| No. 85. An Act to provide for the more efficient
transportation of troops, supplies and munitions of war upon the
railroads, steamboats, and canals in the Confederate States, and to
control telegraph lines, employed by Government. |
| |
| The Congress of the Confederate
States of America do enact, That the transportation of troops,
army supplies, munitions of war, military property and stores
throughout the Confederate States, shall be under the immediate
control of the Secretary of War, and such officers and agents as he
may designate, and he shall be authorized to place under the control
of such officers and agents all the officers, agents and employees
of such railroads and steamboats, so as to secure regular,
expeditious, safe and orderly transportation of the men and property
aforesaid on the different lines of road and of steamboat and canal
navigation. He may direct the repair of any railroad and the
preparation of any equipments that may at any time be required for
it, and establish such rules and regulations for the use of the road
and for the running of the boats as may be necessary for the
accomplishment of the objects proposed in this act; and all the
persons engaged upon the roads and boats while under the control of
the Government shall be subject as if serving with the armies in the
field. |
| Section 2. That the Secretary of War be,
and he is hereby, authorized to furnish such aid to the railroad
companies, in money, material, subsistence or other things, that may
be necessary to secure their efficiency, and charging [charge for?]
the same in the settlements with the same, on principles of equity
and justice. |
| Section 3. That the President shall
appoint three commissioners to ascertain and assess any damage any
railroad company, or proprietor, owner or owners of any steamboat or
other boat may sustain by the operation of this act, and the same
shall be paid from the appropriations for transportation that
Congress shall make, and the said commissioners shall be paid from
the same appropriation the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars each
per month, with rations and transportation, while they are so
employed; Provided, That no person subject to military duty
shall be appointed a commissioner under this act. |
| Section 4. After the passage of this
act, when the Secretary of War shall take charge of any railroad,
canal, or telegraph line, the officers, agents, and employees of
such company or companies shall be considered as forming part of the
land forces of the Confederacy and as serving with armies in the
field while such road, canal, or telegraph line is employed for the
use of the Government. |
| Section 5. This act shall continue in
force one year from the date of its passage, unless the war be
sooner ended. |
| Approved, February 28, 1865. |
| [Text from bill and amendments in Journal,
VII, 584-586.] |
|