that part of youre communication referring to such worke as is not specified in the price book I doe not fully comprehend; am I to understand the prices of such work to be fixed upon before oure contracts are closed or after, when [. . .] those partes of the Worke are to be executed, I am thus particular because in the plainest [. . .] buildings that have been put up, there are several parts of the worke which I doe not think comes under the description of such as is specified in the Philidelphia price book you will [. . .] please satisfy me on that point and Obligerespectfully