William M. Sclater's Proposal to the Board of Public Works, November 1, 1854

When labor shortages slowed the Blue Ridge Tunnel project, Claudius Crozet solicited proposals from local contracting agents to supply slave labor.

Nov. 1^st 1854

To the Board of Public Works

I propose to furnish fifty negroes to work in the Blue Ridge tunnel at the price of one Dollar and twenty five cents per day for all the hands that work in the [heaning] and one Dollar twelve & a half cents per day for each hand that is otherwise employed.

All the negroes lives are to be insured against all accidents whatever, If there should be any sickness among the hands at the tunnel so that it would not be prudent for the hands to work there they are to be employed somewhere else on the Blue Ridge R Road. The superintendent or superintendents of these hands must be paid one dollar & fifty cents per day. If you should want more than fifty hands I think I could furnish fifty more on the same terms.

Very respectfully
Wm M Sclater