| State of North Carolina |
| Executive Department |
| Raleigh, July 16th, 1864 |
| |
| Col. J. D. Whitford {John
D. Whitford, President, Atlantic & North Carolina RR} |
| Prest. A&NCRR. |
| Goldsboro |
| |
| My dear Sir, |
| Mr. Elliott informs me that
his company is desirous of contracting for rail road iron to build a gun
boat upon the terms proposed by your company that is to say, to pay for
the iron in funds which can be made available to pay the debt of the
company to the State. |
| The Treasurer of the State
will receive State Bonds or Treasury Notes. Mr. Elliott visits you to
make a contract and I hope you can come to some satisfactory agreement. |
| Truly Yrs |
| Z. B. Vance |
|