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Dec. 9th, 1863 |
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| Mr. Walker, Chairman of the {joint}
committee on salt and iron supply and transportation {of
the Georgia Legislature}, made the following report, to-wit: |
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Salt Supply
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The committee are glad to be able to report that from the
best information they have been able to collect, the condition of
Georgia in relation to the supply of salt is much better than it was
this time last year. The works in Virginia, managed under the sanction
of the State authority, though they have been much embarrassed for
several months past, have nevertheless manufactured and shipped into
Georgia as much as one hundred and fifty thousand bushels: other works
in Virginia have shipped in large quantities of salt, so that the
supply from that source has at least come up to the estimate of the
committee on salt supply submitted to the General Assembly in April
last, to-wit: 275,000 bushels. Other sources of supply have yielded
much salt, so that without proposing to enter upon a formal
statistical statement, we feel authorized to congratulate the General
Assembly, that although scarcity exists in some portions of Georgia,
yet the general supply is in good condition. The Governor has recently
made a modification to the contract and the works of one of the
agencies of Georgia, to-wit: that of M. S. Temple, & Co., which
your committee are of the opinion will result in greater efficiency in
the works of that particular enterprise. It is to be hoped that the
Planters Salt Manufacturing Company, and the Georgia Salt
Manufacturing Company, will also be enabled to increase the yield of
their works. The works conducted in Virginia, on private account also
deserve notice, because from them we may expect considerable
contributions to the State supply. But the exigencies of war have
already rendered transportation from Virginia very precarious. It may
become much more so. Therefore it is wise for us to look to the coast
with redoubled interest. Georgia, before the war, consumed at least
700,000 bushels of salt per annum. We should in our plan for salt
supply endeavor to approximate that amount as nearly as practicable.
Your committee are rejoiced that the enterprise of our people has
already demonstrated the entire practicability of sea-coast
operations. The supply drawn from the coast for 1863 is large.
Therefore, in contemplation of the probability that the works in
Virginia may have to be abandoned for want of transportation or by
interposition of the enemy, we recommend the following resolution:
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1st.
The General Assembly of Georgia, do resolve, That the Governor be,
and he is hereby authorized to make all such arrangements for salt
supply for the indigent of the State, as he may deem necessary, either
by purchasing salt on the coast or contracting to have it made there,
drawing upon the fund heretofore appropriated for the manufacture of
salt to pay the expenses thereof, and so disposing of the salt thus
purchased or manufactured as to reimburse the Treasury the full amount
of such expenditures.
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Transportation
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Upon this subject the committee having considered several
bills referred to them from the House of Representatives have made
report thereon to that House. It is not deemed necessary specially to
refer to them in this general Report. We hope they contain
propositions calculated to improve transportation and render it more
practical and efficient. This subject presents the most painful
question involved in our situation. We concur with the committee of
transportation of the last General Assembly in saying, "its
proportions and magnitude become vast when considered with reference
to the genera interests of the Confederacy and the final success of
our cause." The country looks to the Rail Road Companies and
expects at their hands that they will not slumber over the question of
road supplies. Their incomes are larger. Why are they not mining Iron
and rolling it for the repair of their tracks: Why are they not
establishing machine shops to do all the work that can be done within
the Confederacy? It has been suggested that in this work the
co-operation of the Confederate Government is necessary. We therefore
recommend the adoption of the following resolution:
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Resolved, That the Governor is hereby requested,
whenever he may think it necessary to appoint a commissioner to repair
to Richmond with plenary powers to confer with the President and other
officers of the Confederate Government upon subjects touching the
providing supplies for Rail Roads and the regulation of transportation
thereon. All which is respectfully submitted.
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D. H. Walker
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C. E. Grover
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D. W. Mabry
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Senate Com.
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T. Kirby
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W. J. Underwood
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S. C. Dobbs
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W. O. Fleming
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B. H. Bigham
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House Com.
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