H, VC 8/4/1863

{From the minutes of the Directors' Meeting of the Virginia Central RR, August 4, 1863}
 
Richmond Augst 4th 1863
   At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Central R R Company, present
  E Fontaine President
  Wm Overton Directors
  N B Hill  
  Jacob Baylor  
   It was Resolved. that the President of this Company be and is hereby authorised to issue the bonds of the Company payable in cotton for such amount as he may think proper, for procuring necessary supplies for working the road, and also to unit with other Rail Road Companies in such a bond each becoming joint obligation.
   *****
   Resolved, In view of the present necessity for an immediate supply of wood and crossties for the Road, that the President is authorized to purchase land to enable him to get lumber, if he shall consider it advisable to do so.
   Resolved That if the President cannot purchase timber, or land containing timber, at reasonable prices, he is instructed to have timber condemned for the use of the Road, according to law.
   The President laid before the Board the accompanying condition, and whereas this Board, deeply impressed with the importance of maintaining this road with reference to the interests of the Southern Confederacy, have been and are still making every effort in their power to do so and being satisfied that it will scarcely be practicable for the company to sustain it without some special aid, in consequence of the difficulty of procuring labour and teams for transportation of wood and lumber
   Therefore, Resolved that the President be instructed to communicate to the Confederate Authorities and to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia a copy of the Superintendents statement and any further information necessary to show the inability of the Company to meet the peculiar difficulties they have to contend with
   Resolved that the President be authorised to buy more negroes in the event of being unable to procure a sufficiency of labour in any other way, and that he may increase the number of teams by purchase or otherwise as he may find it necessary

Home