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Report |
| The Committee appointed under the
resolution of Congress "To enquire into the organization and
administration of the Medical, Commissary and Quartermaster's
Departments, and to report what changes in the laws and regulations are
necessary and proper," beg leave to report, that after the passage of
the resolution, they called upon the Secretary of War and obtained his
zealous co-operation, and provided with letters from him, they visited
the Departments referred to *****. |
| ***** |
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Railroad Transportation |
| The amount of transportation required,
demands that every legitimate means should be used to increase the
capacity of that branch of the service, and for this purpose the
Committee recommend that military control be taken of the principal
railroad routes terminating at or passing through Richmond, Nashville,
Memphis, Atlanta, and all routes leading to the headquarters of our
several army corps, which should be placed under the direction of an
efficient superintendent, free from local interests, investments in, or
connection with, special railroads. |
| Great delay, inconvenience and expense is
caused by the numerous unconnected tracks, which, if joined by links,
short in distance, would not only increase the facilities for
transportation and the capacity of the roads, but would save much time,
labor and expense in transferring troops and freight. |
| There is a deficiency of rolling stock on
the most used and important railways and branches, which could be
remedied under a proper administration and distribution of stock, taken
from roads where there is a superabundance, and adding where deficient,
thus equalizing the supply throughout the Confederacy. Wherever
desirable for the public defence, the same stock should pass over the
longest available route, and when the width of the grades differ, the
roads should approach to proximity until a change of width would permit
the connection to be perfected. With proper management the capacity of
the principal routes can be increased to six trains each way per day,
with an average speed of ten miles an hour, while the present
transportation is not above two trains a day, and the rate of speed not
more than six miles an hour. |
| ***** |
| All of which is respectfully submitted. |
| T. N. Waul |
| For the Committee |
| {I have not found a date for this
report, but internal evidence makes it likely about September, 1861.} |
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