| Executive Department |
| Milledgeville, Georgia
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| April 3d, 1863
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| To the House of Representatives:
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| I communicate herewith a copy of the
contract (Exhibit A {not posted}) made through the agency of Hon. John W. Lewis
with Maj. M. S. Temple, for the manufacture of salt at Saltville,
Virginia, together with a correspondence (Exhibit B here
and here) between Major
Temple and myself upon the subject of increased compensation for the
manufacture of salt. I am also permitted, by the kindness of Hon. B.
H. Bighamn, of the House, to copy a letter (Exhibit C here) from the
Superintendent of the Virginia & Tennessee R. R. Co., upon the
subject of the transportation of salt from Saltville to Bristol, and
of wood to the Georgia works at Saltville. These documents will, I
trust, be found to contain the information required by the
resolution of the House.
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| *****
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| By reference to the letter of Dr.
Dodamead it will be seen that our trains will not be permitted to
run over his road to Saltville to transport our salt to this State.
This settles the question that it is impossible for us to do our won
carrying, as we can have no control over the roads beyond the limits
of this State. We are therefore at the mercy of the railroads and
will be obliged to submit to such terms as they may impose.
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| While the compensation offered by the
Virginia & Tennessee road for the use of engines and cars which
we may furnish to the Superintendent of that road, to be used by him
in the transportation of wood and salt for this State and her
people, is much less than that actual value of the hire of the
trains, I recommend that his proposition be accepted and that two
trains be furnished by the State for the purpose of supplying all
the Georgia works with wood and bringing out the Georgia salt to
Bristol. To accomplish this object it will be necessary that I be
authorized to purchase or impress the trains from some of the
company roads of this State, as the resolutions of the last session
do not, in my opinion, contemplate a permanent impressment, but only
a temporary seizure of trains to run from this State to Saltville.
The State Road cannot furnish the trains, as we have already lost
about two hundred cars and several of our most valuable engines,
which were carried to other sections of the Confederacy in military
service and never returned o the road. The press of business,
especially for the Confederate Government, is very heavy upon the
road, and I am obliged to continue to run the corn train to
South-western Georgia during most of this spring and summer to
supply bread to the people in the destitute sections of the State.
It will become necessary for the State and her companies to build a
warehouse at Bristol and store the salt as fast as it is brought
from Saltville. We shall then be dependent upon the East Tennessee
& Virginia and the East Tennessee & Georgia roads to bring
it to Dalton. While I anticipate difficulty in getting it through
from Bristol to Dalton, I trust arrangements may be consummated by
which it can be done within the year. Provisions should be made for
furnishing additional rolling stock on these roads to carry it, if
we can do no better. Every effort in our power should be made to
secure a supply of salt or the State as soon as possible, that we
may avoid the panic and high prices which may result from scarcity
next fall.
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| Joseph E. Brown
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